Flourishing in the third century, Herodian of Antioch wrote a ‘Roman History’, covering the period of the Roman Empire from the death of Marcus Aurelius (AD 180) to the accession of Gordian III (238). It was a century of turbulent strife, when a succession of frontier crises and a disastrous lack of economic planning established a pattern of military coups and increasing cultural divides. Herodian’s history is one of the few texts charting this period to have survived and it is more or les...

History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus is a classic history written by Herodian of Antioch. A table of contents is included.

In "History of the Empire From the Death of Marcus," Herodian presents a compelling narrative that chronicles the tumultuous years following the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE. Blending historical inquiry with vivid storytelling, Herodian's work is marked by his meticulous attention to both political intrigue and social dynamics of the Roman Empire. Written in a concise and engaging style, the text offers insights into key figures such as Commodus and the ensuing chaos within t...

Herodian's History of the Empire From the Death of Marcus narrates the turbulent Roman world from Marcus Aurelius's death in 180 to the crisis of 238, tracing the reigns of Commodus, Pertinax, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Elagabalus, Alexander Severus, and Maximinus. Written in polished Greek, it combines political narrative, character portraiture, set speeches, and dramatic pacing in the classical historiographical tradition. Less senatorial and more panoramic than Cassius Dio, Herodian'...

In "History of the Empire From the Death of Marcus," Herodian provides a profound and intricate narrative of the Roman Empire during the tumultuous period following the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 AD. Renowned for his engaging prose, Herodian adopts a biographical approach to key figures while maintaining a chronological framework that enhances the understanding of the political turbulence that characterized this era. The work is marked by its blend of historical analysis and v...

The Roman historian Eutropius flourished in the fourth century AD and is the author of ‘Breviarium historiae Romanae’, a compendium of ten books of Roman history, from the foundation of the city to the accession of Valens. It has come down to us complete and was compiled with considerable care and written with impartiality in a succinct style. It is particularly useful to historians for its account of the First Punic War, as Livy’s books spanning that period have not survived. Delphi’s Anc...

Regarded by some as the greatest genius of the early Christian church, Origen of Alexandria was a third century scholar, ascetic and theologian. He was a prolific writer of approximately 2,000 treatises in multiple branches of theology, including textual criticism, biblical exegesis and hermeneutics and spirituality. His treatise ‘On the First Principles’ systematically lays out the principles of Christian theology and became the foundation for later theological writings; while the treatis...

A man of unusually complex character, Julian the Apostate was a military commander, philosopher, social reformer and man of letters. He was the last non-Christian ruler of the Roman Empire and it was his wish to bring the Empire back to its ancient Roman values in order to save it from ‘dissolution’. He purged the top-heavy state bureaucracy and attempted to revive traditional Roman religious practices at the expense of Christianity. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReade...

A rhetorician of the late second century, Athenaeus wrote ‘The Deipnosophistae’ (‘Dinner-Table Philosophers’), a fifteen-book encyclopaedia of information on the ancient world, preserving otherwise lost treasures from many important writers. The text is structured as a dialogue in the vein of Plato, offering an amusing account of a Greek symposium. ‘The Deipnosophistae’ details the many different cuisines and entertainments of ancient banquets, held together by the intellectual tal...

The epic poem ‘Punica’, concerning Rome’s Second War with Carthage and the legendary conflict between the generals Hannibal and Scipio Africanus, is the longest surviving epic of Latin literature. A masterpiece of the Silver Age of Roman poetry, the ‘Punica’ fuses the significance of Livy’s history with the polished verse of Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the treasures of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original ...

Among the most influential Greek rhetoricians of his time, Isocrates left behind important historical speeches on the intellectual and political life of Athens. The school he founded differed markedly in its aims from Plato’s Academy, featuring among its pupils men of eminence from all over the Greek world. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations and the original Greek texts. This comprehensive eBook ...

Composed during the nights of an Attic winter, the sole surviving work of Aulus Gellius, the second century Latin author and grammarian, is an intriguing compendium of notes covering philosophy, history, biography and questions of grammar. ‘Attic Nights’ offers a valuable insight into the works of lost authors and the manners and occupations of Roman society. Delphi’s Ancient Classics series provides eReaders with the wisdom of the Classical world, with both English translations an...