Diodorus Siculus and the world of the late Roman republic /
The Bibliotheke of Diodorus Siculus is one of the most important histories to survive from antiquity and a critical work of Greek historiography. This book focuses on the first part of Diodorus, which covers "barbarian" ethnography, myth, and early history and contains the most varied and...
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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New York, NY :
Oxford University Press,
[2017]
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| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | The Bibliotheke of Diodorus Siculus is one of the most important histories to survive from antiquity and a critical work of Greek historiography. This book focuses on the first part of Diodorus, which covers "barbarian" ethnography, myth, and early history and contains the most varied and eclectic material in his work. It shows how Diodorus defines the physical, political, and cultural boundaries of the late Roman Republic and uses them to map out future possibilities for the Romans. Diodorus reveals through the history, myths, and customs of the "barbarians" the secrets of successful states and rulers, and contributes to the debates surrounding the transition from Republic to Empire. The "barbarians" of the Bibliotheke are closely connected to the crumbling Republic. Through the medium of the ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Indians, and others Diodorus engages with major issues and intellectual disputes of his time, including the origins of civilization, the propriety of ruler cult, the benefits of monarchy, and the relationship of mythology and history. Diodorus has much in common with Roman historiography and Roman authors writing on these topics, notably Cicero, Lucretius, Varro, Sallust, and Livy. But engaging with such controversial issues, even indirectly, could be dangerous for a Greek provincial such as Diodorus during the Roman civil wars, and he may never have completed or fully published the Bibliotheke in his lifetime. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (xii, 284 pages) |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780190498733 0190498730 9780190498740 0190498749 |