In modern day politics, fidelity is considered a very important attribute. Vespasian by suetonius free ebook project gutenberg. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns of such emperors as tiberius, caligula, and nero. The twelve caesars by suetonius penguin books australia. For example, suetonius is the main source on the lives of caligula, his uncle claudius. History of the twelve caesars by suetonius librarything. Xxxviii his gifts to the soldiers and people book one. Romulus, the founder of rome, had the honour of an apotheosis conferred on him by the senate, under the title of quirinus, to obviate the peoples suspicion of his having been taken off by a conspiracy of the patrician order. Suetonius article about suetonius by the free dictionary. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, translated by robert graves 1965. Jan 23, 1996 an analysis of suetonius account of the emperor domitian. I find it heartening to enjoy with such gusto a 2,000 year old historical account by the emperor hadrians secretary, he being one suetonius.
Reading carefully, you will see that where he heard two conflicting accounts of an issue or event he quotes both, usually without attempt to reconcile them. Very nearly all that is known about the lives of romes eminent authors stems ultimately from this work, which survives only in the whole of one section and in the preface and five lives. Suetonius lives of the twelve caesars is a little hard to read at first if youve been out of the loop for almost two millennia for he essentially wrote a tabloid on the rulers of his time and if youre not familiar with the names of the minor players from other sources, you will miss a lot of context. An essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire.
Not only is this a most engaging translation by robert graves, author of i claudius, but there is a. Not only was there an octavian street in the busiest part of town, but there was also an altar consecrated to an octavius who led the troops in a war with a neighbouring city. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, commonly known as suetonius ca. Pdf in romans view, caius julius caesar was not only a writer, a politician, a triumvir. Pdf caesar the revolutionary of roman military affairs. Suetonius tranquillus this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. For in the most frequented part of the town, there was, not long since, a street named the octavian. Julius caesar, the divine, 1 lost his father 2 when he was in the sixteenth year of his age. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns of.
Aside from the works of the authors josephus flavius antiquities of the jews, 18. Ea cuprinde 12 biografii ale imparatiilor romani incepand cu dictatorul caesar. By the use of the little numbered diagrams we are spared what would have become a treatise, and not a very clear one. This penguin classic of the twelve caesars by suetonius is the perfect place to start for anybody interested in ancient grecoroman history and culture. Suetonius tranquillus vietile celor doisprezece cezari. Suetonius tranquillus, divus augustus alexander thomson, ed. The twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus, translated by robert graves 1965 the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius tranquillus translated by robert graves.
For amusing antecdotes that read more like a tabloid, the twelve caesars is worth checking out. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. About the life of the caesars, commonly known as the twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus. Oct 25, 2007 the twelve caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over rome, from the foundation of the empire under julius caesar and augustus to the decline into depravity under nero and the recovery that came with his successors.
Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. An analysis of suetonius account of the emperor domitian. In his narrative, he describes the biographies of twelve members of romes ruling class who led its empire at its height, beginning with julius caesar and ending over a century later with the hapless domitian. About the life of the caesars, commonly known as the twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus the work, written in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, was the most popular work of suetonius, at that time hadrians personal.
The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius free ebook. Suetonius, in holding up a mirror to those caesars of diverting legend, reflects not only them but ourselves. Caesar the revolutionary of roman military affairs in sciendo. His treatments consist of an account of each emperors administrative and military accomplishments followed by. His treatments consist of an account of each emperors administrative and military accomplishments followed by a description of his character and personal life. Cumparam viniluri noutati reduceri sub 3 lei sub 5 lei. Vietile celor doisprezece cezari vitae duodecum caesarum, incheiata in anul 122 e. Some biographical details can be found in the letters of that other famous roman writer pliny the younger, the two being good friends. Documente similare cu suetonius vietile celor 12 cezari cap. An able biographer, suetonius demonstrates his literary competence by authoring a text that both casual readers will find entertaining or students will find enlightening.
Dec, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Durham steagul rosu david priestland gulagul anne applebaum istoria megalomaniei p. This penguin classics edition is translated from the latin by robert graves, author of i, claudius, revised with an introduction and notes by james b. A comparison is offered between suetonius account and dios version. Topics generalities publisher modern library new york collection universallibrary contributor braou language english. Jan 21, 2016 suetonius was director of the imperial libraries and then a private secretary to hadrian. The value at its introduction was 10 asses, giving the denarius its name which translates to containing ten. Vietile celor doisprezece cezari vitae duodecum caesarum, incheiata in. That the family of the octavii was of the first distinction in velitrae, 1 is rendered evident by many circumstances. The book provides a detailed commentary on matters of historical importance in the text, together with a discussion of suetonius life. Drusus the elder, claudius caesars father, who was first named decimus and later nero, was born in 38bc to livia, less than three months after she wedded augustus. Page 516 a special feature of the present book is the lavish use of engravings, which at once illustrate the verbal explanations of technical and scientific terms, and permit them to remain readably brief. Mine is a much earlier edition of the twelve caesars, but its still robert graves translation of suetonius text, so it is what it is.
Vietile celor doisprezece cezari suetonius tranquillus, editura stiintifica, anul 1958. Suetonius vietile celor doisprezece cezari cumpara. With a position close to the imperial court he was able to access otherwise private sources for his work, and he certainly did not hold back on revealing the sometimes. Suetonius the twelve caesars followed an established convention of the short biographical essay, which lent itself to convivial sharing before an audience but could also be used to explore important themes. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore the nature of imperial power and how a. Little is known about his life except that he was briefly the private secretary of emperor hadrian. Suetonius lives of the twelve caesars is a little hard to read at first if youve been out of the loop for almost two millennia for he essentially wrote a tabloid on the rulers of his time and if youre not familiar with the names of the minor players from other sources, you will miss a.
By all accounts, the octavii, of ancient velitrae velletri were a distinguished family. The project gutenberg ebook of the lives of the twelve caesars, complete by c. If youre reading purely for historical quality, i suggest livy or tacitus. The lives of the twelve caesars, to which are added his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. Jan 21, 2008 an essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. Her pregnancy at the time of the marriage led to suspicions that drusus was the result of his stepfathers adultery with her. Nero is agrippinas son, one of claudius wives and nieces. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the scholar suetonius had access to the imperial archives and used them along with eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history.
Political circumstances again concurred with popular superstition to revive this posthumous adulation in favour of julius caesar, the founder. This masterpiece of observation, immortalized in robert gravess classic. The work, written in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, was the most popular work of suetonius. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. Not only is this a most engaging translation by robert graves, author of i claudius, but there is a short forward by classics scholar, michael grant.
335 62 771 558 916 1010 706 1201 1291 275 952 900 857 910 559 1470 446 1033 1208 521 437 1208 1120 757 24 433 874 275 925 166 545 959 886