The annals was tacitus final work, covering the period from the death of augustus caesar in the year 14. He wrote at least 16 books, but books 710 and parts of books 5, 6, 11 and 16 are missing. He recognized the necessity for strong rulers but argued that more should be done to manage the succession of power and allow for the ascension of. Annals books 16, translated by john jackson, loeb classical library 322 cambridge, ma. Cornelius tacitus wrote his history of the roman empire from the death of augustus a. Translated by michael grant and first published in this form in 1956. His graphic narrative including annals xv is one of the highlights of the greatest surviving historian of the roman empire. Overall, this books exuberant and playful approach to tacitus. The announcement is part of his selffashioning as a muckraker above partisan. Crossreferences to this page 5 dictionary of greek and roman. The volume rounds off the sequence which began with commentary on books 1 and 2 of tacitus annals by f. Tacitus introduces his themes and most of the major players at the beginning. Annales by roman historian and senator tacitus is a history of the roman empire from the reign of tiberius to that of nero, the years ad 1468. The first political commentary on tacitus the journal of.
Andersons edition, first published in 1938, was designed to replace that of furneaux and to take particular account of the light thrown by archaeology on tacituss account of the germanic peoples. Professor goodyears introduction to the series deals concisely with the background to the annals. A philological commentary on tacitus, annals 14, 154. I was given a refund and told that there were no other copies. The annals are tacitus brilliant account of roman imperial history from the death of augustus to the death of nero. Oxford university press, 1958 reprinted in 1985 by the same publisher, with the isbn 0198143273 is the definitive study of his life and works. The remainder of book 15 chapters 4874 covers the conspiracy of piso in ad 65, which developed in part as a reaction to the rumour that nero himself. This book offers a portion of the original latin text, study aids with vocabulary. Latin text, study aids with vocabulary, and commentary. Rhiannon ash fellow and tutor in classics, merton college, oxford university discusses tacitus annals book 15 of interest to students studying ocr a2 lev. Annals, by tacitus, was a difficult read more like reading the jottings in someones notebook. On this occasion i shall keep the books because i need to use them.
Frank frost abbott, commentary on selected letters of cicero, letter xxxiv. The commentary deals only with stylistic and linguistic matters. Tacitus grew up during a the reign of nero, and may have been a teenager when nero died and the roman empire was plunged into civil war. His prose style is in the first tier of latin writers.
His graphic narrative including annals xv is one of the highlights. It describes how the imperial system survived neros flamboyant and hedonistic. Tacitus account of neros principate is an extraordinary piece of historical writing. The notes were selected and assembled by undergraduates at the university of pennsylvania during the academic year 201516, then vetted, edited, and occasionally supplemented by me see further below. As tony woodman has shown in his seminal article neros alien capital. Tacituss germania has been an abiding interest for all who study the roman world from a northern european perspective. Rhiannon ash tacitus account of neros principate is an extraordinary piece of historical writing. Although many of the works were lost only books 1 5 of the histories and 1 6 and 1116 of the annals survive, enough remains to provide a good sense of tacituss political and moral philosophy. Others found the explanation in a private compact stipulating that, if hostilities were suspended on both sides and vologeses withdrew, tigranes. In comparison with the price of most such editions, this text and commentary in the green and yellow series should be in the bargain basement section, except there is nothing basement about. The annals of tacitus with a commentary by the rev. A philological commentary on tacitus, annals 14, 1 54. However, i found the history had more depth since tacitus. Annals book xv cambridge greek and latin classics tacitus on.
Owens and gildenhards commentary will be of interest to students of latin at a2. Review of striking prodigies that occurred in ad 62 iii 23. The first political commentary on tacitus volume 37 issue 1 2 arnaldo momigliano. Goodyear 1972, 1981 and was continued by commentary on book 3 by a. The term variorum refers to a compilation made with the notes of various editors, cum notis variorum. We parachute right into the middle of a meeting of the roman senate that took place towards the end of the year 62 15. Also tacitus uses multiple names for the same person or one name for multiple personalities in a family. His annals and histories are a panorama of first century rome, from tiberius to domitian. Book 1 book ii book iii book iv book v book vi book xi book xii book xiii book xiv book xv book xvi chapter. Part of a complete english translation of the annals. Book 6 ends with the death of tiberius and books 712 presumably covered the reigns of caligula and claudius.
Diverse subjects are treated, but certain themes predominate. Tacitus wrote the annals in at least 16 books, but books 710 and parts of books 5, 6, 11 and 16 are missing the period covered by the histories written before the annals. The first political commentary on tacitus 2014 richard carrier the prospect of a christian interpolation in tacitus, annals 15. His graphic narrative including annals xv is one of the highlights of the greatest. His graphic narrative including annals xv is one of the highlights of the greatest surviving historian of the. The purpose of this project is to look at tacituss annals book 4 to see how the latin works at its basic level of word, grammar, syntax, that is, the basic mechanics that would be of interest to a student of latin. Designed to stretch and stimulate readers, owens and gildenhards commentary will be of interest to students of latin at a2 and undergraduate level.
He outlines the history of tacitean scholarship to the present day and shows how. Unfortunately, for the second time, i received two copies of the book bound by the cover of annals 1. The power of the decemvirs did not last beyond two years, nor was the consular jurisdiction of the military tribunes of long duration. It is so thorough an edition, it has never been replaced, and is reprinted now. Tacitus account of it began in the previous paragraph 15. We do not have a complete account of either the annals or the histories, but what has been preserved. Textual problems are sometimes discussed, but only when they can be illuminated by points of usage. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Literal interlinear translation with vocabulary and grammar introduction. Freedom and the consulship were established by lucius brutus. Tacitus presents a vivid picture of the highwater point of the roman empire, and does not gloss over the toxic corruption and brutality of the time. The internet classics archive the annals by tacitus. Augustus, a colossal figure in roman history, died in 14 ce, and this is when tiberius. His graphic narrative including annals xv is one of the highlights of the.
Cornelius tacitus, the annals alfred john church, william jackson brodribb, ed. This book offers a portion of the original latin text, study aids with vocabulary, and a commentary. Annals 15 has long been in sore want of a standalone commentary. Translated by alfred john church and william jackson brodribb. The set text carries on for a bit, covering the end of ad 62 and the beginning of ad 63 15. Of sixteen books at least, there survive books iiv covering the years 1428. The annals by tacitus translated by alfred john church and william jackson brodribb book i a. The annals by tacitus translated by alfred john church and william jackson brodribb book xvi a. Tacitus, suetonius, and the historical jesus biblical. The first in a fourvolume edition of tacitus annals 1 6. The annals was tacitus final work and provides a key source for modern understanding of the history of the roman empire from the beginning of the reign of tiberius in ad 14 to the end of the reign of nero, in ad 68.