Nonviolent Communication with the Older People, Honoring Them During Their Last Years, and The Violence of Agism

In Greek mythology, Geras (hence, we derive the words “geriatrics” and “gerontology” from ancient Greek) was the god of old age. He was depicted as a tiny, shriveled old man. Gēras’ opposite was Hebe, a beautiful girl, the goddess of youth. Hebe served nectar and ambrosia to all gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus. On the contrary, Geras did not serve anything sweet, rather he served the fear of becoming frail, old, and dying. His Roman equivalent was Senectus (thus, we derive words such as “Senior” and “Senatus”).

For the Greeks, Geras was also a metaphor for disability, he is often depicted while leaning on a cane. However, from the pragmatic Latin viewpoint, being old gave access to wisdom, and therefore, political power in the Senatum. A “Senior,” then, became a person who deserves respect, and “Seniority,” a quality to appreciate. The status symbol of being old is acknowledged by the Latin word “antianus” which means more history: form here the word “ancient,” “ancienne,” and in Italian “anziano.”