Velleius Paterculus

This volume deals with the most controversial part of Velleius’ work, regarded by the majority of modern scholars as a panegyrical biography of Tiberius and used as an excuse for dismissing the historical value of Velleius’ whole work. In the introduction Dr Woodman considers the nature of the Tiberian narrative in the light of the literary tradition, and argues that it is no more panegyrical than some of the most admired products of Roman historiography such as Livy and Ammianus. He also considers the transmission of Velleius’ text since its discovery in 1515, and argues that, contrary to the opinion of most nineteenth and twentieth-century editors, Rhenanus’ editio princeps of 1520 is a more reliable authority than Amerbach’s apograph of 1516. Dr Woodman provides a full apparatus criticus, and an extensive commentary which is intended for use by students and specialists in Roman literature, historiography, and history.

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An imperial historian and an emperor’s history.Velleius Paterculus, who lived in the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius (30 BC–AD 37), served as a military tribune in Thrace, Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor, and later, from AD 4 to 12 or 13, as a cavalry officer and legatus in Germany and Pannonia. He was quaestor in AD 7, praetor in 15. He wrote in two books “Roman Histories,” a summary of Roman history from the fall of Troy to AD 29. As he approached his own times he becomes much fuller in his treatment, especially between the death of Caesar in 44 BC and that of Augustus in AD 14. His work has useful concise essays on Roman colonies and provinces and some effective compressed portrayals of characters. Res Gestae Divi Augusti. In his 76th year (AD 13–14) the emperor Augustus wrote a dignified account of his public life and work of which the best preserved copy (with a Greek translation) was engraved by the Galatians on the walls of the temple of Augustus at Ancyra (Ankara). It is a unique document giving short details of his public offices and honors; his benefactions to the empire, to the people, and to the soldiers; and his services as a soldier and as an administrator.