E Mary Smallwood - Böcker

Josephus’ account of a war marked by treachery and atrocity is a superbly detailed and evocative record of the Jewish rebellion against Rome between AD 66 and 70. Originally a rebel leader, Josephus changed sides after he was captured to become a Rome-appointed negotiator, and so was uniquely placed to observe these turbulent events, from the siege of Jerusalem to the final heroic resistance and mass suicides at Masada. His account provides much of what we know about the history of the Jews under Roman rule, with vivid portraits of such key figures as the Emperor Vespasian and Herod the Great. Often self-justifying and divided in its loyalties, The Jewish War nevertheless remains one of the most immediate accounts of war, its heroism and its horrors, ever written.

In this volume, originally published in 1966, E. Mary Smallwood compiles a thorough list of documents and physical artefacts from the reign of the first three of the Five Good Emperors. It was Nerva, and his two adopted successors, Trajan and Hadrian, who paved the way for Rome's Golden Age - each winning the cooperation and approval of the Roman Senate. Smallwood's text contains an extensive collection of materials from the societies of these first 'good emperors', complete with indices of significant persons, coins and other subjects of general relevance. Smallwood quotes directly from imperial papers and letters, references numerous busts and statues, and uses laws, currency and minutes of meetings to compile a fantastic overview of items from this period in Roman history. This work will remain a highly beneficial research tool for scholars and historians interested in the detailed study of the documents and artefacts of this age.

Originally published in 1967, this volume gathers together a broad range of documents illustrating the successive reigns of three Roman Emperors: Gaius, Claudius, and Nero. The material is divided into various chapters representing different aspects of the Empire. Within each chapter, material is ordered in a roughly chronological fashion, but there is some grouping according to subject or geographical area. Documents are presented without translation, alongside information regarding their source and, where necessary, contextual descriptions to aid the reader's understanding. This is a consummately edited book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Classical sources and Ancient Rome.