Empire of the Romans From Julius Caesar to Justinian: Six Hundred Years of Peace and War, Volume II: Select Anthology

Offers a broad range of texts spanning six centuries of imperial Roman history?Volume II of Empire 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 Anthology is 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 of Empire 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 sections?running in parallel to the structure and content to Volume I?explore 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 range
• Includes introductory essays to each selected text to explain key points, present problems of interpretation, and guides readers to further literature
• Balances the different categories and languages of original texts
• Enables easy cross-reference to Volume I
• Minimizes 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 Anthology is 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.

Preface xi

List of Figures xv

Part I Building an Empire 1

1 Contests of the Powerful: Appian: Civil War 3

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

3 An Architect’s Profession: Vitruvius: On Architecture, Preface 15

4 Past and Present in Augustan Poetry: The Battle of Actium in Vergil’s Aeneid, 8.671–731 19

5 The Authorized Version: Augustus: Res Gestae 23

6 The Secular Games 29

6.1 Zosimus: New History, 2.5–6 30

6.2 Inscriptions on the Conduct of the Games 32

6.3 Q. Horatius Flaccus: Carmen Saeculare 35

7 An Admirer of Tiberius: Velleius Paterculus: History of Rome, 2.101–7 39

8 An Embassy to Caligula: Philo: Legatio ad Gaium 45

9 Victims of Tyranny 51

9.1 The Death of Seneca in Tacitus’ Annals, 15.60–5 52

9.2 Lucan the Poet: Suetonius, Life of Lucan 54

10 Episodes from the Last Years of Nero 57

10.1 Tiridates at Rome: Cassius Dio/Xiphilinus, 63.1–7 58

10.2 The Grand Tour of Hellas Cassius Dio/Xiphilinus, 63.14–21 59

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

11 Plautius Silvanus, Legate of Moesia: Funerary elogium from Tibur (inscr.) 67

Part II Pax 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: Discourses 77

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 Poet’s Life 87

14.14 Juvenal the Satirist 88

15 Civic Life at Ephesus 91

15.1 Ulpian: De Officio Proconsulis 93

15.2 The Sophist Damianus: Philostratus, Lives of the Sophists 94

15.3 A Disruptive Visitor: Acts of the Apostles, 19.7–41 95

15.4 Inscriptions of Ephesus 97

15.5 Inscriptions of Perge 99

16 Public Life and Occupations: Artemidorus: Oneirocritica 103

17 A Career Choice: Lucian of Samosata: The Dream 107

18 Labor Costs in Diocletian’s Edict on Maximum Prices 113

18.1 Trades and Occupations: Edict VII 114

18.2 Prices of Slaves: Edict XXIX 116

19 Games and Entertainments 117

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

19.2 A Record‐Breaking Charioteer: G. Appuleius Diocles (inscr., Rome) 118

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

21 Traveling to Court in the Digest: Gaius and Ulpian: Provincial Edict 127

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 Ship 131

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 Soldier’s Day of Glory (inscr., Philippi) 137

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

23.3 A Tour of Inspection: Arrian’s Circumnavigation of the Black Sea 141

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 Galen’s Prognosis 168

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 Martyrs 187

Part III Rising to the Challenge 191

27 A Witness to His Age: Cassius Dio’s History 193

27.1 The Last Days of Commodus, 73.14–23 193

27.2 The End of the History, 80.1–5 197

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

29 Prophecy and History in the Third‐Century East: The Thirteenth Sibylline Oracle 207

30 The Aftermath of Invasion: Gregory Thaumaturgus: Canonical Letter 213

31 A Philosopher’s Circle: Eunapius: Lives of the Sophists 217

32 The Herulian Attack on Athens: Dexippus: Scythica 221

33 The Martyrdom of Cyprian 223

33.1 Cyprian: Letters 224

33.2 Acta Cypriani 226

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 History with inscr. from Colbasa 233

36 Legal Proceedings before the Consularis 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

38.2 Chronicon Paschale 253

39 Cities of Constantine (2): Rome: The Liber Pontificalis 257

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 Sophists 277

43 Tribulations of an Officer: Papyri from the Abinnaeus Archive 281

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, 18.6–8) 294

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

46 An Adventure in the Desert: Jerome: Life of Malchus 303

47 Julian and the Platonists: Eunapius: Lives of the Sophists 311

48 The Conduct of a Priest: Julian: Letter to a Priest 317

49 A Letter from Hierapolis: Julian: Letters 323

50 The Surrender of Nisibis 327

50.1 Ammianus Marcellinus, 25.8.13–9.6 328

50.2 Ephraim of Nisibis: Third Hymn against Julian 329

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, 9.23–33 345

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 History 370

54.2 Jordanes: Getica 372

54.3 The Letter of Auxentius 372

55 The Origin of the Huns: Jordanes: Getica 375

56 The End of a Way of Life: Paulinus of Pella: Eucharisticon 379

57 Returning Home: Rutilius Namatianus: De Reditu Suo 385

57.1 Palladius and Exsuperantius, 1.205–16 386

57.2 Victorinus, 1.491–510 387

57.3 Protadius, 1.541–58 387

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 Priscus’ History 392

59.2 Attila’s Banquet in Priscus’ History 397

59.3 The Death of Attila in Jordanes’ Getica 398

60 The End of Roman Noricum: Scenes from Eugippius: The Life of St. Severinus 403

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 Cassiodorus’ Variae, 1.45–6 427

63.2 Boethius: Consolation of Philosophy 430

64 Emperor and People at Byzantium: The Nika Riot 441

64.1 Procopius: Wars, 1.24 443

64.2 “Acts against Calapodius”; Theophanes: Chronographia 443

64.3 Malalas: Chronicle 446

64.4 Chronicon Paschale 447

65 Confirmation of the Digest: Justinian: Constitutio “Tanta” 453

66 Recovering the West in Procopius 457

66.1 Syracuse: Wars, 3.14 458

66.2 Lepcis Magna: Buildings 6.4 459

66.3 Rome: Wars 5.18 460

Part VI Epilogue: Ruins of a Roman Landscape 463

67 The Lost Pleasures of a Hot Bath: Theodosian Code and Breviarium 465

68 Venetian Origins?: Cassiodorus: Variae, 12.24 467

69 Accident in a Derelict Amphitheater: Parasteis Syntomoi Chronikai 469

70 “The Works of Giants”: Anglo-Saxon Poem: The Exeter Book 471

71 “Maumbury Rings”: Thomas Hardy: The Mayor of Casterbridge 475

Bibliographical References 479

Index 489

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 including Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court, A.D. 364-425, The Roman Empire of Ammianus,??Laying Down the Law: A Study of the Theodosian Code, and Roman Perspectives: Studies in the social, political and cultural history of the First to Fifth Centuries. He is also co-author of the acclaimed Atlas of the Roman World.