Offers a broad range of texts spanning six centuries of imperial Roman historyVolume II ofEmpire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian

Empire of the Romans: From Julius Caesar to Justinian: Six Hundred Years of Peace and War, Volume II: Select Anthologyis a compendium of texts that trace the main historical changes of the empire over six hundred years, from the death of Julius Caesar to the late Middle Ages. The second volume ofEmpire of the Romans, from Julius Caesar to Justinian,this anthology balances literary texts with other documentary, legal, and epigraphic sources. Acclaimed author John Matthews presents texts that reflect individual, first-person experiences rather than those from historians outside of the time periods of which they write.

Each selection includes an introduction, annotations on points of interest, author commentary, and suggestions for further reading. Excerpts are organized thematically to help readers understand their meaning without requiring an extensive knowledge of context. Six sectionsrunning in parallel to the structure and content to Volume Iexplore the topics such as the building of the empire,Pax Romana, the new empire of Diocletian and Constantine, and barbarian invasions and the fall of the Western Empire. Selected texts span a wide array of subjects ranging from political discourse and Roman law, to firsthand accounts of battle and military service, to the civic life and entertainment of ordinary citizens. This volume:

Covers a vast chronological and topical rangeIncludes introductory essays to each selected text to explain key points, present problems of interpretation, and guides readers to further literatureBalances the different categories and languages of original textsEnables easy cross-reference to Volume IMinimizes the use of technical language in favor of plain-English forms

Whether used as a freestanding work or as a complement to Volume I, the Select Anthologyis an ideal resource for students in Roman history survey courses as well as interested general readers seeking a wide-ranging collection of readings on the subject.

JOHN MATTHEWS is Professor Emeritus of Classics and History, Yale University, USA. He received his PhD from Oxford University in 1969 and taught Greek and Roman history at Oxford for many years before moving to Yale in 1996. He was elected Fellow of the British Academy in 1990. He is author of many books includingWestern Aristocracies and Imperial Court, A.D. 364-425, The Roman Empire of Ammianus,??Laying Down the Law: A Study of the Theodosian Code, andRoman Perspectives: Studies in the social, political and cultural history of the First to Fifth Centuries. He is also co-author of the acclaimedAtlas of the Roman World.

Preface xi

List of Figures xv

Part I Building an Empire 1

1 Contests of the Powerful: Appian:Civil War3

2 A Roman Senator Mourns His Wife: Laudatio Turiae (inscr., Rome) 7

3 An Architects Profession: Vitruvius:On Architecture,Preface 15

4 Past and Present in Augustan Poetry: The Battle of Actium in VergilsAeneid, 8.671731 19

5 The Authorized Version: Augustus:Res Gestae23

6The Secular Games 29

6.1 Zosimus:New History,2.56 30

6.2 Inscriptions on the Conduct of the Games 32

6.3 Q. Horatius Flaccus:Carmen Saeculare35

7 An Admirer of Tiberius: Velleius Paterculus:History of Rome,2.1017 39

8 An Embassy to Caligula: Philo:Legatio ad Gaium45

9 Victims of Tyranny 51

9.1 The Death of Seneca in TacitusAnnals, 15.605 52

9.2 Lucan the Poet: Suetonius,Life of Lucan54

10 Episodes from the Last Years of Nero 57

10.1 Tiridates at Rome: Cassius Dio/Xiphilinus, 63.17 58

10.2 The Grand Tour of Hellas Cassius Dio/Xiphilinus, 63.1421 59

10.3 Nero: The Liberation of Hellas (inscr. from Akraiphia, Boeotia) 62

11 Plautius Silvanus, Legate of Moesia: Funeraryelogiumfrom Tibur (inscr.) 67

Part IIPax Romana: A Polite and Powerful Empire 69

12 The Life and Death of the Elder Pliny 71

12.1 Pliny:Ep.3.5 to Baebius Macer 72

12.2 Pliny:Ep. 6.16 to Cornelius Tacitus 74

13 Conduct of a Philosopher: Epictetus:Discourses77

14 Scenes from Metropolitan Life: Martial: Selected Epigrams 81

14.1 The Colosseum 83

14.2 Snow in the Amphitheatre 83

14.3 Gladiatorial Combat 83

14.4 Animals in the Arena 84

14.5 Cruel and Unusual Punishment 84

14.6 The Devastation of Vesuvius 84

14.7 The Palace of Domitian 85

14.8 A Roman Suicide 85

14.9 A Lamented Dancer 86

14.10 Imperial Patronage and the Success of a Poet 86

14.11 A New Emperor 86

14.12 Pliny the Orator 87

14.13 A Poets Life 87

14.14 Juvenal the Satirist 88

15 Civic Life at Ephesus 91

15.1 Ulpian:De Officio Proconsulis93

15.2 The Sophist Damianus: Philostratus,Lives of the Sophists94

15.3 A Disruptive Visitor:Acts of the Apostles, 19.741 95

15.4 Inscriptions of Ephesus 97

15.5 Inscriptions of Perge 99

16 Public Life and Occupations: Artemidorus:Oneirocritica103

17 A Career Choice: Lucian of Samosata:The Dream107

18 Labor Costs in DiocletiansEdict on Maximum Prices113

18.1 Trades and Occupations:EdictVII 114

18.2 Prices of Slaves:EdictXXIX 116

19 Games and Entertainments 117

19.1 Two Epitaphs of Gladiators (inscrs. from Milan, Verona) 117

19.2 A RecordBreaking Charioteer: G. Appuleius Diocles (inscr., Rome) 118

20 A Visit to the Country: The Souk el-Khmis Inscription 123

21 Traveling to Court in theDigest: Gaius and Ulpian:Provincial Edict127

21.1 Gaius:Provincial Edict, Book 1 128

21.2 Ulpian:Provincial Edict, Book 74 129

22 Sea Journeys and Shipwrecks 131

22.1 Lucian:The Ship131

22.2 Letter from a Crewman (Papyrus) 134

22.3 The Sailing Season: Vegetius and the Theodosian Code 134

23 Life in the Armed Forces 137

23.1 A Soldiers Day of Glory (inscr., Philippi) 137

23.2 Hadrian Addresses the Troops (inscr., Lambaesis/Vescera) 138

23.3 A Tour of Inspection: ArriansCircumnavigation of the Black Sea141

23.4 A Legionary Surveyor and Engineer (inscr., Lambaesis) 146

23.5 Joining the Navy: Recruits Write Home (Papyrus Letters) 148

23.6 Retirement from the Army (Inscribed Diploma) 149

23.7 A Soldier Makes his Will (Papyrus Document) 151

24 Religion, Philosophy, Science 155

24.1 Apuleius and the Goddess Isis 155

24.2 Aelius Aristides and the God Asklepios 160

24.3 A Chapter of Accidents: Fronto and Marcus Caesar 164

24.4 GalensPrognosis168

24.5 Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: To Himself 173

25 Crime and Punishment in the Jurists: Justinian,Digest:Ulpian, Callistratus, Paul 181

26 A Hearing before the Proconsul:Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs187

Part III Rising to the Challenge 191

27 A Witness to His Age: Cassius DiosHistory193

27.1 The Last Days of Commodus, 73.1423 193

27.2 The End of theHistory, 80.15 197

28 The Great King Blows the Trumpet: Monumental Inscription from Naqsh-e Rustam, Fars 201

29 Prophecy and History in the ThirdCentury East: TheThirteenth Sibylline Oracle207

30 The Aftermath of Invasion: Gregory Thaumaturgus:Canonical Letter213

31 A Philosophers Circle: Eunapius:Lives of the Sophists217

32 The Herulian Attack on Athens: Dexippus:Scythica221

33 The Martyrdom of Cyprian 223

33.1 Cyprian:Letters224

33.2Acta Cypriani226

34 Christian Persecutions in the Papyri: Certificates of Sacrifice from Theadelphia and Oxyrhynchus 229

34.1 The Sacrifice Test 230

34.2 Declaration of Church Property 231

35 Maximinus and the Christians: Eusebius:Ecclesiastical Historywith inscr. from Colbasa 233

36 Legal Proceedings before theConsularis Numidiae: Optatus of Milevis: Appendix I 237

Part IV A New Empire 243

37 Diary of an Official: Papyrus from Oxyrhynchus 245

38 Cities of Constantine (1): Constantinople, New Rome 249

38.1 Zosimus:New History, 2.29ff 251

38.2Chronicon Paschale253

39 Cities of Constantine (2): Rome: TheLiber Pontificalis257

40 Cities of Constantine (3): Jerusalem: Eusebius on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre 267

41 A Question of Civic Status: Orcistus and Nacolia (inscr. from Orcistus) 273

42 The Philosopher and the Politician: Sopatros and Ablabius: Eunapius:Lives of the Sophists277

43 Tribulations of an Officer: Papyri from theAbinnaeus Archive281

44 On Their Majesties Service 287

44.1 The Emperor Restores a Reputation (inscr.) 287

44.2 Obelisks Tales (inscrs.) 289

45 Warfare and Romance on the Tigris Frontier 293

45.1 An Officer in the Field (Ammianus Marcellinus, 18.68) 294

45.2 The Wife of Craugasius (Ammianus Marcellinus, 18.10, 19.9) 299

46 An Adventure in the Desert: Jerome:Life of Malchus303

47 Julian and the Platonists: Eunapius:Lives of the Sophists311

48 The Conduct of a Priest: Julian:Letter to a Priest317

49 A Letter from Hierapolis: Julian:Letters323

50 The Surrender of Nisibis 327

50.1 Ammianus Marcellinus, 25.8.139.6 328

50.2 Ephraim of Nisibis:Third Hymn against Julian329

51 Pagan and Christian Virtues in the Roman Aristocracy 335

51.1 Vettius Agorius Praetextatus) (inscr., Symmachus) 335

51.2 Sextus Petronius Probus (inscr., Ammianus Marcellinus, Symmachus) 339

52 The Last Days of Monica: Augustine:Confessions, 9.2333 345

53 Their Majesties Voice: Selections from the Theodosian Code 351

53.1 The Imperial Image 352

53.2 Enemies of the State 353

53.3 The Conduct of Business 354

53.4 Custody of Accused Persons 355

53.5 Amnesties 356

53.6 Legal Holidays 357

53.7 Marriage, Sex, and the Family 358

53.8 Christianity and Legal Custom 362

53.9 Christianity and the Historic Past 364

Part V Facing the Future 367

54 The Life and Work of Ulfila 369

54.1 Philostorgius:Ecclesiastical History370

54.2 Jordanes:Getica372

54.3 TheLetter of Auxentius372

55 The Origin of the Huns: Jordanes:Getica375

56 The End of a Way of Life: Paulinus of Pella:Eucharisticon379

57 Returning Home: Rutilius Namatianus:De Reditu Suo385

57.1 Palladius and Exsuperantius, 1.20516 386

57.2 Victorinus, 1.491510 387

57.3 Protadius, 1.54158 387

58 Founding a City of God: Claudius Postumus Dardanus (inscr., Sisteron) 389

59 At the Royal Court of Attila 391

59.1 An Embassy to Attila in PriscusHistory392

59.2 Attilas Banquet in PriscusHistory397

59.3 The Death of Attila in JordanesGetica398

60 The End of Roman Noricum: Scenes from Eugippius:The Life of St. Severinus403

60.1 Arrival and Early Career of Severinus 405

60.2 Queen Giso and the Goldsmiths 407

60.3 Batavis and other Towns 408

60.4 The Loss of Lauriacum 410

60.5 Death of Severinus and Evacuation of Noricum 411

60.6 Deposition of Severinus at Naples 413

61 Public Business (1): Theodosian Code: Gesta Amplissimi Senatus 415

62 Public Business (2): Acts of the Council of Chalcedon 421

63 A Hall of Mirrors: Ostrogoth and Roman at the Court of Ravenna 427

63.1 CassiodorusVariae, 1.456 427

63.2 Boethius:Consolation of Philosophy430

64 Emperor and People at Byzantium: The Nika Riot 441

64.1 Procopius:Wars, 1.24 443

64.2 Acts against Calapodius; Theophanes:Chronographia443

64.3 Malalas:Chronicle446

64.4Chronicon Paschale447

65 Confirmation of theDigest: Justinian:Constitutio Tanta453

66 Recovering the West in Procopius 457

66.1 Syracuse:Wars, 3.14 458

66.2 Lepcis Magna:Buildings6.4 459

66.3 Rome:Wars5.18 460

Part VI Epilogue: Ruins of a Roman Landscape 463

67 The Lost Pleasures of a Hot Bath: Theodosian Code andBreviarium465

68 Venetian Origins?: Cassiodorus:Variae,12.24 467

69 Accident in a Derelict Amphitheater:Parasteis Syntomoi Chronikai469

70 The Works of Giants: Anglo-Saxon Poem:The Exeter Book471

71 Maumbury Rings: Thomas Hardy:The Mayor of Casterbridge475

Bibliographical References 479

Index 489