Home › Glossary › Letter C

Cincinnatus

Historical Figure
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Roman statesman and dictator (5th century BCE) who left his farm to defeat invaders, then voluntarily relinquished power and returned to rural life.

Detailed Definition
Cincinnatus exemplifies Roman republican virtue—selfless service, humility, and rejection of prolonged authority. Called from the plough to dictatorship, he saved Rome and immediately resigned. In poetry, he symbolizes civic duty, the ideal citizen-soldier, and the superiority of simple agrarian life over corrupt power. Poets invoke him to contrast virtuous restraint with tyranny, to praise republican ideals, and to critique ambition. His story enriches verse on themes of leadership, patriotism, the moral value of labor, and the dangers of political permanence, serving as a moral exemplum in neoclassical and later political poetry.
Example
Example in poetry:
Joseph Howe's poem "Cincinnatus" depicts the Roman hero leaving his farm for the purple robe of dictatorship, then sighing to return to rural peace and simple charms.; American poetry often references Cincinnatus as the ideal citizen-soldier who voluntarily relinquishes power, inspiring republican virtue.; Poets invoke Cincinnatus to contrast selfless civic duty with corrupt ambition in political verse.; A poet might use his story to celebrate agrarian simplicity over urban power, praising the moral value of labor and restraint.; In neoclassical poetry, Cincinnatus serves as a moral exemplum of humility and the superiority of republican ideals.; Verse could explore Cincinnatus as a model for leaders who prioritize country over personal glory, highlighting themes of patriotism and voluntary service.
Additional Notes
Cincinnatus exemplifies Roman republican virtue and serves as a moral touchstone in political poetry. As the 5th-century BCE statesman who left his farm to serve as dictator, defeated invaders, and then voluntarily relinquished power to return to rural life, he embodies selfless service and rejection of prolonged authority. Usage tip: invoke him to contrast virtuous restraint with tyranny or ambition, ideal for odes praising civic duty or critiquing modern politicians; pair with George Washington (the American Cincinnatus) for transatlantic republican themes. In poetry he celebrates agrarian simplicity, humility, and the superiority of citizen-soldier ideals over corrupt power. Related concepts include Roman mos maiorum (ancestral custom) and the dangers of political permanence. Professors might encourage students to write poems weighing Cincinnatus against figures like Caesar, highlighting themes of leadership, patriotism, and the moral value of labor. His legend enriches verse on ethical governance and the quiet dignity of voluntary withdrawal from power.
Also Known As
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
Skip to main content