Ammianus Marcellinus

This is a great book that begins about 20 years after the death of Constantine the Great in 337 AD and describes the tribulations of his children. Now Ammianus is not Tacitus or Livy in terms of writing style, but he had an advantage over many of these ancient historians; namely, he lived and participated (i.e., was an eye witness) to most of the events he describes.

The only unfortunate part about this book is that the editor deemed necessary to omit a large number of sections from the original manuscript. Although these sections may appear, at a superficial glance, trivial from a historical perspective (like Ammianus' opinions of what causes earthquakes), to me these kind of passages have greater value than descriptions of battles. One can find description of battles or other main events in any contemporary summary of history. But it is only by reading these ancient texts that we find out how people thought, how they spoke, their habits and culture. And sometimes, it is the off the cuff remark that reveals some surprising facts. For example, in describing Julian's campaign against the Persians he mentions of a town that was deserted "by its Jewish inhabitants because of its low walls." This town was close to today's Basrah in southern Iraq, close to the beginning (or end) of the Persian Gulf. To me this was unexpected as I never thought that Jewish people lived in their own towns so far away from Jerusalem.… (mer)

I enjoy this book. Mr. Hamilton made a translation with an elegant lilt for a Roman history. It is also a history, not a disguised biography, with exploration of the general decline of the empire. Ammianus seems to have had some access to official decrees and some internal documents. He also includes some period and touching details such as the doffing of helmets by army officers when fighting in the emperor's presence to increase the likelihood of recognition in the promotion sweepstakes. Silly, but the kind of thing people might actually do. This is the last coherent history written until Procopius in the sixth century, by a well placed Roman and the historian is advised to read this book.… (mer)

Geweldige vertaling door een groot Nederlands expert en vertaler van een waanzinnig interessant boek. Ammianus' krankzinnige stijl kan in het Nederlands niet precies geimiteerd worden, met zijn oeverloze zinnen die met rare participia plotseling een hoek omslaan, maar de toon is volgens mij precies getroffen. Ammianus doet verslag, maar het interessantst zijn niet zijn Herodotusachtige ngeografische intermezzi, maar, vind ik, de gewelddadigheid van de laatantieke wereld, vooral de grafisch beschreven veldslagen en belegeringen, ook de processen en moordpartijen, waarbij telkens het allerergste blijkt dat je op magische wijze probeert te weten te komen wanneer de keizer zal doodgaan of wie de volgende is. In het volk is Ammianus niet geinteresseerd, en hoge ambtenaren en officieren van lage komaf zijn daardoor al verdacht. Een schitterend en leerzaam boek!… (mer)