Ammianus marcellinus, history loeb classical library. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, continuing the histories of tacitus from ad 96 down to his own day. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant. Apr 22, 2009 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. And at a small distance from them are some monuments of heroes, where. Ammianus marcellinus has 65 books on goodreads with 4002 ratings. The project gutenberg ebook of the roman history of ammianus. Though displaying many of the features characteristic of ammianus daunting linguistic variation, brilliant observation of detail, a dazzling and blurred sequence of discrete pictures this passage also stands out from the main body of the. And the water, they say, was brought through three different pipes to three separate places.
From their horses by night or day every one of that nation buys and sells, eats and drinks, and bowed over the narrow neck of the animal relaxes into a sleep so deep as to be accompanied by many dreams. Ammianus and the great tsunami the journal of roman. Please email me in advance if you are going to miss class. The accuracy of ammianus reporting has come under question over the past fifty years, however, and timothy d. The surviving books of his history cover the years 353 to 378. Beyond these places is the acherusian cave, which the natives call mychopontion, 2 and the port of acone, 3 besides the rivers acheron also called the arcadius, iris, thybris, and hard by, the parthenius, all of which flow with.
Ammianus marcellinus published on 01 jan 2003 by brill. Soldier though he was, he includes economic and social affairs. He was not a professional man of letters but an army office of greek origin born at antioch and contemporary with the events described in what remains of his work. At this time also the saracens, a race whom it is never desirable to have either for friends or enemies, ranging up and down the country, if ever they found anything, plundered it in a moment, like rapacious hawks who, if from on high they behold any prey, carry it off with a rapid swoop, or, if they fail in. Jan 12, 2017 this episode kicks off the beginning of the text reading from ammianus marcellinus, specifically book 14 sections 15. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, book xxxi, chapter 2. This loeb volume covers books 20 26 in ammianus marcellinus history. Book 31 describes the gothic invasion of 376 ce, the defeat of the romans in the battle of adrianople and the death of the emperor valens.
Philosophy and religion church history primitive and early church, ca. Constantius and gallus book xv book xvi book xvii book xviii book xix book xx book xxi book xxii book xxiii book xxiv book xxv book xxvi book xxvii book xxviii book xxix book xxx book xxxi the. Julian crosses the rhine and plunders and burns the towns of the allemanni, repairs the fortress of trajan, and grants the barbarians a truce for ten months. Ammianus marcellinus, historian who provides important information on the sasanians. Rolfes translation is fine, and you can always look over on the latin side and translate the word yourself. It is clear that he concentrates many of them in books 22 and 23 to fill out. After the survival of the events of an unendurable campaign, 1 when the spirits of both parties, broken by the variety of their dangers and hardships, were still drooping, before the blare of the trumpets had ceased or the soldiers been assigned to their winter quarters, the gusts of raging fortune brought new storms upon the commonwealth through the misdeeds, many and notorious, of gallus caesar. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. He was broadminded towards nonromans and towards christianity.
Of ammianus marcellinus, the writer of the following history, we know very little more than what can be collected from that portion of it which remains to us. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, book xxiv, chapter 4. His history, which he divided into thirtyone books of which the first thirteen are lost, while the text of those which remain is in some places imperfect, began with the accession of nerva, a. The roman history of ammianus marcellinus during the reigns of the emperors constantius, julian, jovianus, valentinian, and valens mar 30, 2011. Ammianus marcellinus, last major roman historian, whose work continued the history of the later roman empire to 378. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, book xxii, chapter 16. Roman historybook xxviii wikisource, the free online library. Born of genteel extraction in a greekspeaking part of the empire, ammianus served in the army in campaigns ranging form gaul to persia before settling in rome. Ammianus marcellinus, with an english translation by john c.
The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant military events including the battle of strasbourg and. Ammianus marcellinus is important for all modern historians of the later rom. Walter hamilton translated platos symposium, the gorgias, phaedrus and letters vii and viii for penguin classics. However, absences on discussion days or days when graded material is due are not permitted except by prior arrangement or in case of emergencies. While the variable events of fortune were bringing to pass these events in different parts of the world, julian, amid the many plans which he was revolving while in illyricum, was continually consulting the entrails of victims and watching the flight of birds in his eagerness to know the result of what was about to happen. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, and his writings. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, liber xiv, chapter 1.
The first thirteen of his thirtyone books are lost. This episode kicks off the beginning of the text reading from ammianus marcellinus, specifically book 14 sections 15. The battle of hadrianopolis, 378 ce at this time valens was disturbed by a twofold anxiety, having learned that the people of lintz had been defeated, and also because sebastian, in the letters which he sent from time to time, exaggerated what had taken place by his pompous language. Jovinus, the commander of the cavalry in gaul, surprises and routs two divisions of the allemanni. His work, known as the res gestae, chronicled in latin the history of rome from the accession of the emperor nerva in 96 to the death of valens at the. Ammianus marcellinus 325 x 330 after 391 was a fourthcentury roman soldier and historian. This is the final volume in the series of commentaries on ammianus res gestae. Ammianus marcellinus and the representation of historical reality. Aug 24, 2019 author of rerum gestarum libri, ammianus marcellinus, ammiani marcellini rerum gestarum libri qui supersunt, rerum gestarum libri qui supersunt, ammiani marcellini quae supersunt, romische geschichte, storie, the roman history of ammianus marcellinus, during the reigns of the emperors constantius, julian, jovianus, valentinian, and valens. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, and his writings rank alongside those of livy and tacitus. Ammianus marcellinus books list of books by author ammianus.
Ammianus marcellinus cyclopedia of biblical, theological. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during m. See all books authored by ammianus marcellinus, including the later roman empire. He subsequently settled in rome, where he wrote in latin a history of the roman empire in the period 96378. Buy the roman history of ammianus marcellinus by ammianus marcellinus online at alibris. Ammianus marcellinus books list of books by author. Ammianus article about ammianus by the free dictionary. By order of constantius augustus an obelisk is set up at rome in the circus maximus. Ammianus marcellinus, with an english translation by john. Ammianus marcellinus discussion ammianus marcellinus books 2425. Born of genteel extraction in a greekspeaking part of the empire, ammianus served in the army in campaigns ranging form gaul to persia before settling in rome and beginning his literary carreer.
To judge by the recent publications which deal, directly or indirectly, with ammianus marcellinus, one would gather that the attempt to determine the date at which the last great roman historian finished his work had better be given up as hopeless. Book xxii, from which lucullus brought the fruits sonamed. Philological and historical commentary on ammianus marcellinus xxxi jan boeft. Ammianus marcellinus, the caesar julian, and rhetorical. Both the latin and english pages are clear and easy to read. If youre curious why this text reading does not begin earlier see ep. In this temple were libraries beyond calculation, and the trustworthy testimony of ancient records agrees that 700,000 books, brought together by the unsleeping care of the ptolemaic kings, were burned in the alexandrian war, when the city was sacked under the dictator caesar.
The roman history of ammianus marcellinus by ammianus. The account is artfully developed as a setpiece and unusually focused. It is a twelve days journey from the river to this desert tract. The later roman empire chronicles a period of twentyfive years during marcellinus own lifetime, covering the reigns of constantius, julian, jovian, valentinian i, and valens, and providing eyewitness accounts of significant military events including the battle of strasbourg and the goths revolt. Ammianus marcellinus was a roman soldier and historian who wrote the penultimate major. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Christians and christianity in ammianus marcellinus volume 35 issue 1 e. Books by ammianus marcellinus author of the later roman. Commentary on ammianus marcellinus book 21 groningen 1991. Much of what we know today of rome in the fourth century has its source in res gestae, the sole surviving work of the historian ammianus marcellinus.
Of these 31 books only 1431 353378 ce survive, a remarkably accurate and impartial record of his own times. Ammianus marcellinus s most popular book is the later roman empire a. The best contemporary source of information about britain in the late fourth century is the lateimperial historian ammianus marcellinus. After the events of an expedition full of almost insuperable difficulties, while the spirits of all parties in the state, broken by the variety of their dangers and toils, were still enfeebled. While affairs were in this state in isauria, and while the king of persia was involved in wars upon his frontier, repulsing from his borders a set of ferocious tribes which, being full of fickleness, were continually either attacking him in a hostile manner, or, as often happens, aiding him when he turned his arms against us, a certain noble, by name nohodares, having been appointed to. Ammianus marcellinus project gutenberg selfpublishing. During these first steps towards the rehabilitation of gaul, and while orutus was still conducting his second prefecture, an obelisk was set up at rome in the circus maximus.
While the perfidy of the king was exciting these unexpected troubles in persia, as we have related above, and while war was reviving in the east, sixteen years and rather more after the death of nepotianus, bellona, raging through the eternal city, destroyed everything, proceeding from trifling beginnings to the most lamentable disasters. His work chronicled in latin the history of rome from 96 to 378, although only the sections covering the period 353378 are extant. In seven days, by building dams in the sea near the shore, the same number of stadia were won for the land. At the same time, on the eleventh day of the month of november, the most spacious sanctuary of apollinean daphnae, which that choleric and irascible king, antiochus epiphanes, constructed, and the statue equalling the size of the imitation to olympian jovis itself, by the power of flames. Andrew wallacehadrill is professor of classics at reading university. Ammianus himself was present in the city until a day before its fall. With this striking and bravura narrative of the earthquake and tsunami of 21 july a.
After the survival of the event of an unendurable campaign,2 when the spirits of both parties, broken by the variety of their dangers and hardships, were still drooping, before the blare of the trumpets, had ceased or the soldier been assigned to their winter quarters, the gusts of raging fortune brought new storms upon the commonwealth through the. But now the vain arrogance of some men regards everything born outside the pomerium 4 of our city is worthless, except the childless and the unwed. Philological and historical commentary on ammianus. After retiring from a successful military career, he wrote a history of the. Crossreferences to the lost books of ammianus marcellinus jstor. And there is probably no work as to the intrinsic value of which there is so little difference of opinion. The roman history of ammianus marcellinus during the reigns of the emperors constantius, julian, jovianus, valentinian, and valens. In those days it also happened that a barber who had been sent for to cut the. Ammianus marcellinus is the last great roman historian, whose writings stand comparison with those of livy and tacitus. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. His work, known as the res gestae, chronicled in latin the history of rome from the accession of the emperor nerva in 96 to the death of valens at the battle of adrianople in 378, although only the sections. Though he was born in antioch, syria to a wealthy syrian greek family, ammianus wrote in latin. Ammianus was born of a noble greek family and served in the army of constantius ii in gaul and persia under the general ursicinus, who was dismissed after he allowed the persians to.
Ammianus marcellinus author of the later roman empire. Ammianus marcellinus the jewish encyclopedia a latin historian, the last subject of rome who composed a profane history in the latin language, was a native of antioch, born in the fourth century, and, in his youth, served with distinction in germany, gaul, and persia. After retiring from a successful military career, he wrote a history of the roman empire as a sequel to that of tacitus, his model. Centre of learning in the ancient world, london and new york, i. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. From that source we learn that he was a native of antioch, and a soldier. He wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from antiquity the last was written by procopius. One of the best known passages of ammianus marcellinus fourth century history is his account of the battle of argentoratum strasbourg in 357, where the newly appointed caesar julian led his gallic army to a definitive victory over the alamanni under king chnodomar and his allies xvi, 12. Christians and christianity in ammianus marcellinus the.
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