Then the two lines of battle dashed against each other, like the beaks of ships, and thrusting with all their might, were tossed to and fro, like the waves of the sea. He subsequently settled in rome, where he wrote in latin a history of the roman empire in the period 96378. Nobody doubts that ammianus marcellinus wrote in rome and for r the larger sense, is. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Rome is still looked upon as the queen of the earth, and the name of the roman people is respected and venerated. 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. This entry was posted in ammianus marcellinus and tagged ammianus, ammianus marcellinus, constantius, latin, res gestae, roman empire, roman history, rome. 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.
Observing, therefore, a true distinction between his good qualities and his defects, it will be fitting to set forth. History books 1419, vol 1 loeb classical library revised edition by ammianus marcellinus, 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. Ammianus served as an officer in the army of the emperors constantius ii and julian, he served in. Walter hamilton translated platos symposium, the gorgias, phaedrus and letters vii and viii for penguin classics. This book demonstrates what a subtle and manipulative writer ammianus is. Frakes, audience and meaning in the res gestae of ammianus marcellinus, phd diss. He was born about 330 into the local aristocracy of one of the cities of roman syria or phoenicia, and his father was probably a career soldier who rose to a position of some importance in the reign of the emperor constantius, who ruled the east from 337 to 361 chapter vi. Now then, since, as the sublime poet of mantua has sung, a greater series of incident rises to my view. The text tradition of ammianus marcellinus 1904 by charles upson clark and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. While the linked course of the fates was bringing this to pass in the roman world, julian caesar at vienne was admitted by augustus, 3 then consul for the eighth time, into the fellowship of the consular.
History, volume i ammianus marcellinus harvard university press. Epigrams of planudean anthology not in palatine manuscript. See all books authored by ammianus marcellinus, including the later roman empire. Ammianus marcellinus, with an english translation by john. Ancient accounts of arabia internet history sourcebooks project. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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.
Book 14 book 15 book 16 book 17 book 18 book 19 book 20 book 21 book 22 book 23 book 24 book 25 book 26 book 27 book 28. 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. A roman historian chronicles rome on the brink of collapse ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, and his writings rank alongside those of livy and tacitus. The eighteen surviving books cover his own times, from 353 to 378, and fall naturally into three hexads or groups of six books. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, book xxi, chapter 16. Books by ammianus marcellinus author of the later roman empire. Ammianus marcellinus, last major roman historian, whose work continued the history of the later roman empire to 378. The later roman empire book 14 book 15 book 16 book 17 book 18 book 19 book 20 book 21 book 22 book 23 book 24 book 25 book 26 book 27 book 28 book 29 book 30 book 31. After retiring from a successful military career, he wrote a history of the roman empire as a sequel to that of tacitus, his model. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, and his writings rank alongside those of livy and tacitus. From that source we learn that he was a native of antioch, and a soldier.
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. By order of constantius augustus an obelisk is set up at rome in the circus maximus. Valesius read displicuisse, and was followed by gibbon. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, liber xv, chapter 5. He subsequently settled in rome, where he wrote in latin a history of the roman empire in the period.
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 is usually regarded as our most important source for the history of the second half of the fourth century ad, while his literary qualities are neglected. Ammianus marcellinus and the anger of julian 57 its attention to detail, and by adding to the existing scholarship, through presenting to the readership a rather neglected dimension in ammianus portrayals. The virtues of constantius augustus, and his faults. Ammianus marcellinus was the last great roman historian, continuing the histories of tacitus from ad 96 down to his own day. Ammianus marcellinus, with an english translation by john c. Strasbourg ended book 16, which would have been exactly in the middle of the original thirtyone books of the.
Ammianus marcellinus roman history, volume i, books 1419 english and latin edition rolfe, john transl. Of the five provinces of egypt and their famous cities. He recovers cologne, which had been taken by the franks, and concludes a peace with the king of the franks. Ammianus marcellinus classics oxford bibliographies. The surviving books of his history cover the years 353 to 378. The karnack obelisk in ammianus marcellinus book 17 loeb rolfe volume i, p. Ammianus marcellinus has 65 books on goodreads with 4091 ratings. After retiring from a successful military career, he wrote a history of the.
Ammianus marcellinus books list of books by author. 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. At the close of his history, ammianus marcellinus described himself as a soldier and a greek 31. The portion that survives covers twentyfive years in the historians own lifetime. The first thirteen of his thirtyone books are lost. Ammianus marcellinuss most popular book is the later roman empire a. Roman history, volume i, books 1419 loeb classical library no. Andrew wallacehadrill is professor of classics at reading university. Full text of ammianus marcellinus, with an english translation by john c.
Thus the intention of this study is to exploit a rather rich ground for understanding the rhetorical approach of ammianus through his. 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. When ormisda was asked directly what he thought of rome, he said that he took comfort 8 in this fact alone, that he had learned that even there men were mortal. Ammianus marcellinus by ammianus marcellinus book 16 editions published between 1935 and 2005 in 3 languages and held by 636 worldcat member libraries worldwide. The sources of the lost books of ammianus marcellinus. Blockley aimmianus marcellinus account of the battle of strasburg 16. 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. Books by ammianus marcellinus author of the later roman. Ammianus marcellinus s most popular book is the later roman empire a. The reign of valentinian and valens in books 2631 of the res gestae, leiden, 2007, pp. The following was written only about a generation before alaric plundered rome in 410 ce. Full text of ammianus marcellinus, with an english. Ammianus marcellinus books list of books by author ammianus. Centre of learning in the ancient world, london and new york, i.
Nov 08, 2015 this entry was posted in ammianus marcellinus and tagged ammianus, ammianus marcellinus, constantius, latin, res gestae, roman empire, roman history, rome. Ammianus marcellinus and the representation of historical. The project gutenberg ebook of the roman history of ammianus. 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. The only explicit indication in the text of ammianus marcellinus as to the historians origin comes in the famous epilogue to the res gestae, that he had written as once a soldier, and a greek ut miles quondam et graecus. Ammianus marcellinus, rerum gestarum, book xxii, chapter 16. In early times egypt is said to have had three provinces. Ancient accounts of arabia internet history sourcebooks.