160:, of which I have personal experience.” (2.15.7) This reaffirms the notion that Herodian was about 70 years of age when this was written and that the actions did indeed occur during his lifetime. However, it is possible that his history was composed at a later date. Herodian's descriptions of Gordian III are less than flattering, and it is doubtful that he released such a negative review of a current emperor. Following this logic, his history was finished in 244 at the earliest, when Gordian III died. In his first and third books, Herodian mentions the games of
32:
207:, an Alexandrian grammarian. Although this does fit chronologically, there is no other evidence to support it. The popular speculation, however, is that Herodian was from Antioch. Herodian describes the character of the Syrians as quick-witted and mentions them twice more. However, there are also gaps in Herodian's knowledge of Syrian affairs which lead one to believe that he might not have been from the region at all. For example, he confuses two
365:
241:. However, it is also stated that news of this was leaked by some senators, and it certainly would not have remained a secret for the entirety of Herodian's lifetime. It is possible, however, that Herodian was a freedman. This fits the profile perfectly, for he would not have cared for the larger political issues, and instead, would have concentrated on personalities and intricacies. Still yet, Herodian could have been an
303:
262:
764:
533:
In regard to
Cassius Dio, both he and Herodian admittedly make many errors in their histories. Dio is credited as the expert when it comes to the senate; however, Herodian challenges Dio on his description of the people's reaction to the proclamation of Septimius Severus as their new emperor. Dio's
447:
is a collection of eight books covering the period from the death of Marcus
Aurelius in 180 AD to the beginning of Gordian III's reign in 238. It provides a first person account of one of the most politically diverse times of the Roman Empire. The first book describes the reign of Commodus from 180
211:
kings, and his chronology and geography of the
Parthian campaign in 197–198 are deeply flawed. These flaws could be explained with a lack of knowledge of a small part of the empire; however, one would assume that an inhabitant of Syria would have had access to this knowledge. In short, unless an
155:
The dates of the birth and death of
Herodian are unknown. All available information concerning his life is derived from what he himself wrote, so the evidence is scarce. One can assume that he must have reached the age of ten by the year 180 due to the attentive detail in his descriptions of the
510:
chronological order.” (2.15.7) Because of this, Herodian sometimes conflates a large number of events into a single reference or two. For example, all of
Caracalla's campaign in the north during 213 through 214 is condensed into two short allusions. Similarly, a single reference to a winter in
509:
Herodian has long been criticized for a lack of historical accuracy, but recent studies have tended to side with him, legitimizing his historical facts. In the second book, Herodian states that his intention was to “narrate only the most important and conclusive…actions separately and in
492:
wrote in 1705 that
Herodian "still preserves a Majesty suitable to the Greatness of the Subject which he treats, and has something in him so pleasing and comely, as perhaps all the Art and Labour of other Men can never reach.” Altheim commended Herodian's wide vision of the period, and
123:. Herodian himself may have been a Syrian (perhaps from Antioch), though he appears to have lived for a considerable period of time in Rome, possibly without holding any public office. From his extant work, it seems that he was still living at an advanced age during the reign of
156:
events of that time. One notion is that
Herodian must have finished writing around 240, which would have made him about 70. He mentions, “My aim is to write a systematic account of the events within a period of seventy years, covering the reigns of several
245:, a scribe or an attendant to the emperor. This would be suiting, for he would have had access to senatorial documents, traveled extensively, and been knowledgeable in the field of fiscal affairs, which Herodian repetitively stressed in his history.
452:
in 193. Book Three encompasses the reign of
Septimius Severus from 193 to 211, while the fourth discusses the reign of Caracalla from 211 to 217. Book five is about the reign of Elagabalus from 218 through 222, and book six deals with the reign of
138:
on the style of
Herodian, which he describes as clear, vigorous, agreeable, and preserving a happy medium between an utter disregard of art and elegance and a profuse employment of the artifices and prettinesses which were known under the name of
670:
658:
619:
224:
which I saw and heard in my lifetime. I had a personal share in some of these events during my imperial and public service.” (1.2.5) It has been suggested that
Herodian was a senator due to his knowledge of the
497:
acclaimed Herodian's lack of bias and superstition. However, not all views of Herodian are positive. For example, Wolf also charged Herodian with a deficiency in critical faculty. While the author of the
191:
massacre of this city and its inhabitants. It is also believed that he could have possibly been an eyewitness to these attacks. Herodian does refer to Alexandria as the second city of the
604:
Rantala, Jussi (2020). "Ruling in Purple... and Wearing Make-up. Gendered Adventures of Emperor Elagabalus as Seen by Cassius Dio and Herodian.". In Allison Surtees, Jennifer Dyer (ed.).
476:. Of Herodian, Photius wrote “he neither exaggerates with hyperbole nor omits anything essential; in short, in all the virtues of historiography there are few men who are his superior.”
671:
https://books.google.ae/books?id=WGwZAAAAMAAJ&q=herodian+Syrian+origin&dq=herodian+Syrian+origin&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFu7nclanvAhUHiFwKHSmpBhEQ6AEwAHoECAAQAw
659:
https://books.google.ae/books?id=_uXVAAAAMAAJ&q=herodian+Syrian+origin&dq=herodian+Syrian+origin&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFu7nclanvAhUHiFwKHSmpBhEQ6AEwA3oECAUQAw
620:
https://books.google.ae/books?id=UsRfAAAAMAAJ&q=herodian+Syrian+origin&dq=herodian+Syrian+origin&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFu7nclanvAhUHiFwKHSmpBhEQ6AEwB3oECAcQAw
717:
Downey, Glanville. The Classical Journal, Vol. 67, No. 2 (Dec., 1971 - Jan., 1972), pp. 182–184. Northfield: The Classical Association of the Middle West and South, Inc.
465:
in 238. Most likely, Herodian is writing for an eastern audience, for he often explains different Roman customs and beliefs that would have seemed foreign to Easterners.
115:(τῆς μετὰ Μάρκον βασιλείας ἱστορία) in eight books covering the years 180 to 238. His work is not considered entirely reliable, although his less biased account of
802:
522:
in 236 through 238. Herodian also occasionally falls short in his descriptions of geography. He confuses Arabia Scenite with Arabia Felix and claims that
632:
752:
Whittaker, C.R.. Herodian: History of the Empire, Volume I–II, Books 1–8 (Loeb Classical Library No. 454–455). London: Loeb Classical Library, 1969–70.
220:
Neither the occupation nor the social status of Herodian is known. Herodian mentions, “I have written a history of the events following the death of
172:
in 204. If Herodian attended the games of Commodus, he had been at least 14 at the time, which is to say that he was born in 178 at the latest.
147:
as a model to some extent, both for style and for the general composition of his work, often introducing speeches wholly or in part imaginary.
711:
Browning, Robert. The Classical Review, New Series, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Jun., 1971), pp. 194–196. Oxford: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
714:
Carney, T.F.. The Classical Review, New Series, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Jun., 1971), pp. 194–196. Oxford: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
685:
618:
Herodian ( 11 . 7 . 9 ) says φύσει δε κούφoν τo Σύρον έθνος - an interesting comment , since Herodian himself may have been Syrian
469:
749:
Roos, A.G. The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 5, (1915), pp. 191–202. London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies.
468:
Herodian has been both praised and criticized by scholars. The first person on record to review Herodian is the ninth-century
740:
642:
588:
561:
817:
812:
430:
412:
346:
289:
75:
53:
551:
394:
328:
46:
502:
drew from Herodian, he also censured him for bias, and Herodian was by no means Zosimus’ first choice. Similarly,
847:
832:
807:
390:
313:
183:
were bigger than anything “in our part of the world.” (2.11.8) It has been suggested that Herodian was from
689:
481:
693:
827:
822:
768:
473:
131:
774:
130:
Herodian writes (1.1.3; 2.15.7) that the events described in his history occurred during his lifetime.
449:
386:
275:
20:
534:
work is not always the more accurate of the two and must not be immediately chosen over Herodian's.
787:
462:
375:
111:" (c. 170 – c. 240), was a minor Roman civil servant who wrote a colourful history in Greek titled
40:
379:
324:
724:
Greek Narratives of the Roman Empire under the Severans: Cassius Dio, Philostratus and Herodian
57:
494:
578:
842:
837:
8:
681:
477:
212:
inscription is discovered, Herodian's place of birth will never be known for certain.
736:
638:
584:
557:
454:
204:
169:
783:
728:
499:
320:
523:
503:
458:
221:
134:(Codex 99) gives an outline of the contents of this work and passes a flattering
96:
796:
732:
281:
165:
157:
127:, who ascended the throne in 238. Beyond this, nothing is known of his life.
124:
722:
230:
195:; however, this may be disregarded since he also applies the same title to
192:
120:
104:
527:
184:
144:
116:
188:
364:
331:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
238:
234:
200:
161:
143:, as well as between boldness and bombast. He appears to have used
140:
135:
511:
208:
196:
763:
519:
506:
only utilized Herodian where Cassius Dio's history leaves off.
634:
Shakespeare's Festive Tragedy: The Ritual Foundations of Genre
515:
176:
175:
The nationality of Herodian is also unclear. He was not from
180:
779:
457:
from 222 to 235. The seventh book recounts the reign of
203:. It has been proposed that Herodian was the son of
553:Herodian of Antioch's History of the Roman Empire
461:from 235 to 238, and the final one describes the
794:
727:. Cambridge University Press. pp. 227–272.
657:Herodian (conceivably himself of Syrian origin)
16:Greco-Roman official and historian (c.170–c.240)
803:Greek-language historians from the Roman Empire
606:Exploring Gender Diversity in the Ancient World
215:
113:History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus
393:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
290:Learn how and when to remove these messages
526:was where the final battle and capture of
431:Learn how and when to remove this message
413:Learn how and when to remove this message
347:Learn how and when to remove this message
187:since he placed such a large emphasis on
150:
76:Learn how and when to remove this message
229:, which was a secret declaration by the
39:This article includes a list of general
720:
669:Herodian ' s Syrian origin is defended
630:
603:
576:
549:
795:
448:to 192, and the second discusses the
692:of Sicily, may be in his honour See
391:adding citations to reliable sources
358:
296:
255:
248:
25:
550:Antioch, Herodian of (2021-05-28).
13:
631:Liebler, Naomi Conn (2002-09-11).
514:sums up Maximinus’ battles on the
45:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
859:
756:
271:This section has multiple issues.
762:
363:
301:
260:
119:may be more useful than that of
30:
775:English translation of Herodian
705:
488:. An English translator of the
279:or discuss these issues on the
675:
663:
651:
624:
612:
597:
570:
543:
1:
608:. Cambridge University Press.
537:
233:when they chose the emperors
577:Pitcher, Luke (2021-12-01).
556:. Univ of California Press.
480:used him as a source as did
216:Occupation and social status
107:, sometimes referred to as "
7:
470:patriarch of Constantinople
327:the claims made and adding
10:
864:
18:
721:Kemezis, Adam M. (2014).
450:Year of the Five Emperors
227:senatus consultum tacitum
100:
21:Herodian (disambiguation)
818:3rd-century Greek people
813:2nd-century Greek people
788:full text in translation
786:by Jona Lendering, with
733:10.1017/CBO9781107477308
463:Year of the Six Emperors
60:more precise citations.
848:2nd-century historians
833:3rd-century historians
808:Ancient Greeks in Rome
151:Birth, life, and death
771:at Wikimedia Commons
387:improve this section
19:For other uses, see
682:Bartolomeo Borghesi
109:Herodian of Antioch
828:3rd-century Romans
823:2nd-century Romans
312:possibly contains
179:, for he says the
767:Media related to
742:978-1-107-06272-6
644:978-1-134-78872-9
590:978-90-04-49881-5
563:978-0-520-36642-8
484:when writing his
455:Severus Alexander
441:
440:
433:
423:
422:
415:
357:
356:
349:
314:original research
294:
205:Aelius Herodianus
170:Septimius Severus
86:
85:
78:
855:
766:
746:
700:
679:
673:
667:
661:
655:
649:
648:
628:
622:
616:
610:
609:
601:
595:
594:
574:
568:
567:
547:
500:Historia Augusta
436:
429:
418:
411:
407:
404:
398:
367:
359:
352:
345:
341:
338:
332:
329:inline citations
305:
304:
297:
286:
264:
263:
256:
164:in 192, and the
102:
81:
74:
70:
67:
61:
56:this article by
47:inline citations
34:
33:
26:
863:
862:
858:
857:
856:
854:
853:
852:
793:
792:
759:
743:
708:
703:
684:suggested that
680:
676:
668:
664:
656:
652:
645:
629:
625:
617:
613:
602:
598:
591:
575:
571:
564:
548:
544:
540:
504:Joannes Zonaras
486:World Chronicle
482:John of Antioch
459:Maximinus Thrax
437:
426:
425:
424:
419:
408:
402:
399:
384:
368:
353:
342:
336:
333:
318:
306:
302:
265:
261:
254:
218:
153:
82:
71:
65:
62:
52:Please help to
51:
35:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
861:
851:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
791:
790:
777:
772:
758:
757:External links
755:
754:
753:
750:
747:
741:
718:
715:
712:
707:
704:
702:
701:
674:
662:
650:
643:
623:
611:
596:
589:
569:
562:
541:
539:
536:
439:
438:
421:
420:
371:
369:
362:
355:
354:
309:
307:
300:
295:
269:
268:
266:
259:
253:
247:
217:
214:
152:
149:
84:
83:
38:
36:
29:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
860:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
798:
789:
785:
781:
778:
776:
773:
770:
765:
761:
760:
751:
748:
744:
738:
734:
730:
726:
725:
719:
716:
713:
710:
709:
698:
696:
691:
687:
683:
678:
672:
666:
660:
654:
646:
640:
637:. Routledge.
636:
635:
627:
621:
615:
607:
600:
592:
586:
582:
581:
573:
565:
559:
555:
554:
546:
542:
535:
531:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
507:
505:
501:
496:
491:
490:Roman History
487:
483:
479:
475:
471:
466:
464:
460:
456:
451:
446:
445:Roman History
435:
432:
417:
414:
406:
396:
392:
388:
382:
381:
377:
372:This section
370:
366:
361:
360:
351:
348:
340:
330:
326:
322:
316:
315:
310:This section
308:
299:
298:
293:
291:
284:
283:
278:
277:
272:
267:
258:
257:
252:
251:Roman History
246:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
223:
213:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
173:
171:
167:
166:Secular Games
163:
159:
148:
146:
142:
137:
133:
128:
126:
125:Gordianus III
122:
118:
114:
110:
106:
98:
94:
90:
80:
77:
69:
59:
55:
49:
48:
42:
37:
28:
27:
22:
723:
706:Bibliography
694:
686:CIL 10, 7286
677:
665:
653:
633:
626:
614:
605:
599:
579:
572:
552:
545:
532:
530:took place.
508:
489:
485:
467:
444:
442:
427:
409:
400:
385:Please help
373:
343:
334:
311:
287:
280:
274:
273:Please help
270:
250:
242:
226:
219:
174:
154:
129:
112:
108:
92:
88:
87:
72:
63:
44:
843:240s deaths
838:170s births
443:Herodian's
189:Caracalla's
121:Cassius Dio
58:introducing
797:Categories
769:Herodianus
538:References
528:Darius III
321:improve it
276:improve it
185:Alexandria
145:Thucydides
117:Elagabalus
93:Herodianus
66:March 2013
41:references
583:. Brill.
495:F.A. Wolf
403:June 2021
374:does not
337:June 2021
325:verifying
282:talk page
243:apparitor
101:Ἡρωδιανός
784:Herodian
688:, for a
580:Herodian
239:Balbinus
235:Pupienus
209:Parthian
201:Carthage
162:Commodus
158:emperors
141:Atticism
136:encomium
89:Herodian
512:Sirmium
478:Zosimus
474:Photius
395:removed
380:sources
319:Please
197:Antioch
132:Photius
54:improve
780:Livius
739:
690:legate
641:
587:
560:
520:Danube
231:senate
222:Marcus
193:empire
43:, but
524:Issus
516:Rhine
177:Italy
105:Syria
103:) of
97:Greek
737:ISBN
697:2938
639:ISBN
585:ISBN
558:ISBN
518:and
378:any
376:cite
249:The
237:and
199:and
181:Alps
729:doi
695:ILS
389:by
323:by
168:of
91:or
799::
782:,
735:.
472:,
285:.
99::
745:.
731::
699:.
647:.
593:.
566:.
434:)
428:(
416:)
410:(
405:)
401:(
397:.
383:.
350:)
344:(
339:)
335:(
317:.
292:)
288:(
95:(
79:)
73:(
68:)
64:(
50:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.