person
Lyso of Patrae
Lyso
also: Lyso, Lysone, Lysone Patrensi, Lysonem
Prominent citizen of Patrae in Achaea and old guest-friend (hospes) of Cicero. He spent nearly a year at Rome living under Cicero's roof; as a Pompeian sympathiser, his property was at risk after Caesar's victory, but Cicero and other patrons successfully interceded with Caesar on his behalf (Fam. 13.19).
Reading notes
- Ad Familiares 13.19 §1 With Lyso of Patrae I have indeed an old guest-friendship
Lyso was a prominent citizen of Patrae (Roman colony in Achaea, modern Patras), with whom Cicero had ties of hospitium --- the formal bond of reciprocal hospitality between Romans and provincials that carried social and legal obligations of mutual protection.
- Ad Familiares 13.19 §1 because Lyso had been in our camp and under our protection
Lyso had sided with the Pompeian (senatorial) cause before Caesar's victory in the civil war, making his property and safety precarious under Caesar's settlement; Cicero's phrase "our camp" (nostra causa nostrisque praesidiis) identifies Lyso as a fellow Pompeian sympathiser.
- Ad Familiares 13.24 §1 Lyso, my host and friend
Lyso of Patrae was Cicero's hospes (guest-friend) in the Greek sense: a hereditary bond of mutual hospitality, distinct from mere friendship. Cicero had stayed with Lyso during his time in Patrae in the aftermath of Pharsalus (48 BC). The follow-up letter 13.24 confirms that an earlier recommendation (now lost) had already been sent.
- Ad Familiares 16.4 §2 first because all Greeks are
A characteristic Roman jibe at Greek unreliability; Cicero fears Lyso, a Greek of Patrae who had been Tiro's host, may be careless, though Tiro vouches for him.
- Ad Familiares 16.9 §3 Lyson's concert
Lyso of Patrae was Tiro's host; Cicero fears the strain of attending Lyson's musical entertainment ('symphonia') will cause a relapse.