Research Catalog
Historical miscellany
- Title
- Historical miscellany / Aelian ; edited and translated by N.G. Wilson.
- Author
- Aelian, active 3rd century.
- Publication
- Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 1997.
Items in the Library & Off-site
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1 Item
| Status | Format | Access | Call Number | Item Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Request in advance | PA3821 .A4 1997 | Off-site |
Holdings
Details
- Additional Authors
- Wilson, N. G. (Nigel Guy), 1935-
- Description
- 514 pages; 17 cm.
- Summary
- Aelian's Historical Miscellany is a pleasurable example of light reading for Romans of the early third century. Offering engaging anecdotes about historical figures, retellings of legendary events, and descriptive pieces - in sum: amusement, information, and variety - Aelian's collection of nuggets and narratives could be enjoyed by a wide reading public.
- A rather similar book had been published in Latin in the previous century by Aulus Gellius; Aelian is a late, perhaps the last, representative of what had been a very popular genre.
- Here then are anecdotes about the famous Greek philosophers, poets, historians, and playwrights; myths instructively retold; moralizing tales about heroes and rulers, athletes and wise men; reports about styles in dress, foods and drink, lovers, gift-giving practices, entertainments, religious beliefs and death customs; and comments on Greek painting. Some of the information is not preserved in any other source.
- Underlying it all are Aelian's Stoic ideals as well as this Roman's great admiration for the culture of the Greeks (whose language he borrowed for his writings).
- Series Statement
- Loeb classical library ; 486
- Uniform Title
- Loeb classical library ; 486.
- Alternative Title
- Aelian: historical miscellany
- Subject
- Bibliography (note)
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN
- 067499535X
- LCCN
- 96038637
- OCLC
- ocm35360684
- Owning Institutions
- Columbia University Libraries