Views of Rome: A Greek Reader

Who were the ancient Romans? Views of Rome addresses this question by offering a collection of thirty-five annotated excerpts from Greek prose authors. As Adam Serfass explains in his introduction, these authors’ characterizations of the Romans run the gamut from fellow Hellenes, civilizers, and peacemakers to barbarians, boors, and warmongers.

Although many of the authors featured in this volume—including Augustus, Cassius Dio, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Eusebius, Josephus, Julian, Libanius, Plutarch, Polybius, Strabo, and the writers of the New Testament—are important sources for Roman civilization, their written works are rarely presented in accessible Greek-language editions. These authors wrote in a variety of styles and dialects, and this collection enables readers to experience the range of expression the Greek language makes possible.

Views of Rome is divided into five parts spanning early Rome through late antiquity. Within these parts, each prose selection is prefaced with a description of the featured author and the larger work from which the excerpt is drawn, as well as suggestions for further reading in English. The Greek passages themselves are accompanied by notes that provide crucial assistance for understanding grammar and vocabulary, thus enabling students to read the language with greater speed, accuracy, and nuance.

Designed for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level readers of Greek, this student-friendly book bridges the worlds of Greece and Rome and inspires discussion of identity, empire, religion, and politics—matters much debated in classical antiquity and in the present day.
 
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Views of Rome: A Greek Reader

Who were the ancient Romans? Views of Rome addresses this question by offering a collection of thirty-five annotated excerpts from Greek prose authors. As Adam Serfass explains in his introduction, these authors’ characterizations of the Romans run the gamut from fellow Hellenes, civilizers, and peacemakers to barbarians, boors, and warmongers.

Although many of the authors featured in this volume—including Augustus, Cassius Dio, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Eusebius, Josephus, Julian, Libanius, Plutarch, Polybius, Strabo, and the writers of the New Testament—are important sources for Roman civilization, their written works are rarely presented in accessible Greek-language editions. These authors wrote in a variety of styles and dialects, and this collection enables readers to experience the range of expression the Greek language makes possible.

Views of Rome is divided into five parts spanning early Rome through late antiquity. Within these parts, each prose selection is prefaced with a description of the featured author and the larger work from which the excerpt is drawn, as well as suggestions for further reading in English. The Greek passages themselves are accompanied by notes that provide crucial assistance for understanding grammar and vocabulary, thus enabling students to read the language with greater speed, accuracy, and nuance.

Designed for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level readers of Greek, this student-friendly book bridges the worlds of Greece and Rome and inspires discussion of identity, empire, religion, and politics—matters much debated in classical antiquity and in the present day.
 
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Views of Rome: A Greek Reader

Views of Rome: A Greek Reader

Views of Rome: A Greek Reader

Views of Rome: A Greek Reader

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Overview


Who were the ancient Romans? Views of Rome addresses this question by offering a collection of thirty-five annotated excerpts from Greek prose authors. As Adam Serfass explains in his introduction, these authors’ characterizations of the Romans run the gamut from fellow Hellenes, civilizers, and peacemakers to barbarians, boors, and warmongers.

Although many of the authors featured in this volume—including Augustus, Cassius Dio, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Eusebius, Josephus, Julian, Libanius, Plutarch, Polybius, Strabo, and the writers of the New Testament—are important sources for Roman civilization, their written works are rarely presented in accessible Greek-language editions. These authors wrote in a variety of styles and dialects, and this collection enables readers to experience the range of expression the Greek language makes possible.

Views of Rome is divided into five parts spanning early Rome through late antiquity. Within these parts, each prose selection is prefaced with a description of the featured author and the larger work from which the excerpt is drawn, as well as suggestions for further reading in English. The Greek passages themselves are accompanied by notes that provide crucial assistance for understanding grammar and vocabulary, thus enabling students to read the language with greater speed, accuracy, and nuance.

Designed for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level readers of Greek, this student-friendly book bridges the worlds of Greece and Rome and inspires discussion of identity, empire, religion, and politics—matters much debated in classical antiquity and in the present day.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780806157931
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Publication date: 01/18/2018
Series: Oklahoma Series in Classical Culture , #55
Edition description: First Edition
Pages: 336
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Adam Serfass is Professor of Classics at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. His research focuses on the social, economic, and religious history of ancient Rome.
 

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

Acknowledgments xi

Abbreviations and Acronyms xiii

Introduction 3

Part A Early Rome 17

A1 Site of Rome: Strabo 5.3.7-8 19

A2 A Sketch of the Etruscans: Diodorus Siculus 5.40 28

A3 Origins of the Etruscans: Herodotus 1.94 and Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 1.30.1-3 34

A3.1 Herodotus 1.94 35

A3.2 Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 1.30.1-3 38

A4 Rationalizing Rome's Past: Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 1.84.1-5 41

A5 Greek Rome: Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 1.89-90.1 47

A6 Inclusive Rome: Dionysius of Halicarnassus Roman Antiquities 2.15.1, 2.15.3-17.1 54

A7 Religion: Plutarch Numa 8.1-3 and Polybius 6.56.6-12 60

A7.1 Plutarch Numa 8.1-3 61

A7.2 Polybius 6.56.6-12 63

Part B Expansion in the Republic 67

B1 Secrets of Roman Success: Polybius 6.18, 52 69

B2 Public Funerals: Polybius 6.53-54 77

B3 Philhellene Flamininus: Plutarch Flamininus 10-11.2, 11.4 85

B4 Antihellene Cato: Plutarch Cato the Elder 22-23.3 93

B5 Prophecies of Roman Ruin: Phlegon of Tralles On Wondrous Things 3-3-8, 3.12 100

B6 Rome as Ally: 1 Maccabees 8.1-16 108

B7 Rapacious Romans: Strabo 8.6.23 114

Part C From Republic to Empire 123

C1 Sulla Speaks at Ephesus: Appian Mithridatic Wars 61.250-63.261 125

C2 First Augustan Settlement: Cassius Dio 53.16.4-17.3, 18.1-3 134

C3 Augustus on Augustus: Res Gestae Divi Augusti 1-4, 13, 24, 34-35 142

C4 Sound Emperor, Sound Empire: Philo Embassy to Gaius 2.8-3.21 155

C5 Boudicca Bashes Rome: Cassius Dio 62.3-5 165

C6 Aristides Praises Rome: Aelius Aristides On Rome 26 (14).96-101, 104 174

C7 Serving Greece under Rome: Plutarch Political Precepts 17, 19 181

Part D Jews and Christians 191

D1 God and State: Luke 2.1-7, 20.20-26; Romans 13.1-7 193

D1.1 Luke 2.1-7, 20.20-26 193

D1.2 Romans 13.1-7 198

D2 The Whore of Babylon: Revelation 17.1-18 201

D3 Perils of War with Rome: Josephus Jewish War 2.355-357, 36l, 390-402 207

D4 The Temple Is Burned: Josephus Jewish War 6.249-270 217

D5 Flavian Triumph I: Josephus Jewish War 7.123-141 227

D6 Flavian Triumph II: Josephus Jewish War 7.142-162 234

D7 Making Martyrs: Martyrdom of Agape, Irene, and Chione 1.2-2.1, 3-4 241

Part E Late Antiquity 251

E1 Constantine's Vision I: Eusebius Life of Constantine 1.26-28 253

E2 Constantine's Vision II: Eusebius Life of Constantine 1.29-32 262

E3 Constantine's Vision III: Eusebius Life of Constantine 1.37-40 270

E4 Constantine Reassessed: Julian Caesars 18, 30, 36-38 280

E5 Defend Our Temples I: Libanius Oration 30.8-13 288

E6 Defend Our Temples II: Libanius Oration 30.30-36 296

E7 Belisarius Saves Rome: Procopius Wars 7.22-6-19 304

Sources and Credits 311

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