Procopius was the major historian of the reign of Justinian and one of the most important historians of Late Antiquity. This is the first extensive commentary on his Persian Wars since the nineteenth century. The work is among the most varied of the author, incorporating the history and geography not only of Mesopotamia and the Caucasus, but also of southern Arabia and Ethiopia, Iran and Central Asia, and Constantinople itself. Each major section is introduced by a section on the history of the events concerned and on the treatment of these events by Procopius and other sources. The volume is equipped with an introduction, three appendices, and numerous maps and plans. All sections of the work that are commented on are translated. The book will therefore be of use to specialists and the general reader alike. A complete translation of the work, with lighter annotation, is being published separately.
Author(s): Geoffrey Greatrex
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 880
City: Cambridge
List of Maps and Battle Plans ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xv
List of Abbreviations xvi
Tables of Names xxi
Names of People xxii
Names of Places and Peoples xxvii
Cross-References and Conventions in the Commentary xxxiii
Introduction 1
(1) Procopius 1
(2) The Composition and Structure of The Persian Wars 3
(3) Procopius’ Style 8
(a) Speeches 10
(b) Digressions 12
(c) The Presence of Christianity 13
(d) Historical Analysis 14
(e) Lexical Preferences 15
(4) Procopius’ Sources 17
(a) Written Historical Sources 17
(b) Oral Sources 18
(c) Reports from the Front 18
(d) Autopsy 19
(5) The Transmission of The Persian Wars 19
(6) Rome and Persia in the Sixth Century 21
(7) The Structure of this Commentary 28
Commentary on Book I 31
Commentary on Book II 377
Appendix 1: Perso-Arabic Sources on Sasanian History 665
Appendix 2: The Length of Procopius’ Stade 675
Appendix 3: Nonnosus and Roman Missions to Southern
Arabia and Ethiopia 679
Bibliography 687
Index Locorum 773
Index of Latin Terms 817
Index of RKOR Entries 818
Index of Persons and Titles 819
Index of Peoples and Places 837
