Curtius Rufus, Histories of Alexander the Great, Book 10

by Atkinson, J. E.; Yardley, J. C.

• ISBN13: 9780199557639
• ISBN10: 0199557632
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-06-15
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book presents a translation, with commentary, of a major Roman source on the end of the reign of Alexander the Great. Book 10 of Curtius' Histories covers the reign of terror and mutiny that followed upon Alexander's return from India; and offers the fullest account of the power strugglethat began in Babylon immediately after his death. The Introduction establishes a profile of Curtius Rufus (quite probably a Roman Senator of the first century AD), and his agenda as a historian. John Yardley's translation and the commentary are designed for the reader without Latin. The Commentaryprovides detailed analysis of the historical events of the crucial period 325-3 BC covered by Curtius, and also tries to get behind the surface level of meaning to show how Curtius intended his history to be a text for his time. Curtius' text is also examined as a literary achievement in its ownright.

Author Biography

J. E. Atkinson is Emeritus Professor, University of Cape Town. J. C. Yardley is Professor of Classics, University of Ottawa.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Levels of significance

Curtius, the author and his dates

Possible identification with other known Curtii

Curtius' Histories of Alexander and its genre

The structure of Book 10

Curtius' sources

Curtius and other writers of the early Principate

Truth and the historical value of Curtius' Histories

Judging Alexander

Curtius' language and literary value Translation

Commentary Additional note on problems of chronology

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