Elizabeth Jeffreys, Michael Jeffreys, Roger Scott (Eds) - The Chronicle of John Malalas (Byzantina Australiensia 4) (1986) PDF
Elizabeth Jeffreys, Michael Jeffreys, Roger Scott (Eds) - The Chronicle of John Malalas (Byzantina Australiensia 4) (1986) PDF
Elizabeth Jeffreys, Michael Jeffreys, Roger Scott (Eds) - The Chronicle of John Malalas (Byzantina Australiensia 4) (1986) PDF
Byzantina Australiensia 4
THE CHRONICLE OF
ion"
*ALALAO
A Translation
by
Melbourne 1986
© 1986 Australian Association for Byzantine Studies
Department of Modem Greek
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Melbourne 1986
Cover design by Stephen Cole of the Graphic Design Unit, Australian National
University
Printed by Central Printing, Australian National University, Canberra
Maps 309
Antioch
Constantinople
Provinces of the Eastern Empire
Indices 313
Glossary of technical terms
Index of names
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A project of this sort incurs a great many debts which it is a pleasurable duty to recognize.
First we must acknowledge with gratitude a series of grants in 1982-5 from the Australian
Research Grants Scheme which has enabled us to employ research assistance and especially to
meet as a group twice a year for concentrated discussions.
Next our warmest thanks must go to the University of Melbourne: to its Committee on
Research and Graduate Studies for a substantial publication grant; to the Faculty of Arts for a
grant which enabled Simon Franklin to visit Australia in 1984 to work us on the
Slavonic material, and for grants towards the cost of word-processing; and to the Department of
Classical Studies for patient and copious support for word-processing and photocopying.
We must also thank the Classics Department of the Australian National University and the
Departments of Greek and of Modern Greek of the University of Sydney for assistance,
especially with photocopying.
Many people have come to our aid with advice, photocopies of inaccessible material and
opportunities for discussion. We would like to thank especially Evangelos Chrysos, Edwin
Judge, John Martindale, V. Pribylovskij, Stephen Reinert, Lennart Ryddn, Witold Witaboski
and seminar audiences in Dumbarton Oaks and the Universities of London, Melbourne, Sydney
and Uppsala. Brian Parker allowed himself to be mercilessly exploited for translation from
Syriac, for which we are very grateful.
Our research assistants, Ann Nixon (who subsequently joined the translation and
commentary team) and Suzanne MacAllister, laid the ground-work for the indices.
The translation and its subtext have been persistently and cheerfully word-processed in the
University of Melbourne by Sue Montague and Trish Dutton while our especial thanks go to
Helen Glynatsis. Ailsa Mackenzie has also provided much advice.
We thank the Princeton University Press for permission to reproduce, with minor
alterations, the plan of Antioch from G. Downey, A History of Antioch in Syria, 1961. We
would like to thank Kathie Smith for preparing the final versions of the maps.
Finally all of us in the group recognize that collectively we owe more than we can say to
our long-suffering spouses and families, who have found themselves living with John Malalas
for longer than they expected.
PREFACE
The chronicle of John Malalas is the earliest extant example of a Byzantine world chronicle.
Written at a linguistic level that approaches the vernacular, it gives an insight into an average
Byzantine's view of the past. Not only is this work fascinating in itself, but it strongly
influenced later writers in the genre, which flourished in the Greek-speaking world until the
sixteenth century; it also deeply affected the Syriac and especially the Slavonic
historiographical traditions. However, until now, no translation of the whole text has been
made into a modem European language, and only a few excerpts have been made available (eg
the portions of Book 18 translated by Veh, 1970). Furthermore, there is no satisfactory text.
Until I. Thurn's new edition (announced in the series Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae)
becomes available, one must still have recourse to that of L. Dindorf, published in the Bonn
Corpus in 1831.
In 1980 Roger Scott in Melbourne and a group of Byzantinists and classicists in Sydney
discovered that they had each, working independently, produced versions of Book 18 of Malalas:
Roger Scott some years previously for teaching purposes, the others as the programme of a
reading group. It was decided to pool resources and to tackle the whole chronicle. Books were
assigned to individuals, who produced first drafts which were then discussed line by line in a
series of meetings. Since the chronicle has a highly repetitious style, a list of the more
common phrases was drawn up and versions agreed upon, which were then imposed as far as
possible over the whole chronicle to ensure a consistency of approach matching that of
Malalas. The revised version was circulated for further comment.
It quickly became apparent that simply translating Dindorf's often unsatisfactory edition of
the unique Oxford manuscript (itself long recognised to be, in places, an abbreviation) raised
more problems than it solved. A decision was taken to face the issue of the lost original and
present in a'subtext' such evidence as could be found for the original version. The material for
the subtext was collected and drafted by Elizabeth and Michael Jeffreys. Simon Franklin
worked on the Slavonic texts and presented their evidence in usable form; Brian Parker was
cajoled into reading the sections of Pseudo-Dionysios of Tell Mahre not translated by Chabot
while Witold Witaboski provided further advice. None of these can be held responsible for any
distortions the editors may have perpetrated in using their work.
We have not attempted to present the material in the subtext in Greek, or in whatever
language it now happens to be preserved, partly because this would be encroaching on Thurn's
territory, partly because of the considerable number of these languages (Slavonic, Syriac,
Ethiopic, Latin), and partly because we would like this material to be accessible to
undergraduate students of late antiquity as well as to specialists. As so many languages are
involved and especially since Malalas' Greek is difficult to recover as a result of abbreviation
and linguistic 'correction', there seems positive merit in publishing a kind of edition in
translation in some neutral modern language. This will provide a more readable guide to the
available evidence on what Malalas wrote than any conceivable edition in the original.
The Introduction to this volume is brief. Most space is given to explaining the principles
on which the subtext has been compiled and discussing the texts which are used in it. Further
discussion of these issues and on the nature of the chronicle will be provided, and our
conclusions on the identity of Malalas and his position in Byzantine society will be explained
and defended, in a forthcoming volume, Studies in John Malalas (Byzantina Australiensia 6).
Other material which has been collected in the course of preparing this translation will be
presented later in the form of a commentary.
Preface
x
more apparent in these future
The roles played by members of the group will also become
everyone has joined in the translation process, our historians are Brian Croke
volumes. While
in the Introduction), Jenny Ferber, Douglas
(who has written the section on author and genre
and Roger Scott. Alan James has kept a classicist's rigorous eye on the
Kelly, Ann Nixon
a similar function for the middle books and Roger
early material, Douglas Kelly has performed
Scott for the later; Michael Jeffreys has scoured the secondary literature; Ann Moffatt has
checked on the references to artistic monuments and read the translation in an effort to eliminate
multifarious revisions into a
undue 'translationese'; Elizabeth Jeffreys has co-ordinated the
held together by Roger Scott and Elizabeth Jeffreys, who
coherent whole. The project has been Jeffreys, must take the
Michael
have also undertaken the editing and production and who, with
responsibility but not the credit for our team's final version.
an unjustly neglected
We hope that this volume will not only introduce to a wider audience
history but also act as a stimulus to further work on the chronicle
figure in Byzantine cultural
tradition of the ancient and medieval world.
Elizabeth Jeffreys
Michael Jeffreys
Roger Scott
ABBREVIATIONS
The following is not an attempt at a complete bibliography of material on Malalas, but simply
lists the texts and secondary literature referred to in the introduction and in the subtext to the
translation.
Cameron, 1976 -----, Circus Factions: Blues and Greens at Rome and Byzantium, Oxford.
Cameron, 1976a -----, Theodorus TpLQEnapxos, GRBS 17, 269-86.
Cameron, 1978 -----, Cyril of Scythopolis, V. Sabae 53; a note on KaTd in late Greek,
Glotta 56, 87-94.
Cameron, 1982 -----, The empress and the poet: paganism and politics at the court of
Theodosius II, Yale Classsical Studies 27, 217-89.
Cantarella, 1970. R. Cantarella, Giovanni Malalas, Themis e le origini della tragedia, Acme
23/24, 61-66.
Cantarella, -----, Parva quaedam, Athena 83/4, 525-31.
1972/3
Charles, 1916 See IN.
Chernysheva, M. I. Chemysheva, 0 sootnoshenii slavyanskogo perevoda'Khroniki Ioanna
1983 Malaly' i yeye grecheskogo teksta (na materiale portretnoyleksiki), Trudy
Otdela Drevnerusskoy Literatury 37, 222-8.
Chil Malalas, Chronographia; E. Chilmead, ed., Oxford, 1691.
Chrysos, 1966 E. Chrysos, Eine Konjektur zu Johannes Malalas, JOBG 15, 147-52.
Conybeare, 1902 F.C. Conybeare, The Relation of the Paschal Chronicle to Malalas, BZ 11,
395-405.
Costanza, 1959 S. Costanza, Sull'utilizzazione di alcune citazione teologiche nella
cronografia di Giovanni Malala e in due testi agiografici, BZ 52, 247-52.
CP Chronicon Paschale; L. Dindorf, ed., Bonn, 1832.
CP Classical Philology.
Cramer, 1839 J.A. Cramer, ed., Anecdota Graeca e codd, manuscriptisBibliothecae Regiae
Parisiensis, vol. 2, Oxford, reprinted Hildesheim, 1967.
Croke, 1981 B. Croke, Two early Byzantine earthquakes and their liturgical
commemoration, Byzantion 51, 122-47.
Croke, 1983 -----, Basiliscus the boy-emperor, GRBS 24, 81-91.
Croke, 1983a -----, The origins of the Christian world chronicle, in History and
Historians in Late Antiquity; B. Croke and A.M. Emmett, edd., Sydney,
116-131.
CSCO Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium.
Cyril Cyril of Alexandria, Contra Julianum I, PG 76, cols 552-6,
Da Dares, De excidio Troiae historia; F. Meister, ed., Leipzig, 1873.
Dagron, 1974 G. Dagron, Naissance dune capitale: Constantinople et ses institutions de
330 d 451, Paris.
Daniel See Septuagint.
de Boor See Th.
de Boor, 1904 See GM
De insid Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Excerpta de insidiis , in Excerpta historica; C.
de Boor, ed., Berlin, 1905, 151-176.
De virt Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Excerpta de virtutibus et vitiis, in Excerpta
historica; T.Buttner-Wobst and A.G. Roos, edd., Berlin, 1906-10, 157-63.
Dihle, 1976 A. Dihle, Textkritische Bemerkungen zu friihbyzantinischen Autoren, BZ
69, 1-8.
Dilleman, 1961 L. Dilleman, Ammien Marcellin et les pays de l'Euphrate et du Tigre, Syria
38, 87458,
Dind L. Dindorf, ed., Malalas, Chronographia, Bonn, 1831.
Downey, 1937 G. Downey, Q. Marcius Rex at Antioch, CP 32, 144-51.
Downey, 1937a -----, Malalas on the history of Antioch under Severus and Caracalla, TAPA
68, 141-56.
Abbreviations xiu
Downey, 1937b -----, The architectural significance of the use of the words stoa and basilike
in classical literature, AJA 41, 194-211.
Downey, 1938 -----, Seleucid Chronology in Malalas, AJA 42, 102-20.
Downey, 1961 -----, A History of Antioch in Syria from Seleucus to the Arab Conquest,
Princeton.
Dubarle, 1959 A.M. Dubarle, La mention de Judith dans la litt6rature ancienne, juive et
chrdtienne, Revue biblique 66, 514-49.
Dulii re, 1961 W.L. DuliBre, Les Cherubins du troisi6me Temple A Antioche, Zeitschrift
fur Religions- and Geistesgeschichte 13, 201-19.
Duli$re, 1970 -----, Protection permanente contre des animaux nuisibles assure par
Apollonius de Tyane dans Byzance et Antioche. Evolution de son mythe,
BZ 63, 247-77.
Eccl Hist Parisinus Graecus 1555A, ff 7r-23r' 'EKNoyrj arro TrjS
EKKX'nCUQaTLKrS iaTOptias; Cramer, 1839, 87-114.
EEBS 'ETuET1JptS 'ETCC LpE6as BUt;aVTLV0.:V ETTOUSCI:V,
EL Letopisets ellinskiy i rimskiy ('Hellenic and Roman Chronicler'), cited from
Ist (see below) and Mify (see below); paragraph references according to
Tvorogrov, 1975, 274-304.
MSS: see Tvorogov, 1975, 111-9.
EHR English Historical Review.
Ensslin, 1949 W. Ensslin, Zu den Kriegen des Sassaniden Schapur I, Sitzungsberichte des
bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Phil-hist. Klasse, 1947
(published 1949), W. 5.
Erbse, 1941 H. Erbse, Fragmente griechischer Theosophien, Hamburg.
Eur Euripides, Iph(igenia) Taur(ica), Herakl(eidae), And(romache), Bac(chae); G.
Murray, ed., Oxford, 1902-9.
Eusebios R. Helm, Die Chronik des Hieronymus, Berlin, 1956.
Ev Evagrius, Ecclesiastical History ; J. Bidez and L. Parmentier, edd., London,
1898; reprinted Amsterdam, 1964.
Festugi8re, 1978 A.J. Festugi6re, Notabilia dans Malalas I, RPh 52, 221-41.
Festugi6re, 1979 -----, Notabilia dans Malalas II, RPh 53, 227-37.
Festugi6re IV -----, Corpus Hermeticum, vol. 4, Paris, 1954.
FHG C. Miiller, ed., Fragmenta historicorum graecorum, 4 vols., Paris, 1848-51.
FGrHist F. Jacoby, Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker, Leiden, 1923-.
Forster, 1897 R. Forster, Antiochia am Orontes, Jahrbuch des k. deutschen
Archl ologischen Instituts 12, 103-49.
Francke, 1820 J.V. Francke, Examen criticum D. Iunci Juvenalis Vitae, Leipzig.
Franklin, 1987 An obscure sentence in the Slavonic translation of the Chronicle of John
Malalas, Byzantinoslavica.
Freund, 1882 A. Freund, Beitrdge zur antiochenischen and zur konstantinopolitanischen
Stadtschronik, Jena.
Ftirst, 1902 J. Fiirst, Untersuchungen zur Ephemeris des Diktys von Kreta, Philologus
16, 374-440.
Gelzer, 1885a H. Gelzer, Sextus Julius Africanus and die byzantinische Chronographie,
vol.1, Leipzig.
Gelzer, 1885 -----, Sextus Julius Africanus and die byzantinischen Chronographie, vol. 2,
Leipzig (both vols reprinted in one, New York, 1967).
Genesis See Septuagint.
Gleye, 1893 C.E. Gleye, review of Patzig, 1891/2, in BZ 2, 148-6 1.
Gleye, 1894 -----, review of Sestakov, 1890, in BZ 3, 625-30.
xiv Abbreviations
Maass, 1902 E. Maass, Die Tagesgotter in Rom and den Provinzen, Berlin.
Man Constantine Manasses, EvvoijrLS taTOpLKI; I. Bekker, ed., Bonn,
1837.
Mango, 1966 C. Mango, Isaurian builders, Polychronion: Festschrift F. Dblger, P.
Wirth, ed., Heidelberg, 358-65.
Mango, 1980 -----, Byzantium: The Empire of New Rome, London.
Marcellinus Marcellinus Comes, Chronicon; T. Mommsen, ed., MGH, Auctores
Antiquissimi 11, Chronica minora 2, Berlin, 1894, reprinted 1961, 59-108.
Maricq, 1950 A. Maricq, Factions du cirque et partis populaires, AcadImie royale de
Belgique, Bulletin de la classe des lettres et des sciences morales et
politiques 26, 396-421.
Mark See New Testament.
Markopoulos, A.Ph. Markopoulos,'H xpovoypa$Ca Tov WEVSo-EUµEU:V KaL
1978 oLTmyEs Tns, Ioannina, 1978.
Matthew See New Testament.
Meinhart, 1966 M. Meinhart, Die Datierung der SC Tertullianum mit einem Beitrag zur
Gaiusforschung, Zeitschrift des Savigny-Stifiung far Rechtsgeschichte 83,
100-41.
Mendelssohn, L. Mendelssohn, ed., Zosimi Historia Nova, Leipzig.
1887
Meshchersky Dva neizdannykh otryvka drevneslavyanskogo perevoda'Khroniki' Ioanna
Malaly, VV 11, 1956, 279-84.
Meyer, 1897 P. Meyer, Zur Chronologie der praefecti Aegypti in zweiten Jahrhundert,
Hermes 32, 210-34.
MGH Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
Mify O.V Tvorogov, Antichnyye mify v drevnerusskoy literature XI-XVI vv,
Trudy otdela drevnerusskoy literatury 33, 1979, 1-31.
MK Moses Khorenats'i, History of the Armenians; R.W. Thomson, trans.,
Cambridge, Mass., 1978.
Momigliano, A. Momigliano, Malalas, in OCD, 641.
1970
Mommsen, T. Mommsen, Bruchstticke des Johannes von Antiochia and des Johannes
1872 Malalas, Hermes 6, 323-83.
Mommsen, 1897 -----, Lateinische MalalasauszUge, BZ 4, 487-8.
Moravcsik, 1958 0. Moravcsik, Byzantinoturcica, vol. 1, 2nd ed., Berlin.
Mosshammer, A.A. Mosshammer, The Chronicle of Euseblus and the Greek Chronographic
1979 Tradition, Lewisburg and London.
MS Michael the Syrian, La chronique de Michelle Syrien ; J.B. Chabot, ed. and
trans., 3 vols. Paris, 1899-1904.
MUller, 1839 K.O. Miiller, Antiquitates Antiochenae, Oottingen.
Nau, 1897 F. Nau, Analyse de la seconde partie in&dite de 1'Histoire Eccldsiastique de
Jean d'Asie, Revue de l'Orient Chrdtien 2,455-93,
Neumann, 1880 K.J. Neumann, Der Umfang der Chronik des Malalas in der Oxforder
Handschrift, Hermes 15, 356-60.
New Testament E. Nestle and K. Aland, edd., Novum Testamentum Graece, Stuttgart, 1979.
NikKal Nikephoros Kallistos, 'EKKXTiaLaaTLKTI LQTOpCa; PG 145, col 558ff.
Noack, 1891/3 F. Noack, Der griechische Dictys, Philologus, Suppl. 6,403-500.
OCD Oxford Classical Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford, 1970.
Olmstead, 1942 A.T. Olmstead, The Chicago Theological Seminary Newsletter 31.4.
Abbreviations xvn
P Paris, Supplementum Graecum 682, ff 9-14; V. Istrin, ed. (as for Ist, Book
1).
Paschoud, 1979 F. Paschoud, ed. and trans., Zosime, Histoire Nouvelle, vol. 2, Paris.
Patzig, 1890/1 E. Patzig, Unerkannt and unbekannt gebliebene Malalas-Fragments
Jahresbericht der Thomasschule far den Schuljahr von Ostern 1890 bis
Ostern 1891, Leipzig, 1891.
Patzig, 1891/2 -----, Johannes Antiochenus and Johannes Malalas, Jahresbericht der
Thomasschule fiir den Schuljahr von Ostern 1891 bis Ostern 1892 , Leipzig,
1892.
Patzig, 1892 -----, Dictys Cretensis, BZ 1, 131-52.
Patzig, 1893 -----, Die Hypothesis in Dindorfs Ausgabe der OdyseeScholien, BZ 2, 413-
40.
Patzig, 1896 -----, Ober einige Quellen des Zonaras, BZ 5, 24-53.
Patzig, 1898 -----, Der angebliche Monophysitismus des Malalas, BZ 7, 111-28.
Patzig, 1901 -----, Malalas and Tzetzes, BZ 10, 385-93.
Patzig, 1911 -----, review of Schissel von Fl, 1908, in BZ 20, 228-39.
PG Patrologia Graeca
PL Patrologia Latina
PLRE I A.H.M. Jones, J.R. Martindale and J. Morris, The Prosopography of the
Later Roman Empire, vol. 1: AD 260-395, Cambridge, 1971.
PLRE II J.R. Martindale, The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2: AD
395-527, Cambridge, 1980.
PLRE III The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 3: AD 527-640
(forthcoming).
PO Patrologia Orientalis.
Pol.Pal. Polnaya kronograficheskaya Paleya (for paragraph references for the section
based on KVI, see Tvorogov, 1975, 239-60), cited from MS GPB
(Leningrad) sobr. Pogodinskoye 1435, if 375-6, 410-llv.
Praechter, 1896 K. Praechter, Die romische Kaisergeschichte his auf Diokletian in cod. Par.
1712 and cod. Vatic. 163, BZ 5, 484-537.
Praechter, 1897 -----, Quellenkritische Studien zu Kedrenos (cod. Par. Gr. 1712),
Sitzungsberichte der bayer. Akad. d. Wiss., Philos.-philol.-hist. Classe, Bd
2, Hft. 1, 1-107.
Preger T. Preger, ed., Scriptores Originum Constantinopolitanarum , Leipzig, 1901-
7, reprinted New York, 1975.
Prokopios, SH J, Haury, ed., Procopii Caesarensis opera omnia, vol. 3.1: Anecdota,
Leipzig, 1906.
PsD J.B. Chabot, ed. and trans., Chronicon anonymum Pseudo-Dionysianum
vulgo dictum, CSCO, Scriptores Syri, ser. 3, vols. 1-2, Louvain, 1927,
1933, 1949.
PsS Pseudo-Symeon, Chronicle, in Parisinus Graecus 1712, ff 18v-272r.
RE Paulys Realencyclopaedie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft, new rev.
ed., Stuttgart, 1893-.
REB Revue des Etudes Byzantines.
Reinert, 1981 S. Reinert, Greek Myth in Johannes Malalas' Account of Ancient History
before the Trojan War, Ph.D thesis, University of California, Los Angeles.
Reinert, 1985 The Image of Dionysus in Malalas' Chronicle, in Byzantine Studies in
Honor of Milton V. Anastos, S. Vryonis, Jr., ed., Malibu, 1-41.
Richard, 1955 M. Richard, Les chapitres a Epiphane sur les her6sies de George Hi6romoine
(VIIe si8cle), EEBS 25, 331-62.
Rochow, 1983 I. Rochow, Malalas bei Theophanes, Klio 65, 459-74.
XVlll Abbreviations
Previous Editions
E. Chilmead, Chronographia, Oxford, 1691, reprinted Venice, 1733.
L. Dindorf, Chronographia, Bonn, 1831, reprinted PG 97, cols 9-790.
A. Schenk von Stauffenberg, Die Romische Kaisergeschichte bei Malalas; Griechischer
Texte der Bilcher IX-XII and Untersuchungen, Stuttgart, 1931.
Previous Translations
Latin: E. Chilmead, 1691 (reprinted Venice, 1733; Bonn, 1831 and PG 97).
English: M. Spinka and G. Downey, The Chronicle of John Malalas, Books 8-18,
Chicago, 1940 (the Slavonic text only).
German: O. Veh, Prokop, Perserkriege, Munich, 1970 (portions of Book 18 ).
xx Abbrevi
special abbreviations
app in the subtext
C. circa
Cent. century
Corr correction, corrected by
Cos consul
d. died
fl. flourished
Cr. fragment
M* the original form of Malalas' chronicle (see p. xxvii)
rnod. modem
MUM inagister utriusque militiae (commander of both infantry and cavalry)
Mag.off . magister ofciorum (see glossary)
rris, mss manuscript(s)
PPO praefectus praetorio (praetorian prefect; see glossary)
"Sc praepositus sacri cubiculi (see glossary)
PUC praefectus urbis Constantinopoleos (city prefect)
QSP quaestor sacri palatii (see glossary)
s.v. sub voce (see under)
AUTHOR AND GENRE
The aim and scope of the chronicle
The chronicle of John Malalas treated the period from Adam to at least AD 565 in eighteen
books, the longest of which is Book 18 covering the reign of Justinian. I Although composed
in two separate versions decades apart, it is probably a unified work by a single author. As
indicated in the preface to the chronicle (see p. 1 below), Malalas' purpose in writing his work
is twofold: 1) to set out the course of sacred history as interpreted by the Christian chronicle
tradition (covered by Books 1-9); and 2) to provide a summary account of events under the
Roman emperors up to and including his own lifetime (covered by Books 10-181. Throughout
the chronicle he follows his purpose consistently, using in Books 1-8 the chronology of
Hebrew history as a framework into which he integrates the history of the Persians, Greeks,
Romans and other nations. From Augustus (Book 9) onwards he structures the chronicle
around the reigns of individual Roman emperors, devoting a single book to each of the
emperors from Zeno (Book 15) to Justinian (Book 18), a period for which he tells us that he is
using oral sources.
Genre
In setting out to write a 'chronography', which was probably the original title of the work,
Malalas was following a pattern of history-writing that was well established by the mid-sixth
century. The first full-scale Christian chronicle was written by Eusebios of Caesarea in the late
third century (Croke, 1983a). Although Eusebios' chronicle proved to be immensely popular
and influential, its elaborate tabular format, setting out contemporaneous kingdoms in parallel
columns linked to years from Abraham, was modified and adopted by subsequent chroniclers in
both the Greek East and the Latin West (Mosshammer, 1979). Moreover, the chronicle
emerged as a significant and usual form of history-writing in the early Byzantine world because
chronological issues such as the dates of Creation and of the Incarnation and the duration of the
world became increasingly important and disputed (Gelzer,1885 and 1885a).
By their very structure chronicles lent themselves easily to interpolation and expansion
through the addition of supplementary material, and to simplification by combining several
related entries across a number of years. It is reasonable to assume that in terms of structure
and narrative format Malalas was merely following his now lost chronographical predecessors,
such as Panodoros and Annianos. This form of chronicle probably does not represent a new
direction in Byzantine history-writing, though the chronicle was itself very influential in
shaping the Byzantine chronographical tradition (Jeffreys, 1979; Mango, 1980, 189-200).
Author
Everything that is known about the author has to be gleaned from the chronicle itself, except
that later writers refer to him as 'John the Rhetor' (John of Ephesos, Evagrios), 'John Malalas'
or 'Malelas' (Constantine Porphyrogenitus, John Tzetzes) and 'John of Antioch' (John of
Damascus, and again Tzetzes). As a 'rhetor' or 'scholastikos' (which is the meaning of the
Syriac word 'malal' from which the name Malalas is derived) Malalas possessed the education
1 For an introduction to the problems surrounding the chronicle, together with the relevant
scholarly literature, see Krumbacher, 1897, 325-34; Wolf, 1916, 1795-9; Moravcsik, 1958,
329-34 and Hunger, 1978, 319-26.
Introduction
designed to equip one for the mainstream of government service, and so he was fairly well
educated by contemporary standards. The implications of this elementary fact have not usually
been appreciated. Although applauded as a valuable and frequently unique reservoir of
information, the chronicler has been dismissed as entirely naive, ignorant and incompetent .2
Such judgements fail to understand the extent to which Malalas was conditioned by
contemporary knowledge and interpretation of both the past and the world around him (Reinert,
1985). His distorted knowledge of Roman republican history, for example, is essentially the
same as that of his contemporary John the Lydian. So also many of Malalas' seemingly novel
interpretations of classical mythology and culture appear to have been widely shared in his day.
He was not so much the inventor as a reflector of the newly emerging Byzantine view of the
past.
Malalas was probably born around 490, since he dates his access to oral sources of
information from the time of the emperor Zeno (see Malalas' preface, p. 1 below), and was
evidently educated in Antioch. Often the home of emperors in previous generations, Antioch
was now the headquarters of the comes Orientis , the magister militum per Orientem and the
proconsul of Syria I. It was the axis through which information flowed between
Constantinople and the East, and it was the base for all military campaigns against the
Persians. It was a cosmopolitan Greek capital where the native Syrian language and culture
mingled easily with Greek and Latin, the languages of the Roman government which formed
such a central part of the city's life and society (Downey, 1969; Liebeschutz, 1972). The city
of Antioch looms large in the chronicle, together with the region under the jurisdiction of the
comes Orientis. Indeed it is quite likely, in view of the knowledge and attitudes that he shows,
that Malalas came to be employed in the middle to upper echelons of the imperial bureaucracy
at Antioch, probably in the office of the comes Orientis. It may even be presumed that he was
himself involved in many of the transactions described in the chronicle in the 520s and early
530s.
At some point Malalas moved from Antioch to Constantinople, perhaps after the virtual
abolition of the office of the comes Orientis in 535 (Justinian, Nov 8.5) or perhaps in the
wake of the Persian sack of Antioch in 540. At Constantinople he probably continued his
bureaucratic career until his death, probably some time in the 570s. The chronicle shows that
he was a loyal supporter of Justinian and was of orthodox doctrinal views, despite paying little
attention to recent and contemporary theological struggles. Partly for this reason, however, he
cannot be identified with John Scholastikos, the patriarch of Constantinople, as was argued
initially by Haury, 1900.
2 Some characteristic assessments: 'John Malalas was undoubtedly the world's worst
chronicler...but [the historian] must use him for Malalas has preserved a great amount of the
most important data...' Olmstead, 1942, 22; 'Confused in content, mixing fables and facts,
important events and minor incidents, it is clearly intended not for educated readers but for the
masses' Vasiliev, 1958, 183; '...John Malalas whose narrative, though childish, has at least the
merit of being a contemporary record' Jones, 1964, 267; 'Uncritical, confused, and often
childish, Malalas preserves many otherwise unknown facts and is, of course, of special
importance for his own time. His popular language, his interest in local traditions and his
desire to appeal to the semi-educated Christian are in themselves extremely significant'
Momigliano, 1970, 641.
Introduction XXIiI
Sources
As indicated in its preface the chronicle may be divided, in terms of sources of information,
into two parts. For the period before the emperor Zeno Malalas had to rely on written records
and therefore cites, largely at second hand, numerous Greek and Latin authors, including some
that are otherwise unknown. For the period from Zeno onwards (that is, for his own lifetime),
he claims reliance on oral sources of information. The preface makes specific mention of
Julius Africanus, Eusebios and others, and their use in the chronicle is well signposted. These
were among his major sources, along with the chroniclers Domninos and Nestorianos and the
'City Chronicles' of Antioch and Constantinople. Sources are rarely cited in Books 15-18,
covering material derived from oral sources and dealing with events likely to have been within
the author's personal experience. Still it is possible to identify the origin of certain portions of
this material; for example, Marinos the Syrian is likely to have been the source for the
rebellion of Vitalian (Bo 402.3-406.8), Julian for the embassy to the Axoumite court (Bo
456.24-459.3) and Hermogenes for the first Persian war of Justinian (Bo 445-477). In addition
Malalas clearly made use of documentary sources such as imperial laws, decrees and letters
(Scott, 1981 and 1985). Again, the evidence for this and a detailed discussion will be presented
in the Studies volume.
ABOUT THIS TRANSLATION
i) General comments
Malalas' chronicle is written at a level of Greek that is close to the vernacular (this will be
discussed by Alan James in the forthcoming volume Studies in John Malalas). His syntax
prefers paratactic to subordinating constructions; his use of pronouns is casual, often leading to
confusion over the identity of the person referred to. In other words, he does not use the
carefully wrought classicising Greek of writers like Prokopios or Agathias, but rather the
matter-of-fact tone of an administrator not concerned to avoid frequent use of technical terms or
bureaucratic clichds. We have tried to represent this in our translation with a plain but, we
hope, readable level of English.
Nevertheless there are places in the chronicle where a different language register may be
discerned, still remaining from Malalas' source despite the reworking that he gave the text as a
whole. There is, for example, an official tone to Veronica's petition to Herod in Book 10, to
the account of the Axoum embassy and the exchange of letters with the Persian king in Book
18; the description of the earthquake at Antioch in Book 17 attempts some rhetorical structures
not noticeable elsewhere, and there is a close paraphrase of Isaiah at the end of Book 5. We
have attempted to reflect these by an appropriate level of English, especially in Book 5, where
the translation now has a distinct tinge of seventeenth-century English, on the grounds that the
Septuagint and the King James' version of the Bible hold a similar position in the histories of
their respective languages. Ann Moffatt, however, felt that this was an unnecessary
complication, that the connotations of the two styles are not identical, and would have preferred
a more neutral tone.
Technical terms for civil and military offices have been represented by their Latin
equivalents (which are explained in the Glossary). This was done for the sake of consistency.
Malalas, writing at a time of transition from Latin administrative terminology to Greek, uses
the Latin forms slightly more frequently than the Greek. But few modern readers would be
able to appreciate the equivalence of the two sets of terms if we were to follow his example and
try to reflect the mixture as in the original.
Other recurrent phrases also we have attempted to translate throughout the chronicle in
similar terms, to indicate the repetitious nature of Malalas' style and his restricted vocabulary.
This is especially true of the two- and three-line portraits of Greek and Trojan heroes and of
emperors which are a feature of the work, but also of the sequences of actions expected of an
emperor (eg on reacting to an earthquake or on initiating a building programme). These
phrases have been translated by standard clichds from the first book to the last, since this
reflects Malalas' own usage and appears to be part of his unified (often anachronistic) view of
the past. There will be a full discussion of this in the Studies volume. Thus Agamemnon
summons a conventus and Agenor fights on the limes. The most striking feature of this
practise comes in Malalas' use of paQtxeus throughout the text to refer to a head of state.
Since the majority of the group would agree that Malalas found it almost impossible to
conceive of a state existing without a paataeus and since, for Malalas, the function of a
paQtaevs appears to be the same during the Trojan War as in the sixth century AD, we have
translated this word throughout as 'emperor'. Alan James, however, feels that this has not
been a satisfactory solution and would have preferred a distinction made between 'Icing' in the
earlier books and'emperor' later. When 'king' does occur in the translation it represents prj.
Introduction xxv
Other features of Malalas' style are the incessant use of o auTds ('this' or'the same'), and
6 LStos ('the same'). We have usually ignored these in our translation, since to include them
produced almost unreadable English, and English of the wrong sort (more like a London
Cockney story-teller than the bureaucratic legalese that was the probable cause). We have,
however, translated the other frequent and nearly as disconcerting phrases, o XeydµEvos,
'known as', and ovdµaTL, 'called', both often used in places where the information must have
been thoroughly familiar to Malalas and to a large proportion of those for whom he was
writing.
Other points to notice are that "EXXrly has been translated throughout as 'Hellene',
though in the later books it must clearly mean 'pagan'; it seemed, however, preferable to mark
the unity of vocabulary in Malalas' mental world; a list of cases where 'Hellpne' probably
means 'pagan' is given in the Glossary. Similar problems have arisen in other cases where
Malalas uses a word in both a general and a restricted meaning. The verb ayavaKTa is
frequently used as a technical term of official imperial displeasure, but also means 'I grow
angry'. Equally, ee(cp& has become the word used to express imperial presidency over the
hippodrome games, without losing its basic meaning 'I watch'. In these cases too we have
usually preferred the general translation to the technical, leaving the latter to be implied by the
context. It seems preferable to leave the reader with a sense of Malalas' restricted means of
expression rather than making on each occasion a choice which must often be questionable.
Material in brackets in the translation in the form 'Kadmiades (daughters of Kadmos)'
indicates that this is an explanation we have added to help the reader; in the form 'image (icon)',
the italicized word is a transliteration from the Greek, usually to make sense of an
untranslatable pun.
Proper names have provided their usual headache and produced the usual arbitrary
compromises. Commonly known names (classical: Achilles; historical: Justinian; biblical:
Nebuchadnezzar) are given in their accepted English forms. Less well-known names (though
less well-known to whom?) have been transliterated in a Greek form if from a Greek root
(Bakchylides) and in a Latin form if from a Latin root (Secundinus). Barbarian names have
been given in the forms in which they appear in most modem handbooks (Grod). The form
preserved in Ba, if it is different, has been noted in the subtext ('Sapor', written as
'Sabbourarsakios'). Consular names, where we may usually be sure of the original at which
Malalas and his textual tradition are aiming, but which are frequently distorted, have been
corrected in the translation and the manuscript form has been noted in the subtext. Our purpose
in cases such as this is to make the text useful to our non-expert readers. However, some cases
have left us in despair; eg the Roman provinces for which Malalas has provided an eponymous
Greek founder: Kilix is now credited with the establishment of Cilicia.
Malalas from time to time indicates the date for an event by whatever system may be
available to him: the consuls for the year, the indiction number, the eras of Antioch or
Alexandria. Since such systems are not readily equated with our dating by the Christian era, we
have provided for the convenience of readers the equivalent date anno domini in the margin.
We stress that these AD dates are merely the equivalent of Malalas' forms, and are not to be
taken as support for Malalas' dating of any particular event. We have also provided, in the
subtext, the AD dating equivalents for those witnesses which use an annalistic system. This
information is included for the same reasons as the other dates, and with the same proviso that
it does not imply support for the annalists' dates.
xxvi Introduction
(e) To translate other material which, though less likely to derive from M*, should
(we think) be included here for other reasons.
(f) To give references to textual discussions in the secondary literature.
Here beautiful' on page 28 of Bo is reflected by'very beautiful' both in the Slavonic text and in
the Chronicon Paschale, and so we assume that a superlative stood at this point in M*. There
is no need to introduce the superlative into the translation, for Ba makes adequate sense here
without it. However, it is included in the subtext, as a proposal about M*. The proposed
reading follows immediately after the colon, and the symbols for the texts from which it is
drawn come at the end. This pattern indicates that the lemma should be replaced by the other
reading to give the proposed text of M*.
(b) beauty (46.16): Slav, De virt add'and stature.
This means that on page 46 of Bo the Slavonic text and the Constantinian excerpts De
virtutibus have the added words 'and stature', following the point where 'beauty' stands in the
translation. Again, Ba makes adequate sense, and so the addition is confined to the subtext.
The reference symbols follow immediately after the colon, the verb 'add(s)' is inserted and the
proposed reading comes at the end. When a second or subsequent addition is needed, the verb
'continue(s)' is used in place of 'add(s)'.
13 When two or more symbols are used to show that the lemma or other part of the subtext
derives from two or more texts, can verbal identity between those texts be assumed?
No. In some cases, where texts in different languages are involved, verbal identity is hard to
define. But even when all texts concerned are in Greek, some elasticity has been allowed,
especially over inessential variations of wording in passages which are otherwise identical over
several lines. The translation has been made either from the text being translated at that point
(in the case of the lemma) or from the first text to which reference has been made.
Where variation is wider, though the texts concerned still give combined support to a
proposal being made, two other tactics have been employed:
(a) a system of brackets to indicate points of disagreement and show the readings of
individual witnesses;
(b) qualifications of the support given by one or more witnesses, by the sign 'cf'.
In general, we would discourage readers from making any deductions from the subtext
about the precise readings of any witnesses, apart from those directly translated in the subtext.
16 How secure are the proposals made in the subtext about the original Malalas?
An answer to this question is complicated by the difficulty of defining 'the original text of
Malalas', M*. While the possibilities of multiple authorship or multiple editions remain
open, the question has no straightforward answer. It is in any case likely that the M* being
reconstructed at different points of the text represents different stages in the textual history of
the chronicle.
Our methods have been empirical. It is fortunate that there are several very early
witnesses, eg the Tusculan fragments, Evagrios, John of Ephesos and the Chronicon Paschale
which were all written within about a century of the chronicle's latest events. Against this
sound comparative material we may check the practice of later texts, eg the Slavonic translation
and the fragment to which we give the symbol A are good witnesses. But there is no doubt
that some of our proposals for M* do not go back to sixth-century wording. Some, for
example, are merely Theophanes' summaries of M*, material which is abbreviated even more
in Ba.
Elsewhere we may have gone back too far, beyond Malalas' text to his sources. In Book
5, for example, we may be going back past Malalas to Diktys, and there may be other similar
cases in the detailed narrative of the last three books where we may be reconstructing, say,
items in a city chronicle which have been abstracted separately by another source as well as by
Malalas.
Archaeological reconstruction of earlier textual layers is made easier by the tendency of the
Greek chronicle tradition towards the abbreviation of items from one text to another. The
purpose is to leave space for material from other sources, especially the writer's own
contemporary material. At points where our decisions may be governed by good early
witnesses, it seems that in most cases where a fuller version of an event is preserved in another
text, a shorter narrative in Ba is to be explained as Ba's abbreviation of M*, which must be
reflected, at least to some extent, by the other, fuller version. We have therefore tried to
employ the same principles at points where no early witness survives. Our task is made easier
because we are working in translation, and so there is no reason for us to agonise over small
Greek linguistic points, or the change of narrative colouration visible, for example, in Syriac
witnesses. We have probably included more proposals for M* than could be accommodated in
a critical Greek edition.
In selecting material for unqualified support in the subtext, we have had in mind a
probability of 50%. Where we think it more probable than not that given words are derived
from M* (or that they are on the direct line of textual descent from Malalas to Ba) we have
included them without comment in the subtext. Where this derivation has less than 50%
probablility, we have omitted the passage, or have included it with an expression of doubt, or
'cf', if it seemed of interest.
beginning of this century by Furst, 1902, Schissel von Fl, 1908, and Patzig, 1911. As a
result of the principles enunciated in these studies, we have made for these passages unusually
positive proposals on material derived from M*, even when it survives in late and obviously
problematical sources, like the Homerica of Tzetzes (which are in hexameter verse).
What is presented in this volume, in the translation and subtext, is an attempt to express in
English the significant evidence for the fuller, original Malalas. Since it is not a critical
edition (that is being prepared by I. Thurn), we are not producing a stemma codicum of the
surviving witnesses, nor have we used all the available surviving manuscript fragments (listed,
for example, in Moravcsik, 1958) but only those that seemed to us to have material with
relevant variants that could be usefully expressed in English. We have, of course, had to
develop a practical hypothesis of how the texts that preserve portions of Malalas relate to each
other and of the weight that can be attributed to each. The list that follows attempts to explain
our views by giving a brief comment on each text. Our purpose here is explanation, not
exhaustive discussion or justification, and so we give references to handbooks rather than
provide a detailed bibliographical survey. There will be a fuller discussion of the transmission
of the chronicle in the Studies volume.
References in the subtext to the texts listed here (and to the texts not discussed but given
in the list of abbreviations) are, unless otherwise stated, by page and line of the edition to
which reference is made.
calculating the date of Easter (and hence the name, the Easter Chronicle). The basic
chronological framework (of Olympiads, consular years, regnal years and indictions) is filled
out with narrative passages from a variety of sources (Hunger, 1978, 328-9), prominent
among which is Malalas, which is used for Greek mythological material and Byzantine history
(up to 532). CP takes passages over from Malalas almost verbatim, with scarcely any
rewriting, and is thus an accurate witness for the text of the full Malalas, more accurate than
Ba. Occasionally, however, details (especially dates according to the Roman system) are
interpolated from other sources into passages derived from Malalas.
Eccl Hist Parisinus Graecus 1555A, ff 7r-13r: ' EirtXoy? 676 Tits
EKK,\,OcrLacTLKTS taTopCas; Cramer, 1839, 87-114.
This 'Selection from the Ecclesiastical History', published by Cramer from one ms in Paris,
falls into two sections. The first and major section (as far as Eccl Hist 111.31) is an
abbreviated apograph of another ms of the now largely lost Ecclesiastical History of Theodore
Anagnostes (6th century). Theodore Anagnostes was used as a source by Th. The second and
shorter section (Eccl Hist 111.32-114.31), a disconcertingly mixed set of chronicle notices
(Hansen, 1971, xxv), is in many passages clearly connected with Malalas and also reflected in
Th. Its status is puzzling and may simply reflect a common source underlying the last part of
xxxiv Introduction
Malalas, Book 18 and Th, a problem which will be discussed in the Studies volume. We have
not distinguished between the two sections of Eccl Hist in the subtext.
GM George Monachos, Chronicon; C. de Boor, ed., Leipzig, 1904 (2nd ed., P. Wirth,
Stuttgart, 1978).
The world chronicle of George the monk, which runs from Adam to 842 (though originally
intended to reach 867), was widely read, to judge from the number of surviving mss. Written
from the religious standpoint of an anti-iconoclast who rejected Byzantium's heritage from the
classical past, it gives a selective and compressed account of mythological and secular history
while paying greater attention to biblical and ecclesiastical history (Moravcsik, 1958, 277-80;
Hunger, 1978, 347-50). He has used Malalas quite extensively, but frequently abbreviates and
paraphrases his borrowings. The situation is further muddied by his use of Th, for whom
Malalas is also a source. The result is that GM is rarely of decisive value in attempts to
reconstruct the original Malalas. (One ms was used by Chilmead, the first editor of Malalas, to
provide the missing first pages of Ba; see Anon Mal above).
Gr Chron L.M. Whitby, The Great Chronographer and Theophanes, BMGS 8, 1982/3,
1-20.
The Great Chronographer is a shadowy source of which only 15 short fragments survive,
inscribed in blank areas of the ms of CP; it would appear to have been composed between 751
and 812/15 (Whitby, 1982/3, 8-9). It is very likely that one of its sources was a
Constantinopolitan chronicle also used by Malalas in Book 18 (Freund, 1882, 36 ff). The
value of its evidence for reconstructing the original Malalas is not satisfactorily evaluated and
will be discussed further in the Studies volume.
Hes 'HO'UXLOU EK TceV ELS 771V XpLQTOU 'yE vv laty; H, Hody, ed., in the
Prolegomena to Bo, lii-liii,
Hesychius Illustris, born in the reign of Anastasios (491-518), wrote two histories, of which
one is partially extant, and a book of biographies of famous literary figures which survives in
entries in Su. There is also ascribed to him a fragmentary piece on the dating of Christ's birth
(Krumbacher, 1897, 325) which is connected with a difficult passage in Malalas, Book 10.
Introduction
JN The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu; R.H. Charles, trans., Oxford, 1916.
John, bishop of Nikiu (in Lower Egypt), wrote at the end of the seventh century a world
chronicle from Adam to his own day. He treats oriental and Greek mythological history
somewhat sketchily but gives later material at some length. One of his main sources was
Malalas. However, his value for defining the wording of Malalas is limited since he
abbreviates his sources and also inserts other material, eg, biblical quotations; finally, the
chronicle as it now exists is at several removes from the form in which it was written.
Originally in Greek with some passages possibly in Coptic, it was translated at some stage
into Arabic and then in 1602 into Ethiopic, the only version in which it now survives
(Krumbacher, 1897, 403-4; Charles, 1916, v). Though frequently of interest in confirming
other witnesses, John of Nikiu is rarely of independent value as a witness to Malalas' text. The
subtext has been constructed using Charles' English translation, to whose chapters and
paragraph numbers reference is made.
JO Styl The Chronicle of Joshua the Stylize; W. Wright, trans., Cambridge, 1882.
Joshua the Stylite, a monk of the monastery of Zuknin, wrote in the reign of Anastasios (491-
518), at the request of Sergius, abbot of a community near Edessa, a chronicle in Syriac
heavily laced with Greek loan words. It survives embedded in the chronicle attributed to
Dionysios of Tell Mahre (see under PsD below). The last date mentioned is November 506
(Wright, 1882, ix). Joshua the Stylite's chronicle cannot be used to establish the wording of
Malalas but, given the similar phraseology in a number of episodes (eg the Illus conspiracy), a
common source must underly the two accounts. The relationship between Malalas and Joshua
the Stylite still needs to be elucidated.
LG Leo Grammaticus, Parisinus Graecus 854, ff 328 ff; Cramer, 1839, 243-379, reprinted
Bonn, 1842.
Leo Grammaticus is the name ascribed in some mss to a redaction (compiled in 1013) of the
chronicle of Symeon the Magister and Logothete, which in turn is a re-working of the so-called
'Epitome' based in its early sections on the shadowy work of Patrikios Trajanos (ending in 713)
(Moravcsik, 1958, 515-8; Hunger, 1978, 354-7). The inter-relationships of the various
versions of the 'Epitome' have so far defied lucid explanation. The passages connected with
Introduction xxxvn
Malalas have little independent value as evidence for the text, but are cited for interest's sake
(from Cramer's edition and also from the unchanged reprint in the Bonn edition).
MS Michael the Syrian, La Chronique de Michel le Syrien; J.B. Chabot, ed. and trans., 3
vols, Paris, 1899-1904.
Patriarch of Antioch from 1166 to 1199 and author of a world chronicle from the creation to
his own day, Michael the Syrian drew on a wide range of sources in both Greek and Syriac. Of
these perhaps the most relevant for Malalas is the chronicle attributed to PsD, in which are
embedded portions of the Ecclesiastical History of JE, who made use of Malalas. Though not
often of independent value for establishing the contents, let alone the wording of the original
Malalas, MS sometimes provides useful confirmatory evidence. We have used Chabot's French
translation, cited by book and chapter.
P Paris, Supplementum Graecum 682, ff 9-14; V. Istrin, ed., Zapiski Imp, Akademii Nauk,
ser. 8, vol. 1, no.3, St. Petersburg, 1897, 1-29.
P and V (see below) are portions, now separated, of one tenth-century ms containing a
collection of ecclesiastical and chronological texts. The order of the folios has been disturbed
and should run: P ff 15-22, V If 140-7, ff 1-139, P ff 2-14, V ff 148-159; gatherings are lost at
the beginning and after f 139v. On P If 9r-14v followed by V f 148r-v is found Book 1 of
Malalas, and the opening sections of Book 2 (Richard, 1955, 333-5). We have collated P
directly and V from photographs. (In this connection, E.M. Jeffreys would like to express her
Introduction
great appreciation to M. Ch. Astruc for help and advice on several occasions.) P and V provide
the text that is translated for Book 1 and until Ba begins at Bo 23.1.
PSD Chronicon anonymum Pseudo-Dionysianum vulgo dictum; J.B. Chabot, ed. and trans.,
CSCO, Scriptores Syri, ser. 3,vols 1-2, Louvain, 1927, 1933, 1949.
Written in Syriac and ascribed, wrongly, to Dionysios of Tell Mahre (patriarch of Antioch,
818-45), this chronicle covers world history to 775 AD (Urbina, 1965, 211-2). Its sources are
Eusebios and other Greek writers, as well as JE (writing in Syriac) who had drawn extensively
on Matalas and whose Ecclesiastical History, Book 2 survives only as part of this chronicle.
PsD's work thus provides evidence at two removes, and filtered through a second language, for
Malalas' original text; it can, however, provide useful confirmatory evidence for the shape of
that text. We have used Chabot's Latin translation, where available. We have also consulted,
too little and too late, Brian Parker, of the University of Sydney, and Witold Witaboski, of
Uppsala University, for translations of the remainder. To both of these, but especially to Brian
Parker, we are extremely grateful for their patient assistance. We must, however, stress that
any shortcomings in the treatment of the Syriac evidence are due not to them but to the editors'
belated appreciation of the relevance of this material.
Slav
A detailed discussion of the Slavonic translation will appear in the Studies volume. The
following note (supplied by Simon Franklin) is designed to indicate the texts used and to
explain the selection and translation of the Slavonic variants in the subtext. Since the
Introduction xxxix
Slavonic texts are cited togther in the subtext they are treated together here: references are given
in full to each separate text in the list of abbreviations.
The fullest extant version of Malalas, apart from that of Ba, is that which survives in the
medieval Slavonic translation, the best and fullest text of which is that published by Istrin (for
the complex publication details, see the list of abbreviations). Istrin's edition is based on both
mss of Arkh for Books 1-2, 4-10, and on EL (in a small sample of mss), for Books 13-18.
Istrin also uses EL for variants in the earlier books, Soph for Books 11-12 and sporadically
elsewhere, and Tikh (especially for Book 3). Wherever possible, readings from Arkh and EL
are given here with reference to Istrin's edition, and the particular source of the reading (ie
whether Arkh or EL) is not specified. Full account is taken of Istrin's apparatus, and of the
variant readings found in the studies which accompany several of the volumes of his text.
Small fragments of Malalas, in Arkh but overlooked by Istrin, are published in
Meshchersky. '
Parts of EL's version of Books 1, 2 and and 4 appear in Mify, including passages not
published by Istrin.
Soph contains abbreviated and paraphrased material from all 18 Books of Malalas. Despite
the abbreviated form, it does include some passages and details not in Arkh or EL. The full
text recently published by Tvorogov, 1983, is preferable to the sporadic extracts in Istrin.
KVI provides a text of parts of Books 7 and 9, and is unpublished. KVI is a hypothetical
compilation, dating from at least the late eleventh century in Russia, and partly preserved in
several later compendia of historiographical works. Here the variants are taken from a ms of
Pol Pal, and checked against the version of KVI in the 'Trinity' compendium (GPB NSRK, If
287-8, 291-2).
Readings from the Slavonic version are taken only from texts which reflect the Slavonic
translation of Malalas' chronicle itself. No reference is made to fragments of Malalas which
enter the Slavonic through being parts of other translated works of Byzantine literature, such as
the translation of the chronicle of George Monachos, or the selections from the Souda lexicon
cited by Maximos the Greek (Maksim Grek). One exception to this rule has been made, in the
case of Abramovich. Abramovich prints extracts from (but unfortunately does not publish in
full) a section of Book 10 which was translated independently of the 'full' chronicle and which
survives in a twelfth-century ms of a florilegium. This is the oldest Slavonic ms containing
fragments of Malalas. The 'full' translation dates from the tenth or eleventh century, but no
ms survives from before the fourteenth century.
Slavonic variants in the subtext are mostly based on Istrin. However, the subtext does not
provide a full or accurate guide to Istrin's text, neither to the Slavonic nor to its relations to the
Greek.
The subtext takes into account more sources than were used for Istrin's edition.
The sole purpose of the subtext is to provide material which may reflect a Greek text of
Malalas. The purely Slavonic tradition, however curious or important, is ignored. Thus if any
Slavonic text agrees with the Greek of Ba, all Slavonic variants at that point are ignored. For
example, where Ba differs from Istrin but is supported by Soph or Tikh, nothing appears in the
subtext. In order to check the justification for such omissions it is necessary to check the texts
indicated in the testimonia.
The English in the subtext does not necessarily represent an accurate translation of the
Slavonic. This is again because the subtext is concerned not with Slavonic but with Greek.
Thus no variant is given:
i) where the Slavonic clearly follows the Greek of Ba but produces a slightly different
meaning, and
ii) where the Slavonic translator (or editor) deliberately alters the Greek. For example,
in Books 15-18 'Fu µatot is frequently rendered 'Greeks' in the Slavonic version, in line with
the common practice of Slavonic translators and scribes. The subtext does not record such
Introduction
changes, nor does it record the occasions on which Greek indirect speech is turned into Slavonic
direct speech.
Where the Slavonic contains additional material not in Ba, an attempt has been made to
translate in accordance with the conventions of the present English version. This may require a
distortion of the literal meaning of the Slavonic, since the conventions relate not to the
Slavonic but to the Greek from which it is assumed to derive. For example, Malalas' frequent
formulaic epithet for a writer is ao$6s, rendered throughout the present translation as
'learned'. In this position ao$ds becomes, in Slavonic, mudru. Where the formulaic epithet
is absent in Ba but present in the Slavonic, mudru is rendered as 'learned', despite the more
natural 'wise'. For the same reason, if a Slavonic addition or variant is similar to a cited
variant from another Greek text, the English in the subtext aims to convey not the specific
nuances of the Slavonic but its affinity with the Greek.
likely to be derived from Malalas, to fill the lacuna in Book 18, at paras 130-132 (though the
linguistic variations which he makes elsewhere are sufficiently marked to make us indicate the
change in text with italics); however, at the end of Book 18 Th's entries, perhaps because they
may draw on a Constantinopolitan chronicle also used by Malalas, give no clear evidence
(linguistic or otherwise) for deciding whether or not Malalas' chronicle continued beyond 565.
1. Adam, the first man, was made, or created by God from earth. He
was six feet tall, including his head; that. is, his height. was 96
fingers' widths; his hand span was 14 fingers' widths; his foot. was 16
fingers' widths. He lived 930 years. (6) His wife was Eve, and she bore
sons, Cain, Abel and Seth, and two daughters, Azoura and Asouarn. At.
God's command Adam gave names to all four-footed beasts, winged
creatures, amphibians, creeping things, fish, and to his offspring. .An
angel of the Lord told them Adam's own name and that of his wife. His
son Seth had wisdom from God and at. God's command gave names to all the
stars and the five planets, so that they could be recognized by men. He
called the first. planet Kronos, the second Hera, the third Ares, the
fourth Aphrodite and the fifth Hermes. He also wrote down the seven
vowels corresponding to the five stars and the two great. lights. He was
the first to invent Hebrew script and to write with it. God himself
named the two great 1 ight.s - the sun to rule the day, and the moon to
rule the night. The most learned Fortunus, the Roman chronicler, wrote
this in the account. he delivered in Constantinople. Seth lived 912
years and took as his wife Asouam, one of his own sisters. He became the
father of children and many generations of men and women descended from
them. Cain also took his own sister, Azoura, as his wife.
2. (7) In the middle of their time Enoch the just., the son of
Jareth, was taken away and did not die. He was taken away after 1287
years. Enoch was the seventh from Adam, according to the interpretation
Aquila the Jew gave of the Hebrew scriptures written by Moses. For the
priests of the Jews interpreted Moses' Hebrew accounts as follows, "The
sons of cod saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took them
wives of all which they chose and came in unto them, as Moses says, and
they bare sons to them. There were giants in the earth in those days,
the men which were of old, the men of renown" (6-an. 6.2,4).
From Adam until the angels, the sons of Seth, desired women, or
rather the daughters of men, of the tribe of Cain, there were 2122
years.
3. In that time God sent. a ball of fire from the heavens against.
the giants in the Celtic land and burnt it and them. The ball plunged
into the river Jordan and was extinguished. They tell stories of this
fire and say that Phthaethon, the son of the sun, fell from his chariot
to earth, a tale which Ovid has written poetically. But. Plutarch of
Chaironeia speaks of this more truthfully when he says that the ball of
fire fell on the Celtic land. Although the remaining giarit.s saw so many
of their number struck by lightning,(8) they remained stubborn. God
said to them in anger, "My spirit. will not. abide in these men, for they
are flesh" (['Pn. 6.3), as is recorded in Moses' writings. The most
learned Pindar, who was a Hellenic poet. after the time of Moses,
described these giants poetically as men born from earth, with serpents'
feet., who made certain daring attacks against. the highest. divine powers.
He called them serpent-footed and said that. they were destroyed by the
gods through various punishments. The most learned Timotheos interpreted
this poetic story as follows, saying that the reason why the poet called
these men serpent-footed was because their minds were brutalized and
they considered human values of no account, but had feet which moved
towards the evil and unjust. things of the earth. For this reason the
divine-the usual motion both of the sun and of the moon, ordered that
some should be destroyed by a thunderbolt., others should have their
bodies turned to stone,. others were to be shot with the swiftest of
deadly arrows, others were to be torn apart by wounds as from a spear,
and the remainder were to be drowned in the ocean depths. Thus the
giants, or serpent-footed creatures, perished miserably and ended their
lives. Servius said that. they lived in a low-lying plain and had
fought a war with people of the mountain tops, and crawling on their
bellies they were slaughtered by the mountain dwellers.
mountain dwellers on their hands (PsS, Ke acid 'and feet.') and crawling
on their bellies like serpents' Slav, PsS, Ke.
4. P 9.1-10.11; A 233.4-15, De virt 1 (157.1-7), B 2.14-15, cf PsS
22v, cf Ke 20.18-19, Sk 5.20-22, JN 3; Slav: Soph 6. See Josephos, Ant.,
1 93-5.
disaster and survived. The stone tablet remained on Mount. Siris after
the flood and lies there to the present, as Josephos has stated. (11) So
the generation of Arphaxad was 135 years.
Thus from Adam to the completion of the Tower of Babel there were
2922 years.
6. Then the tribes of the sons of Noah, I mean of Shem, Ham and
Japheth, the three brothers, were divided. The tribe of Shem took as the
length of its territory the land from Persia and Bact.ria as far as India
and, as for the breadth, as far as Rhinokourouroi, that is, from the
East. as far as the region of the South, including Syria and Media and
the river called the Euphrates. The tribe of Ham, Noah's second son,
took for its territory the land from Rhinokourouroi in,Egypt in a
southward direction as far as the region of the West, and all Libya and
the river Nile known as gold-flowing and Africa and as far as Mauritania
and the Pillars of Herakles and the great Adriatic Sea. The tribe of
Japheth, Noah's third son, took the territory from Media to the North as
far as the British Isles, including all the area of the Pontic Sea as
far as the region of the West, and the rivers Danube and Tanais and the
area by the Caucasus mountains and the Abasgoi, all those nations,
.beginning from the river Tigris which divides Media and Babylonia and up
to the Pontic Sea, the area near Rhodes, Cyprus and Attalesis.
The three tribes were divided throughout the earth in 72 nations, as
Eusebios Pamphilou, the most. learned chronicler, has stated,
7. During that. time a (12) learned Indian astronomer appeared,
named Gandoubarios, of the family of Arphaxad. He was the first to
write about astronomy for the Indians. There was another man of the
tribe of Shem, named Cush, an Ethiopian, who became the father of
Nimrod, th^ giant, who built Babylon. The Persians say that he was
He was
deified and became the star in the heaven which they call Orion.
the first to practise hunting, and he provided everyone with wild
animals to eat and was a leader amongst the Persians.
8. From this tribe of Shem, Noah's first son, which held Syria,
Persia and the remaining areas of the East., there was born and appeared
a man who was of the race of giants, named Kronos, given that. name by
Damnos his father after the planet. He was a strong man who was the
first to practise ruling, that is, the governing and controlling of
other men. He was the first to reign over the Assyrians, which he did
for many years, and he subjugated the entire land of Persia, beginning
from Assyria. He was feared by all as a savage and warlike man who
destroyed everyone. This man had a wife Semiramis, also known as Rhea
by the Assyrians because she was proud and boastful. She was of the
same tribe. Kronos had a son, named Picus, who was called Zeus by his
parents, also after the planet. Kronos had another son, named Ninos, and
a daughter (13) named Hera. Picus Zeus took as his wife his own sister,
named Hera; some people called her "wifely retribution" because she was
good, just and universally benevolent. Picus had a son by her whom he
called Belos, because the child was very sharp.
9. Kronos, the grandfather, left his son Picus in Assyria and his
wife Rhea Semiramis with his son Picus Zeus; taking a large force, a
host of valiant men, he went off to the West which was without an
emperor and not subject to any governor. He disappeared from Assyria
and took possession of the western regions. He remained in control,
reigning over all the West for many years. He had there a wife named
Philyra, by whom he had a son named Aphros to whom he gave the land near
Libya. Aphros controlled the district there and reigned over it.; he
married Astynome from the island of Lakeria and became the father of a
daughter whom he called Aphrodite, likewise after the planet, the
heavenly Aphrodite. She became a philosopher and married Adonis the
Athenian, himself a philosopher, the son of Kinyros by his own daughter.
Kinyros, having performed this act which went against nature, secretly
exposed the child in the mountains, where he was reared by those known
as the mountain nymphs. He became extraordinarily handsome and
Aphrodite fell in love with him. Ares became angry (14) and struck him
for he was a rival for Aphrodite's affections. They say that. Aphrodite
went down with Adonis to Hades not to die but to resurrect him because
she loved him very much. There are various stories about. him which they
call mysteries. They are said to have practised philosophy together
until death. Kronos had by Philyra another son known as Cheiron, also a
philosopher.
10. After Picus Zeus had reigned over Assyria for four years,
he too left his mother and Hera, his sister and his wife, and, making
his son Belos emperor of Assyria, went. off to the West. to his father
Kronos. Belos reigned over the Assyrians for eight years and he died,
whereupon the Persians deified him. When Kronos saw his son Picus
Zeus had come to him in the West, he yielded to him rule over the West.
For Kronos was weak and had become feeble; Picus Zeus reigned over the
West, that is, Italy, for another 62 years. After Belos, Ninos, Kronos'
other son, ruled Assyria. He had taken his mother- Semiramis as his wife;
from him the Persians derive the custom of marrying their mothers and
sisters, because Picus too (15) took his own sister Hera to wife; as
the most learned Homer states it, "He addressed Hera, his sister and
wife" ( Iliad 16, 431-2, 18.356). Kronos died.
11. After Ninos had become master of Assyria, he built. Nineveh,
the city of the Assyrians, and was the first. to rule in it., having
Semiramis Rhea, his wife and mother, with him. From his family was born
Zoroaster, the famous Persian astronomer, who when on the point. of death
prayed that he should be consumed by fire from heaven. He said to the
nowhere else and perhaps an interpolation; see Gleye, 1899, 507-8 and
Reinert, 1981, 107-8 and notes 107-8 on pp 170-1.
loved him (14.5; corr, reading Tovto ): 'it' (TOOTOV) P.
They are said to have practised philosophy together (14.8-9): cf 'They
continued practising philosophy together chastely' CP, perhaps the
original Malalas which set off the interpolation.
10. P 14.13-15.5; A 234.35-235.15, CP 66.15-67.9, PsS 26r, 27v, Ke
29.12-19, B 4.5-6, LG 251.8-10(15.13-18), JN 7.1-4; Slav:Ist 14, Mify 24,
Soph 11.
four (14.15): '30' A, B, CP, PsS, Ke, Slav; see Reinert., 1981, 158,
note 5.
eight (14.22): 'two' A, CP, Ke, Slav.
Picas Zeus had come (14.24-25; corr, reading IltjKOV Toy ALa EAOovTa for
IIrrKov Toy 6LEA.6oVTa ) CP, Slav: 'had crossed' P.
had become feeble (14.28): Slav adds 'Others, however, claim that. Picus
captured his father and cut out his kidneys and cast them into the sea,
and plunged his father into the depths and confiscated his kingdom',
though probably not. original Malalas; see Shustorovich, 1970, 105-110.
Hera to wife (15.2): Slav alone adds 'and because Ninos took his mother
Semiramis', indispensibie according to Gleye, 1899, 508 but rejected by
Reinert, 1981, 158, note 8, probably correctly. (NB: Reinert's
statement, fhld., about a lacuna in P is incorrect.)
It. P 15.6-25; A 235. 15-23, CP 67.9-22, PsS 27r, Ke 29.19-30.5, cf B
4.6; Slav: 1st. 15, Soph 12.
Book 1
Persians, "If the fire burns me up, take some of my charred bones and
preserve them; empire will not depart from your land as long as you
preserve my bones". Then he prayed to Orion and was consumed by fire
from heaven. The Persians did as he told them and they have preserved
his incinerated remains until now.
12. After Ninos a man named Tharras reigned over the Assyrians.
His father Zames, the brother of Rhea, renamed him Ares after the
planet. He became a savage fighting man, who campaigned against the
northern regions. He attacked a certain Kaukasos, who was also a strong
man of the race of the giants and very warlike; he was descended from
the tribe of Japheth, son of Noah. Tharras fought Kaukasos, defeated him
and took possession of his land. (16) He came to Thrace where he died
and is buried. It was to Ares that the Assyrians erected the first
statue and they worshipped him as a god; to this day they call him the
god Belos in Persian, which means when translated "Ares, the warrior
god". The prophetic words of Daniel and the three young men refer to
him, saying that they were forced to worship him. After the death of
Ares, Lames reigned and after Lames the Assyrians were ruled by
Sardanapalos the Great, whom Perseus, the son of Danae, slew and took
the empire from the Assyrians. When he had become their ruler, he named
them Persians after himself, as Membronios of Babylon has written for
the Persians.
13. Ninos' brother, Picus Zeus, continued to reign over Italy.
At that time there was no city or administration in the West but all
that land was simply inhabited by the members of the tribe of Japheth,
son of Noah, who had migrated there. Picus Zeus lived 130 years,
controlling the West and reigning over it. He had many sons and
daughters by beautiful women, for he used to beguile them. For he had
mystic knowledge and used to put on displays and astonish the women, who
regarded him as a qod and were seduced by him since he showed them
displays by mechanical means. Picus Zeus had a son named Faunus, whom he
also called Hermes after the planet. (17) When on the point of death
Picus Zeus ordered his body to be laid to rest in burial on the island
of Crete. His children built a shrine in his honour and laid him in a
tomb on the island of Crete. This tomb, which was in Crete, survives
till the present with an inscription, "Here lies Picus Zeus, whom they
also call Dia". Diodoros, the most learned chronicler, has written
about this and in the narrative of his treatise on gods, said that Zeus,
the son of Kronos, lies in Crete.
14. After the death of Picus Zeus, his son Faunus Hermes reigned
over Italy for 35 years. He was a crafty man, willing to learn, who was
the first to discover gold-mining in the West and smelting. He learnt
that his brothers by the women seduced by his father Picus Zeus were
jealous of him and wanted to kill him. There were many of them, perhaps
about 70, for Zeus produced children from liaisons with many women. One
son was known as Menados. Zeus had intercourse with the Theban Alkmene,
the wife of Amphitryon, and had another son by her, named Herakles son
of Alkmene, and also known as Triesperos. He was the first to practise
philosophy in the regions of Hesperia, that is, in the West. Members of
his family deified him after his death and called a star in the heavens
after (18) him, the star known as Herakles' Tunic. They picture him
as wearing a lion-skin, carrying a club and holding three apples - about
which they recount a myth, saying that he stole the three apples when he
slew the dragon with his club; that is, he conquered the seductive
thoughts of evil desire with the club of philosophy, girt with a valiant
mind as if with a lion-skin, and in this way he made off with the three
apples, that is, the three virtues of freedom from anger, freedom from
avarice and freedom from sensuality. For with the club of the steadfast
soul and the lion-skin of resolute and chaste thought, he was victorious
in the earthly struggle with base desire, and practised philosophy until
his death, as the most learned Herodotos has written, who related that
there were seven other Herakles. What has been said allegorically about
Herakles has been stated by Theophilos, the most learned chronicler.
When Hermes became aware of his brothers' plot against him, he
withdrew, pocketing an excessive amount of gold and went off to Egypt,
to the tribe of Ham, son of Noah. They received him with honour and he
stayed there, treating everyone with arrogance and wearing a golden
robe. He practised philosophy amongst the Egyptians, pronouncing oracles
for them. He was by nature very rational and they revered him, calling
Hermes a god since he told the (19) future, supplied them with the
answer from god about the future and provided them with money; so they
reigned over the Egyptians; after his reign, Osiris reigned; after
Osiris, Horus; and after Horis, Thoulis, who captured (25) all the land
as far as the Ocean with a large force, While he was returning, he came
arrogantly to the oracle in the land of Africa. When he had sacrificed
he made his petition, saying, "Tell me, lord of fire, you who do not
lie, blessed one, you who bend your et.herial course - who before my
reign was able to subjugate everything, and who will do so after me?"
This response was given to him, "First God, thereafter the Word and the
Spirit with them. All things were created together and proceed
towards the One whose power is everlasting. Go with swift. feet,
mortal, and finish your ignominious life". He left the oracle
immediately and was murdered in Africa by his own soldiers who had
plotted against him.
The history of these ancient and historic empires of the Egyptians
was written by Manetho. In his writings it is recorded that different
names are given to the five planets: the planet known as Kronos was
called the Shining One, the planet Zeus the Torch, Ares the Fiery,
Aphrodite the Fairest and Hermes the Brilliant.. The most. learned Sot.at.es
interpreted these names later.
4. Then in the period after this Sostris was the first of the
.
tribe of Ham to reign over the Egyptians. He took up arms and made war
on the Assyrians. He subjugated them and the Chaldaeans and the
Persians as far as Babylon. Likewise he subjugated Asia, all of Europe,
Scythia and Moesia. (26) While he was returning to Egypt from the land
of Scythia, he chose 15,000 young fighting men. He made them migrate
and commanded them to live in Persia, giving them there whatever land
they chose. These Scythians have remained in Persia from that time to
the present day; they were called by the Persians Parthians which in the
Persian language means Scythians. They preserve the dress, language,
and laws of the Scythians to the present day; they are also very fierce
in battle, as the most learned Herodotos has written.
5. In the time of the reign of the Sostris mentioned above,
lived the Egyptian Hermes Trismegistos, a man of tremendous wisdom. He
declared that the name of the ineffable creator comprised three very
great essences, but he said that they were one divinity. And so he was
called Hermes Trismegistos (that is, Hermes Three-greatest.) by the
Egyptians. For he is recorded in various of his writings to Asklepios
you who bend (25.4) Erbse cf 'you who, shining, bend' Slav.
:
All things were created together (25.7) JA, Su: 'All these things were
created together and are one' A, cf CP (probably the original order; see
Erbse, 1941, 111-3, 207).
was murdered (25.10; corr Dind) CP, PsS, Ke: Ba adds `immediately'.
4. Bo 25.18-26.9; CP 84.15-85.7, A 237.26-34, JA 6.10, cf 5, Su IV
409.13, 59.6, PsS 27v, Ke 36.10-15, GM 15.12-16; Slav: Ist. 2.17-3.9,
Soph 20.
Sostris (25.19) Slav, A, JA, PsS, Su IV 409.13, GM: cf 'Sesostris' CP,
Su IV 59.6, Ke.
5. Bo 26.10-27.14; CP 85.8-86.13, A 238.1-20, JA 6.10-12, Su II
413.32-414.10, PsS 27r-28r, Ke 36.15-37.10, GM 15.18-19, JN 15.1-2;
Slav: Ist
3.10-4.10, Soph 21. See Cyril, Centre .Till ,Wniun I (PG 76,
552); Erbse, 1941, 104-11, 202-3.
556,
creator (26.13): CP, PsS, Ke add 'God'.
Book 2 13
as saying the following about the nature of God, "Had there not been
some foresight of the Lord of all to disclose this word to me, such
passion to enquire into this subject would not have seized you. For it
is not possible that. such mysteries should be provided for the
uninitiated - but. listen with your intellect. There is only one
intelligent light that existed before intelligent light and there
existed always Intellect, light of the intellect. (27) There was
nothing else other than its unity; it exists forever in itself; it
embraces all things forever with its intellect, light and spirit.
Outside this there is no god, no angel, no demon, nor any other being.
For it is the Lord and God of all, and all things exist through it
and in it. For its Word went forth and was completely perfect and
fertile, and capable of creation. It descended on fertile nature, on
fertile water and made the water fruitful". Having spoken thus, he
prayed, saying, "I swear by you, Heaven, the wise accomplishment of
almighty God; may you be propitious. I swear by you, voice of the
Father, the first which he uttered when he established the whole world
with his counsel; voice of the Father the first which he uttered, his
only-begotten Word". These things are recorded in the material
collected
.ill
by the most holy Cyril in his work Acra nst. the emperor
an, where he says that, even though Hermes Trismegistos was ignorant
of what was to come, he confessed the consubstantiality of the Trinity.
6. The emperor Sostris reached Egypt after his victory and
died. After him Pharaoh, also called Naracho, reigned over the land
of the Egyptians, and successors from his family reigned over the
Egyptians.
7. (28) In the time of Picus Zeus mentioned above there
appeared in the regions of the West in the land of the Argives a man of
the tribe of Japheth, named Inachos. He was the first to reign in that
land and he built a city there which he named Iopolis, after the moon,
which he worshipped. For the Argives to the present say in their
for the uninitiated (26.18; corr Dind) CP, Cyril: "the uninitiated' Ba.
is (26.19): 'was' Slav, CP, A, Su, Cyril, Erbse 202.
existed (26.20) Slav, CP, A, JA, Su: cf 'exists' Cyril, Erbse 202.
than (27.1; corr Dind) Slav, CP, JA, Cyril: om Ba, Su, A.
it is (27.4; corr) Cyril, Su, Erbse: om Ba, CP, Ke.
Lord (27.4): Slav, CP, A, Su, Ke add `and Father', cf PsS which adds
'Saviour', 'Creator and Father' JA 6.11, 'Lord and Father and God and
Source and Life and Power and Light and Intellect and Spirit' Erbse
202.
voice of the Father (27.10) Slav, CP (Cyril's gloss on the three
preceeding lines of verse; see Erbse 108): other witnesses make changes
to cover this awkwardness and to make 'may you be propitious' refer
to God or his Word.
6. Bo 27.15-18; CP 86.14-17, JA 6.13, GM 15.21-16.1, PsS 28r, Ke
37.10-15; Slav: Ist 4.11-13, Soph 21.
Sostris (27.15) JA, PsS, GM: cf 'Sesostris' Slav, CP, Ke.
Naracho (27.17) Slav, PsS, GM: 'Nachor' CP, 'Narecho' Ke, 'Karacho'
JA, 'Maracho' Bo; see Bury, 1897, 222.
7. Bo 28.1-30.3; CP 74.6-76.10, JA 6.14, GM 16.1-6, PsS 28r, Ke
37.16-38.9, JN 22.1-4, cf A 238.21-23, Su II 646.23-30; Slav: Ist
4.14-6.10, Soph 22.
Book 2
14
mysteries that To is the secret name of the moon. He also built in the
on which he
city a temple to the moon, dedicating to it a bronze statue.,
Inachos took a wife named Melia,
inscribed, "Io, blessed Lightbearer".
daughter whom he named
by whom he had three children, Kasos, Below and a
To after the moon, for the girl was extremely beautiful.
hearing that
Then Picus Zeus, emperor of the regions of the West,
Inachos had a beautiful virgin daughter, sent for To, daughter of
seduced her, made her pregnant. and had
Inachos, and carried her off. He
a daughter by her whom he called Libye. But Io was upset by what had
from him
happened to her and, not wishing to live with Picus, escaped
Since she was ashamed to
and everyone else and abandoned her daughter.
appear before her father Inachos, she fled and sailed to Egypt.. She
time later To
entered the land of Egypt and lived there. But when some
in Egypt, she
learnt that. Hermes, the son of Picus Zeus, was reigning
to (29) Mount Silpios in Syria. There
fled from there in fear of him
which he
some years later Seleukos Nikator the Macedonian built. a city,
called Antioch the Great, after his son. To went off to Syria and died
there, as the most learned Theophilos has written. Others have stated
that lo died in Egypt.
Inachos, her father, sent her brothers and relations, and with
them
Triptolemos and some Argives, in search of Io; they searched everywhere
To had
but did not find her. When the Argives from Iopolis learnt that.
time,
died in the land of Syria, they went there and stayed for a short
"May the soul of Io be
knocking on each house there and saying,
A response was revealed to them in a dream and they saw a
saved".
Io".
heifer, which addressed them in a human voice, saying, "Here am I,
When they awoke they continued to wonder at the meaning of the dream.
Then, reasoning that Io was buried on that mountain, they built a shrine
to her there on Mount Silpios and lived there, building a city for
themselves, which they called lopolis. Its inhabitants have been called
Ionitai by the Syrians to the present day. From that time when the
Argives came in search of To to the present the Syrians of Ant.ioch have
performed this memorial rite, knocking at the houses of the Hellenes at
this time each year. The reason why the Argives remained there in Syria
was that they had been given instructions by the emperor Inachos, Io's
father, as they left the land of the Argives, "Unless (30) you bring my
daughter, Io, do not return to the land of the Argives". So the Ionitai
built a temple there to Kronos on Mount Silpios.
8. Libye, the daughter of To and Picus Zeus, married a man named
Poseidon; from them were born three children, Agenor, Belos and
Enyalios. Agenor and Belos too came to Syria, in search of To, to see
if she was still alive, and to look for her brothers to see if they were
there, for they were their relatives. But they found no one and they
returned. Belos went, to Egypt where he married Sida and had two sons,
Egyptos and Danaos. Agenor went to Phoenice and married Tyro. He built
a city, which he named Tyre, after his wife. So he reigned there and
had sons by Tyro - Kadmos, Phoinix, Syros and Kilix - and a daughter
whom he named Europe. Agenor reigned over these regions for 63 years.
Poets have stated that. Europe was the daughter of Phoinix, the son of
the emperor Agenor, but they do not agree with the chroniclers.
Tauros, the emperor of Crete, attacked the city of Tyre; he fought
in a sea-battle and captured the city of Tyre in the evening. He
plundered the city and captured many prisoners there, amongst. whom was
Europe, the daughter of the emperor Agenor. Agenor and his sons were
fighting on the Liie.-s. Realizing this, (31) Tauros, the emperor
of Crete, unexpectedly attacked the country by sea. The people of
Tyre have performed a memorial rite for that. evening to the present. day,
calling it, "Accursed Evening". Tauros took Europe to his own land and
made her his wife since she was a virgin and beautiful. He called those
regions "European" after her. He had a son by Europe, called Minos, as
the most. learned Euripides has written poetically. He says, "Zeus,
transformed into a bull (Tauros), carried off Europe".
The emperor Tauros built on the island of Crete a great. city which he
named Gortyn, after his mother, who was of the family of Picus Zeus.
But he named the tyche of the city Kallinike, after the maiden he had
sacrificed. The emperor Agenor came back to Tyre from the war and
learnt about Tauros' unexpected attack and rape. He immediately sent
Kadmos with a large sum of money and an army in search of Europe. When
on the point of death the emperor Agenor ordained that all the land
which he had subjugated should be divided up between his three sons.
Phoinix took Tyre and its neighbourhood, calling the land subject. to him
Phoenicia; likewise Syros named the land allotted to him Syria, after
himself; equally Kilix named the region allotted to him Cilicia, after
himself.
9. (32) In the time of the reign of Phoinix there lived the
philosopher Herakles, known as the Tyrian, who discovered the murex.
While he was wandering along the seashore by the city of Tyre, he saw a
shepherd's dog eating what is known as a murex, which is a small kind of
sea snail. He saw the shepherd, who thought. that, the dog was bleeding,
snatch up a tuft of wool from his flock, wipe off what was dribbling
from the dog's mouth, and so stain the wool. But Herakles, noticing
that this was not blood but a dye of unusual quality, was amazed.
Knowing that. the dye remaining on the wool came from the murex, he took
the wool from the shepherd and brought it as a great gift to Phoinix,
the emperor of Tyre.
Phoinix too was astonished by the sight. of the wonderful colour of
the dye and amazed at its discovery. He commanded that wool be dyed
with the colour from the murex and that it. be made into an imperial robe
for himself. So Phoinix was the first to wear a robe of purple. Everyone
marvelled at his imperial clothing, saying that it was a wonderful
sight. The emperor Phoinix ordered that from that time forth no one
derived from
from his empire should dare to wear such glorious attire,
and from the sea, except himself and those who reigned over
the land
Phoenice after him, so that the emperor might be recognised by the army
attire. For
and all the people because of his amazing and unusual
how to dye cloaks of different colours,
previously (33) men did not know
into cloaks
but they made sheep's fleeces - whatever they were like -
emperors wore cloaks whose colours were those of
and wore them. Even
the wool from which they happened to be made, and emperors were
not
readily recognised by their subject people. Thereafter when the
emperors in each area, or rulers and toparchs, heard of this, they
devised for themselves robes, or else golden brooches and mantles,
which
red with dye from certain plants; and they wore
they dyed purple or
learned
these so they could be recognised by their people, as the most
Palaiphatos has written.
10. Many years later the Romans subjugated the land of
Phoenice
and they wore the true imperial costume which had originally
been
discovered from the murex and which they called in the Roman language a
day.
"toga"; and this is what the Roman consuls wear to the present
Numa Pompilius; who reigned over Rome after Romus and Remus,
received
ambassadors from the land of the people known as Pelasgians. They
were
wearing cloaks with red stripes, as do men from the land of the
Isaurians. Numa was delighted with the costume and became the first
to
arrange that cloaks should be worn in Rome: imperial ones of purple
with gold stripes, and others for his senators and men of civil and
military rank with purple stripes, which were a symbol of imperial
apparel and showed their rank in the Roman state and their loyalty to
it. Numa ordered that no one (34) be allowed to come before him in the
palace without a costume including this cloak. The palace guards did
not allow anyone to enter the palace unless he wore a cloak with the
distinctive symbol of the imperial dress, as the most learned
Tranquillus, the historian of the Romans, has written.
11. Syros, the son of Agenor, who became a learned man, wrote on
arithmetical philosophy in the Phoenician script. He also suggested
that the first principles are incorporeal and that bodies and souls
migrate into other kinds of animals. Syros was the first to state these
doctrines, as the most learned Clement has written.
12. In that time lived Phalek, the son of Heber, a god-fearing
and learned man, who lived for 339 years and about whom the prophet
Moses wrote.
Thus from Adam to Phalek there were 3000 years, according to the
prophecy.
13. Picus Zeus, mentioned above, in earlier times had, as well
him. Perseus, with the help of the Gorgon's head, conquered the
Lykaonians.
17. Finding a village known as Amandra, he made it. a city,
and
up a statue of himself, carrying the image of the
outside the gates set
Gorgon. He made a sacrifice and named the tyche of the city
Persis
after himself. This statue stands there till the present. He named the
city Iconium because he had taken there the image (icon) of his first
victory with the Gorgon. He also subjugated the rest of the country
meeting no resistance.
18. As Perseus came to isauria and Cilicia and met resistance
from the enemy, he was given this oracle, "When you dismount from your
horse and place the sole of your foot (&arsns) on (37) the ground, may
you gain victory". So, getting down from his horse in the village
known
foot there. Winning a
as Andrasos, Perseus placed the sole of his
victory by means of the Gorgon, he made the village into a city
and
called it Tarsos, from the oracle about his foot. He sacrificed an
innocent girl named Parthenope to purify the city.
19. After he had made his thanksgiving, he set out from there
by
way of Mount Argaios against the Assyrians. He defeated them and slew
Sardanapolos, their emperor, who was descended from his own family. He
subjugated the Assyrians and reigned over them for 53 years. He called
them Persians after himself, depriving the Assyrians of both their
empire and their name. He planted trees and called them perseai': he
planted persea.i not. only there but also in the Egyptian'lands in memory
of himself. He taught the Persians too the rite of the loathsome and
unholy .kyphos of Medusa, and because of this teaching he called their
land the land of the Medes.
20. After Perseus had reigned over the Persian land for many
years, he learned that Ionitai from Argos were living in the land of
Syria. So he went to Mount Silpios in Syria to see them, as they were
his relatives. They welcomed him with all honour and made obeisance to
him. When these Iopolitai from Argos realized that. Perseus too was
descended from the Argive race, (38) they were delighted and praised
him. But. a storm came up and the river known as the Drakon but. now
called the Orontes, which flows beside the city of the Ionitai, was in
full flood. Perseus asked the Ionitai to pray. While they were praying
and performing the mysteries, a ball of thunder fire fell from heaven,
and made the storm stop and checked the waters of the river. Amazed
by this event, Perseus immediately lit a fire from that fire and he
kept it with him under protection. He took the fire into his own empire
in the Persian regions. Perseus taught the people to revere that fire
which, he told them, he had seen fall from heaven. The Persians till
the present revere this fire as divine. Perseus built, a temple for the
Ionit.ai which he called the Temple of Eternal Fire. Likewise he built a
temple of Fire in Persia and appointed holy men to serve there, whom he
called .waagol. Pausanias, the most. learned chronicler, has written this.
21. After a time the emperor Kepheus, the father of Andromeda,
attacked him from Ethiopia and made war on him. Because of his old age
Kepheus was unable to see. When Perseus heard that Kepheus was making
war on him, he was extremely angry. He marched out. against him (39)
holding the Gorgon's head and showed it to him, Since Kepheus could not
see, he charged at. him on horseback. Then Perseus, unaware that. Kepheus
could not see, thought that the Gorgon's head which he was holding had
lost its powers. So he turned the head towards himself and looked at.
it., He was blinded, stood motionless as if dead, and was killed. Then
the son of Perseus and Andromeda reigned over the Persians, appointed
by his grandfather, Kepheus, the emperor of Ethiopia. Kepheus gave the
order and 'the loathsome head of the Gorgon was burned; and he departed
to his own land. The descendants of Perseus remained there after that,
reigning over the land of Babylonia.
22. In earlier times mentioned above Kadmos, the son of Agenor,
reached the land of Boiotia from Phoenice. His father had sent. him to
look for and rescue Europe, his sister. When Kadmos learned that she
was reigning over Crete, he set out. for Boiot.ia. While he was in
Boiot.ia, he taught the people the Phoenician script, of which they were
ignorant.. So they honoured him and made him emperor of Boiot.ia, for he
was handsome in appearance. He reigned over the Boiotians for 62 years.
He married a woman from that. land named Harmonia. By her he had six
daughters, Ino, Agave, Semele, Eurynome, Kleantho, and Eurydike. When
these girls grew up, they were called the (40) Kadmiades (the daughters
of Kadmos). Kadmos built. a great city in Boiot.ia, which he called
Kadmeia after himself, and reigned there.
23. He recalled from exile Teiresias, a Boiotian philosopher, a
hunter, a man well-endowed with wealth, rank and wisdom. It was he who
stop (38.5; corn Chil) Slav, CP, cf Ke: `burn up' Ba.
took the fire (38.8-9):Slav adds 'with him when he went',cf CP, PsS, Ke.
revere (38.11; corr Chil) Slav, CP: 'hold amongst yourselves' Ba,
'revere' Ba second hand; see Bury, 1897, 222.
21. Bo 38.17-39.11; CP 73.13-74.5, JA 6.19-20, Su III 347.2-5, PsS
29r, Ke 41.17-42.3; Slav: Ist 13.1-12, Soph 27, Mify 24-5.
the son (39.6): CP, Su, PsS, Ke add 'Meros', cf JA, Slav which add
`Merros'.
22. Bo 39.12-40.3; PsS 29r-v, Ke 42.4-12, cf LG 259.3 (28.9); Slav: Ist
13.13-22, Soph 28.
23. Bo 40.3-41.3; A 239.1-12, PsS 29v, Ke 42.12-22, 82.7-18, cf LG
259.3-6 (28.10-12); Slav: Ist 14.1-17. See Kannicht and Snell, TrGF II,
170-1 (Adespota 618), and especially Erbse, 1941, 140-3, 208, who edits
w Malalas' lost source.
,
of their own
brought to the Hellenes the belief that all things move
accord and that the world is without design. The priests conspired
him, and he was exiled to the temple of Apollo Daphnaios charged
against
with having an effeminate mind and with too zealously enquiring how a
of blood is
woman conceives after intercourse with a man, how the nature
how a child is
divided into bones, flesh, veins, nerves and blood, and
given life and is born. The most learned Kephalion has written
these
things. The most learned Sophokles wrote a play and said poetically
that Teiresias saw Pallas bathing and became a woman. Teiresias, he
able to do
said, sought to know the wisdom of the creator and was not
Hence Sophokles stated in his writings that the following is true,
so.
of
"There is one God who created heaven and the broad earth, the swell
the gleaming blue sea, and the force of the winds. But we mortals,
being greatly deceived in our hearts, have established as solaces
for
or
our sufferings images of the gods made out. of stone (41) and wood
figures worked in gold or ivory. Performing sacrifices and empty
festivals to them, we think we are pious". Sophokles seems to have
believed in one ruling principle.
24. Kadmos gave his daughter Agave in marriage to a senator
named E,chion, who had by her a son named Pentheus, an intelligent man
both in practical wisdom and everything else. A man named Polymedon
fell in love with Semele, Kadmos' other daughter, who was exceedingly
beautiful. Polymedon was the son of the senator Ait.herion, who was
descended from the family of Picus Zeus. Polymedon won over and seduced
Semele, and had a son by her. While Semele was carrying the child in
her womb, a storm occurred with mighty flashes of lightning and thunder.
The girl Semele was terrified and immediately gave birth to a
seven-month baby, but she could not endure the pains and died. Kadmos
sent the baby to the land of Nysia where he was reared. Because the
child was delivered prematurely, he received a portion of life in
addition to the time of his birth, and for this reason, it was written
that Zeus sheltered the child in his own bosom for the rest of the time
he should have been in his mother's womb, as the most. learned
Palaiphatos has written. The child's grandfather, Kadmos, called him
Nysios, but. other people, because he worked miracles with his prayer
to the sun, changed his name to Dionysos, since his father's family was
from Zeus, They deified (42) Dionysos for discovering food for men
through the vine. He discoursed about the vine and agriculture.
Dionysos also learned some mystical practices and became expert. in the
mysteries and worked some miraculous displays. He went off to the
Persians and the Indians and into many lands; he took a large army with
him and showed some miraculous displays as he fought.
25. Kadmos grew old and yielded the administration of the empire
of the Boiotians to the son of Echion, his grandson Pentheus. Pentheus
was approved by the senators and the whole people. Then Kadmos took
Teiresias and lived in the countryside of Boiotia, most of the time on
Mount Kithairon. When Dionysos heard that his grandfather had grown
old, he came to the city of Kadmeia with a distinguished force of armed
men, in order to reign there. Pentheus saw that he was working
miraculous displays and had troops, and that he was summoning all his
kin and teaching the mysteries of the sun's Bacchic rites to his female
relatives whom they called Bacchanals. Equally Dionysos was also
teaching the citizens secret ritual prayers to the sun, so as to
persuade the Boiotians that he was able to claim (43) the kingdom, since
he was equipped with weapons and an army, whom, they say, he called
Leapers as they were quick and leaped about. They were from
the land of the Bessoi and had been instructed in mystic wisdom.
26. Learning all this, Pentheus was jealous of Dionysos, since
he heard that he too desired to reign over the Boiotians. They became
enemies and fought a battle in the city. Pentheus defeated Dionysos and
captured him, then had him tied up and imprisoned, awaiting the arrival
of Kadmos, their grandfather. But Agave, Dionysos' aunt and Pentheus'
mother, persuaded her son and made him release Dionysos. When he was
set free, he plotted how to kill Pentheus. When he had prepared his
forces, he summoned Agave and asked her to reconcile him with Pentheus
and to go with him to Kadmos. With many entreaties she persuaded her
son Pentheus to be reconciled with Dionysos and to go to Kadmos because
he was displeased with them both. Agave arranged to go with them to
persuade her father. But Dionysos was angry with Pentheus, as he had
been tied up and slandered by him; for Pentheus told everyone that
Dionysos had been born out of wedlock. For this reason Euripides, who
years later discovered an account to this effect, wrote a play called
The in which he gave these words to Pentheus, "Semele, (44)
brought to childbirth by union with a mortal, attributed the sin of the
birth to Zeus".
27. After they were reconciled, Dionysos ordered his army to
take up position along the road in a narrow place and to seize Pentheus.
When they were preparing to set. out, Dionysos went to him with a few
men. Then Pentheus, not suspecting the plot, also took only a few men
with him; Agave was with them too. During their journey Dionysos' army
fell upon Pentheus and seized him. Immediately Dionysos ordered that he
should be beheaded, and his head given to his mother because she
insulted Dionysos. Then Dionysos returned to Kadmeia to reign there.
This is why they say that Agave beheaded her own son, because she
persuaded Pentheus to be reconciled with Dionysos and was the cause of
her own son's death.
commit. such an act on a priestly person. But when the emperor Lykos had
Antiope brought. in for questioning, he saw her beauty and, realizing
that she was pregnant, took pity on her. He said that she must wait
until she gave birth, and then she would be punished for defiling her
priestly office.
31. The emperor Lykos' wife was Dirke. He handed Antiope over
to her and said that she was to keep her by her until she gave birth.
The emperor Lykos was Antiope's uncle. Ant.iope gave birth to twins,
whom she called Amphion and Zethos. (47) At the emperor Lykos' command
the babies, when they were born, were exposed in the village known as
Derasthea, near Mount Kithairon. Out of pity for these babies Ordion,
a farmer who was childless, took the children from those who were
exposing them. He was aware that they were the children of the
priestess Ant.iope; for he knew her and that she was a priestess. And
so he brought. them up.
32. Some time later war began in the land of the Argives, so the
emperor Lykos went. out. to battle. He spent a long time fighting.
Dirke, the emperor Lykos''wife, reasoned that. Lykos had not yet punished
Antiope after the birth of her children but had left her alone because
he desired her-and was having intercourse with her secretly, as she was
very beautiful. So she took Antiope and went off, as if into the
country, with a few soldiers to Mount Kit.hairon, to the village where
Antiope's sons had been brought up. Dirke did not know this. She
brought. a wild bull out. from that. place, fastened a torch to its horns
and gave orders that Antiope was to be tied up, the rope wound round the
bull's neck, and Ant.iope was to be dragged along by the bull like this
and killed.
33. Everyone from the estate learned about Antiope's imminent
death and heard her shrieks, and they came out from the village known as
Derasthea. There was a great crowd of peasants there. Also amongst
them were (48) Antiope's two sons with the farmer Ordion who had
brought. them up. They begged Dirke not to kill her by such a terrible
death. But Dirke replied that Antiope was a priestess of Helios who had
been seduced and through her fornication had given birth to twin boys,
and she should be punished. When Antiope's sons, Zethos and Amphion,
heard from their foster-father, Ordion, that. it was their mother Antiope
who was about. to be punished, they assembled all the peasants of the
district, marched out. with them and killed the soldiers. Seizing Dirke,
they tore off the imperial finery which she was wearing, and set Antiope
Antiope's two sons (48.1): Slav adds `Zethos and Antion' tie Amphion).
When Antiope was freed from her bonds, she commanded her
free.
children, Amphion and Zethos, to kill Dirke. They took her and tied her
to the. wild bull, and so she perished, dragged along by the bull. But
spring, stopped to
the bull was thirsty from the running and, finding a
So the
drink. The rope snapped and left Dirke's body near the spring.
called Dirke from that time to the
spring in that district has been
present day.
and fled
34. Then Zethos and Amphion took their mother Antiope
Boiotians when
to their own country Boiotia and were recognised by the
Nykteus, the emperor of the land
they appeared there. Their grandfather
by disease, died. Later,
of Boiotia, had now grown old and, stricken
(49) asked
after the death of the emperor Nykteus, all the Boiotians
Amphion and Zethos to reign over them, since they belonged to the
So they were proclaimed emperors
and
imperial family of Nykteus.
the musicians, reigned over the land of Boiotia.
Amphion and Zethos,
35. Amphion, the lyre player, immediately built a very large
known as
city which had twelve gates and was formerly the village
Enchilia. The brothers called this city Thebes after their father, at
their mother Antiope's command. They reigned over Thebes for many
years
and then, the region round it was also called Thebes. The emperor Lykos,
Dirke's husband and their uncle, died in the war. Kephalion has
a
written these facts truthfully but the most learned Euripides wrote
play poetically, saying that Zeus in the form of a satyr seduced
Antiope, and that from this were born Zethos and Amphion, the musicians.
He meant that their father Theoboos was descended from Picus Zeus by the
process of metempsychosis, when he stated that Zeus seduced Antiope
after being transformed into a satyr, which in the Boiotian language
means into another more lowly body.
36. After the reign of Amphion and Zethos, their descendants
reigned over Thebes until the reign of Oidipous, son of Laios and
Iokaste.
Laios, emperor (50) of Thebes, had a son called Iokkas, whose name
was changed to the Oidipous mentioned above. Laios was told by an
oracle that his son would have intercourse with his mother, Iokaste, and
ordered soldiers from his bodyguard to take Oidipous into the forest.
His feet were to be put into a piece of wood with holes cut in it, and
nails were to be driven into the wood. From this is derived the
punishment known to the present day among soldiers as the Cusrx-.
Acting on their instructions, the soldiers left Oidipous in the forest
to be the prey of wild beasts.
A peasant named Meliboios came into the forest to cut wood. He
found Oidipous dragging himself along the ground with swollen feet. So
he picked up and, with the axe which he was carrying, broke the plank
in which Oidipous' feet. were trapped. He took him and reared him and
called him Oidipous (Swollen-Foot) because of his swollen feet. When he
was fully grown Oidipous became a valiant man.
37. There appeared in that land a widow, named Sphinx, who was
hideous, with large breasts, a country-woman. After her husband's death
she collected a band of peasant robbers of similar disposition to
herself in her village known as Moabe, which lies between two mountains
with only one narrow path between them. Taking her robber band with
her, Sphinx settled on one of the mountain peaks; she murdered all the
travellers and traders who passed by and stole all their possessions,
She became famous in Thebes. Many generals (51) marched out, and with
them a large army sent by the emperor Laios, but. not one was able to
overcome her because of her strong position in the mountains and the
crowd of peasant robbers who shared with her the possessions of the
passing foreigners and citizens.
38. When Oidipous was full-grown he learned that. he was originally
from the city of Thebes. He also heard that a woman, named Sphinx, a
brigand, malt.reat.ed all those who were going to Thebes and that. the city
was in trouble. So, having thought up a clever plan to destroy Sphinx,
he collected valiant. peasants from the estate where he was brought up,
because, he said, he intended to become a robber with Sphinx. He went
t.o her and asked if he might. become a brigand with her. She saw what.
the young man and his companions looked like and accepted him and his
band; so Oidipous too attacked those passing by. Finding a moment. when
Sphinx did not have a crowd of robbers with her, he seized a spear and
killed her. He carried off all her spoils, at. the same time killing
many of her men. Oidipous took Sphinx's corpse to the city of Thebes
since he and his men were expecting to receive money from the emperor
Laios. All the citizens of Thebes were astonished and praised Oidipous,
and clamoured for him to be emperor of Thebes,
39. (52) The emperor was angry with the inhabitants of the city and
sent. the army against. them. When a civil war had broken out., Laios came
to make his defence before them but he was shot by an arrow and killed.
Then Iokast.e, not. wishing to be driven out. from the empire, immediately
summoned Oidipous and made him emperor, having discovered that he did
not have a wife; she married Oidipous for the good of the city and the
senate. So Oidipous reigned over Thebes for 19 years, without. Iokaste
or Oidipous knowing that she was his mother. Oidipous had two sons by
her, Et.eokles and Polyneikes, and two daughters, Ismene and Antigone.
40. But after some time Iokaste asked Oidipous where he had
their name from Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, who had twelve sons.
The tribe of Judah controlled the Jews and administered them, and this
is how they acquired their name.
5. In that time there appeared from the tribe of Japheth a man
named Hesiod. He invented the Hellenic alphabet and, when he had
organized it, he was the first to explain it to the Hellenes.
6. In the time of Abraham, Endelechos, of the tribe of Shem, son
of Noah, reigned over the Assyrians. He was the first to reign over
them after the extinction of Perseus' family. Empire returned once more
to the Assyrians.
The first emperor from the tribe of Ham, son of Noah, Pharaoh
also known as Naracho reigned over the Egyptians. The most learned
Manetho has written about the ancient empires of the Egyptians that
preceded him, as mentioned above, while Theophilos, the most learned
chronicler, has written about the later empires of the Egyptians, I mean
from Naracho onwards.
In the time of Abraham, Naracho from the tribe of Shem reigned
over the Assyrians. Petephres, the emperor Pharaoh's chief cook, bought
Joseph, son of Jacob, from the Saracens. Joseph's brothers had sold him
to the Saracens, since they were jealous of him because he was beloved
of their father. (60) Joseph was handsome to look at. Joseph
interpreted for the emperor .Pharaoh the dream which he had about the
famine which was to last in Egypt and every land for seven years.
The emperor was amazed at Joseph's understanding and set him
free. He granted him high rank and the daughter of the chief priest of
Helioupolis in Egypt to be his wife. Pharaoh also commanded Joseph to
administer all Egypt for seven years and to have the authority to act as
he wished. Joseph built store-houses and set corn aside in them for
seven years, and he himself regulated everywhere the buying and selling
of goods, acting as he wished. When famine spread throughout the whole
world, his brothers came to Egypt from the land of Canaan, to buy corn.
Joseph recognized them and ordered them to be arrested. He assured them
that he was their brother, and he compelled them to go away and bring
back to him his younger brother Benjamin and his father Jacob and all
his family. His brothers went away and brought to him their father and
their brother Benjamin and all their family, a group of 75 men and
women. Joseph kept them there and they lived in Egypt for many years.
There descended from these Hebrews a huge number of people, who lived in
Egypt until the time of Moses, who was commanded by God to bring (61)
the people of the Hebrews out from the land of Egypt - as all these
facts have been recorded accurately in the Hebrew scriptures.
7. In the time of the emperors mentioned above, there appeared in
the land of Caria a philosopher of the race of giants, from the tribe of
corpse and each year they open up his tomb there and pv his relics, a
vibrant corpse as they say. The most learned Au l eaas ha n wr i t; t en about
this, which is the origin, it. is said, of the story men write about, the
moon falling in love with Endymion.
8. Thus from Abraham to the exodus of the scn s (if Israel .from
Egypt with Moses there were five generations, 443 years. From the flood
to the birth of Moses there were 1484 years. From Adam to the birth of
Moses there were 4036 years. Moses lived for 120 years. After Moses,
Joshua, the son of Nun, and Phinees administered Israel. Thus from Adam
to the death of Moses and Aaron there were 4156 years.
9.
Japheth,
In the time of Joshua, the son of Nun, a man of the
(62) named Ogyges,
of trig
an original inhabitant of the country,
reigned over the land of Attica for 32 years. In his reign a great
flood occurred and Ogyges and all the land were destroyed, as was every
soul living in that land of Attica, but only there. From that time the
land remained barren and uninhabited for 270 years, as is related in
the writings of Africanus.
10. In the days in which the exodus of the sons of Israel with
Moses from Egypt was about to happen, a man named Aides, an original
inhabitant of the place, reigned over the land of the Molossaa.arns. He
married a woman known as Melindia and had a beautiful
daughter by her,
whom he called Persephone. In their own language, the Molossians called
beautiful women "girls" (A-oro-i.). Peirithous, one of emperor Aides'the
senators and a wealthy young man, seemed to
be in love with Persephone.
With the girl's consent, he planned
to carry her off at night. When her
father, the emperor Aides, discovered this, he was
angry and planned to
retaliate against Peirithous in
a surreptitious way, so that he could
pretend ignorance to everyone. Aides
had an enormous fierce sheep dog,
which he called Trikerberos, because
it had the head and bodily size of
three dogs. He shut the dog outside
where the girl lived. The girl was
unaware of this after her
mother's death. When Peirithous appeared
night and came to carry her at
off, the dog attacked and killed him. On
hearing the uproar Persephone
(63) came out, and the dog killed her
too. And so, they say, the story
is told about Persephone. that. Pluto
carried her off. This is what the most learned
Palaiphatos has written.
11. In the time of Moses, Erechtheus
while Petissonios, the Pharaoh reigned over the Assyrians
who was mocked, reigned over the
8. Bo 61.15-21; cf JA 11.5;
Slav: Ist xv-xviii,
Soph 35, 51.1-3 (Tikh),
9. Bo 61.22-62.6; JA 13.1, PsS
38r, Ke 143.10--14, JN 29.1-2;
xv-xviii, 51.3-5 (Tikh). Slav: Ist
Ogyges (62.1; corr Dind) JA: 'Gygoges'
270 years (62.5): '206 years'
Ba, 'Gyges' Ke, 'Goigyges' Slav.
JA, JN, cf '260 years'
Ke, Slav, '200 years'
10. Bo 62.7-63.3; JA 13.2, PsS 38r, Ke
Slav: Ist xv-xviii, 51.6-13 143.15-144.4, Su III 157.4-12;
(Tikh).
11. Bo 63.4-64.11; Ke 83.5-20,
cf JN 30.1; Slav: Ist xv-xviii,
(Tikh), 48.1-3 (EL), Soph 35. 51.14-16
Egyptians. Petissonios had powerful 1&7gol in his court, Jannes and
Jambres. During his reign the race of Jews in Egypt. had increased from
the family of Jacob who came to Egypt to join his son Joseph, until the
time of their leader Moses and his brother Aaron. Moses married an
Egyptian woman, the daughter of Iothor, who was chief priest of the
Hellenes and a man honoured by the emperor Pharaoh and the Egyptians.
Moses himself had been educated in all the wisdom of Egypt.
The Egyptians began to be afraid of the Jews, who had become
numerous. They made a report to Pharaoh about them, and the emperor
Pharaoh ordered the Jews to undertake work for the Egyptians and lay
bricks under compulsion. Any Egyptian who wanted to build a house or
wall a field would force the Jews to do the work and make bricks, and so
all the Jews were lamenting at their toil. Moses and his brother Aaron
became aware of the lamentations of the sons of Israel and they prayed
to God. The Lord God ordered Moses to approach Pharaoh, emperor of
Egypt, and say to him, "Release the people of Israel (64), so that they
may worship him". Moses took his brother Aaron and approached
Petissonios Pharaoh, emperor of Egypt; for Moses had freedom of access,
because of his father-in-law lothor, who was priest of the Hellenes, and
because he was leader of the Jews. Moses reported to Pharaoh God's
command, "God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea and all that is
in them, commands you to release his people to worship him". When
Pharaoh heard this, he said to Moses, "If you are speaking the truth,
that your God has ordered you to say these things to me, see, there are
Egyptians with me who work miracles. If you overcome them by praying to
your God, I will grant you what. you say he has ordered".
12. Pharaoh stood Jannes and Jambres and Moses and Aaron opposite
each other, and sat down, as did his nobles. Then Jannes and Jambres,
using their wizardry, turned their rod into a snake which attacked
Moses. Moses prayed and he too hurled to the ground the rod which
he held. His rod also turned into an extremely large snake which
swallowed up the snake which Jannes and Jambres had made. So Moses won,
and the king and his whole court were amazed. Likewise Jannes and
Jambres made a river of the clearest. water become blood in the presence
of the king and his whole court. Then Moses prayed and the streams of
the river became pure water again, as they had been before. They
performed other contests against each other, and Moses defeated them.
(65) So he said to Pharaoh, "Behold, you have seen the power of the God
of Israel. Release us so that we may worship him".
Although Pharaoh made an agreement with Moses, he continued to
delay. So Moses prayed to God to send plaques on Pharaoh and the
Egyptians, so that their emperor might be forced to release the people
of Israel. The God of Israel sent down a sevenfold wrath and so the
emperor begged Moses and said to him, "Pray to your God for this land to
be freed from these great woes. As the Lord your God lives, I will not
prevent you from taking your people of Israel so that you may worship
him". This is recorded in the Hebrew scriptures. When Moses heard the
emperor's words, he went to pray to the God of Israel and said to the
Jews, "The emperor has released you all to depart and worship God".
first lyric poetess (72.2) Slav: cf 'first of the Muses' PsS, Ke.
their empire (72.4): 'the Athenian empire' Slav, cf PsS, Ke.
7. Bo 72.6-15; JA 13.6, Su III 476.21-2, PsS 38v, Ke 145.17-146.1;
Slav: Ist 4.3-11.
In the time (72.6): before this Slav, Ke add 'Then the twelve archons
ruled', cf PsS.
Alkmaion (72.10,11): written as 'Akmaion' Ba; see Gelzer, 1885a, 155.
Eryxias (72.12): written as 'Arexion' Ba; see Gelzer, 1885a, 155.
12 years (72.13): '10 years' Slav, Eusebios (92.19).
8. Bo 72.16-74.1; A 241.27-242.2, PsS 38v, Ke 101.11-102.8, cf
147.18-21, Su III 565.26-7, JN 36.1-2, cf JA 13.7, LG 259.21 (29.6);
Slav: Ist 4.12-5.2, cf Soph 42. See Kern, Orpti Fr 62 (pp. 145-6).
After Barach (72.16; corr, reading BapaX for Rpaxx , cf Bo 70.12) Slav:
'After a short while' Ba.
my witness (73.16; corn Dind): om Ba.
as he recorded in the lines of verse mentioned above, though it is
not
possible to record his large number of verses (74) in this work.
9. This is what Orpheus stated. He said that at the beginning
Hither was revealed to Time, having been created by God, and there
was
Chaos on this side of Hither and on that, while dark Night held
everything and covered what was under Hither, signifying that Night came
first. Orpheus said in his account that there was a certain Being
who
of
was incomprehensible, supreme over all, before all, and the creator
all things, including the Hither itself and Night and the whole creation
that was concealed and was beneath the Hither. He said that the Earth
was invisible beneath the darkness. He declared that Light broke
through the Hither and illuminated the Earth and all creation, saying
that the Light which broke through the Hither was that Being mentioned
above, that was supreme over all things, whose name Orpheus heard
from
the oracle and declared: "Metis, Phanes, Erikepaios". This in the
common language means "Counsel, Light and Life-giver".
Orpheus also said in his account that the three divine powers with
these names were one power and might of the one God, whom no one can
see; the form and nature of this power no one can know. From this power
all things came into being, the incorporeal first principles, the sun
and the moon, the authorities and all the stars, the earth and the sea,
all things visible in them and invisible.
10. He said that the race of men (75) was moulded out of earth
by God and took a rational soul from Him, as the all-wise Moses has
stated. Orpheus wrote in his book that all things came into being
through these three names of the one divinity, and that God himself is
all things.
Orpheus also wrote many lines of poetry about the wretched race of
men, some of which are as follows:
Beasts and fowl and fruitless tribes of mortals,
Burdens of earth, created images, knowing nothing at all,
Understanding neither how to perceive approaching evil,
Nor how to turn aside from evil afar off,
Nor how to attend to and grasp the present good (76)
But vainly unwitting and improvident.
lines of verse mentioned above (73.17): Slav adds 'He wrote down the
divinations which he had heard concerning the relationships of the gods
and the creation of the world', cf Ke.
9. Bo 74.1-74.20; A 242.2-19, PsS 38v, Ke 102.8-103.2, cf
147.21-148.3, Su III 565.27-566.6, cf JA 13.7; Slav: Ist 5.2-16. See
Kern, druh Fr 65 (pp,146-7) .
Time (74.2) Slav: cf 'the world' A, Ke, om Su.
Hetis, Phanes, Erikepaios (74.13; corr Bentley) :
EPLKET[E(i) Ba, 'Metis' Ke.
Un ti LVa (pava L is
the one God (74.16): 'the heavenly God' A, 'God the creator of all' Ke.
10. Bo 74.20-76.9; A 242.19-25, PsS 38v, Ke 103.2-20, cf 148.3-11, Su
III 566.6-11, 3N 36.2; Slav: Ist 5.16-6.1, Soph 42. See Kern, ttr b Fr'
233 (pp.246-7).
the race (74.20) A, Ke, Su, Slav: om Ba; see Bury, 1897,222.
Beasts... improvident (75.8-76.3): we print poem and version separately,
not in interlinear form as in the Greek, adopting Kern's text; see also
Costanza, 1959.
Book 4 37
that is,
Wild animals and birds, the races of man that perish, a weight
on the earth, a constructed form, knowing neither why they were
born nor why they die; men neither perceiving evil coming
against them nor able to defend themselves, or to turn away
from evil at a distance, nor capable when good is approaching
of turning back from evil, and holding onto good; but they
are carried along in utter ignorance, according to chance, with
no forethought.
The very learned Orpheus also wrote many other lines. The most
learned chronicler Timotheos has stated all this, saying that Orpheus
had said so many years ago that. a consubst.antial Trinity had created all
things.
11. After Gideon, Tholas led Israel. During the time of Tholas,
Marsyas, the philosopher, lived in the land of Phrygia. He invented
reed flutes for music and then he went out of his mind, proclaiming
himself divine and saying, "I have found nourishment for men through the
melody of musical reeds". Marsyas lived on his own estates for the
whole of his life. He incurred divine anger and went out of his mind
and while he was distraught., hurled himself into a river and perished.
Men of that country call this river Marsyas to the present day. The
poets say of him that he had a quarrel with Apollo. They mean,
according to the story, that he blasphemed and went out of his mind and
was killed, as the most learned Ninos has written. The most. learned
(77) Lucian, who said that Marsyas came from Kalchis, has also recorded
this story.
12. During the time of Tholas there lived the hero Herakles
and the Argonauts, Jason of Thessaly, Kastor and Polydeukes, Hylas and
Telamon and the rest. While they were passing through the Hellespont,
they were suddenly attacked by Kyzikos, emperor of Hellespont. They
clashed with him in a sea battle and killed him. Then, gaining entry
by night, they captured Kyzikos, the metropolis of the province of
Hellespont.. When they learnt from the citizens and senators that, it was
Kyzikos who had been slain by them, they mourned for him because he
was a relative of theirs and traced his family from their own country.
So they asked forgiveness for the ignorance of both sides, and after
justifying themselves before them they built a temple in the city of
Kyzikos after the victory.
called Pythia
Then the Argonauts went to the oracle at the place
they put questions, saying,
Therma and, after making a sacrifice,
"Prophesy to us, prophet, Titan, Phoibos Apollo. Whose shrine will this
And this response was given them by
the
be, or what will it be?"
proclaim only a
Pythia, "Do all that leads to virtue and honour. I
in
triune, high-ruling God, whose imperishable Word will be conceived
an innocent girl. He, like a fiery arrow coursing through the
midst of
the whole world, will (78) make it captive and bring it as a gift
to his
father. This will be her house and her name will be Mary". The heroes
on marble, and
inscribed the oracle in bronze letters on stone, that is,
of Rhea,
placed it over the door of the temple, calling it the House
mother of the gods. Many years later this house was made into a church
of the Holy Mary, Mother of God, by the emperor Zeno.
13. The Argonauts set out from the Hellespont and sailed
to the
Princes' Islands. From there they followed the route to Chalkedon,
were
wishing to pass through the strait. to the Pontic Sea. They
attacked next by Amykos and, afraid of his forces, fled into a wooded
bay which was densely forested and wild. They saw in a vision an
apparition coming towards them as though from heaven, a tremendous man
with wings on his shoulders, like those of an eagle, who foretold
to
them victory over Amykos. So they were encouraged and attacked
Amykos. When they had conquered and killed him, in thanksgiving they
built a temple in the Place where they had seen the apparition. They
set up there an image of the apparition which they had seen and called
the place, or temple, Sosthenion, since they had fled there and been
saved. The place has kept this name to the present day,
After he had begun to reign in Byzantion, (79) the emperor
Constantine the Great examined this temple, when he went to close it.
He had become a Christian and, looking carefully at the monumental
statue which was standing there, he said that it represented an angel in
the clothing of a monk of the Christian faith. Astounded by the site
and the building, he offered prayers to find out what apparition the
angel's image represented, and slept in the place. When he heard the
name of the apparition in a dream, he immediately woke up and adorned
the place, making a prayer towards the East. He renamed the chapel, or
the place, after the holy Archangel Michael.
After their victory over Amykos, the Argonauts left that area and
sailed to the Pontic Sea in search of the Golden Fleece. They seized it
from the land of Kolchis, and also took Medeia, the daughter of Aetes,
emperor of Scythia. After this comes the story about Jason and Glauke,
the daughter of Kreon, king of Thessaly. Because of some accident
Glauke was burnt to death, together with her father, at. her wedding.
There are other parts of the story, which the most learned Apollonios
the historian has written.
I proclaim only a triune (77.20; corr Erbse) Slav: 'I bid you fear'
Ke, Bo.
13. Bo 78.7-79.17; C 195.3-20, PsS 39r, Ke 210.7-211.2, JA 15.2, JN
41.1-13; Slav: Ist 7.8-8.6, Soph 46,
and killed (78.16) Slav: om Bo; see Bury, 1897, 222.
Sosthenion (78.19; corr)C, Ke: 'Sosthenes' Ba, PsS, Slav.
the daughter (79.14; corr Chil) Slav: 'and the daughter' Ba.
Book 4 39
22. Bo 86.12-19; PsS 40r, Ke 214.16-20; Slav: Ist 12.20-26, Soph 52,
(Mify 28).
23. Bo 86.20-88.10; De virt 4 (159.13-28), PsS 40r-v, Ke 214.21-215.15,
Su I1157.12-25; Slav: Ist
12.26-13.24 (Mify 28-9).
trap (88.2; corr Chil) Slav: 'another' Ba, De virt, 'a trick' PsS, Ke.
Book 4 43
for
25. At that time Eurystheus reigned over the Lakedaimoniansother
first emperor; after him there were 8
42 years as their
Alkamenes reigned for
emperors, who reigned for 246 years altogether,
325 years in all,
37 years. The empire of the Lakedaimonians lasted for
as the most learned Africanus has written.
to reign over the Jews
After Eli, the prophet of the Jews, the first
Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for 20
was Saul, the son of
Aletes reigned
years in the city of Gabaon. After the Lakedaimonians,
Corinthians for 35 years, and 11 other emperors reigned
then over the
The empire
for 277 years. Afterwards Automenes ruled for one year.
of the Corinthians lasted for 313 years.
first contest. of the
In the time of Saul, the Pisaians devised the
the universal festival of
Olympic festival, celebrating at that time
most learned Africanus chronicled this.
Olympian Zeus. The
At God's
At that time Samuel the prophet became priest of the Jews.
Jewish people.
command he appointed David, the son of Jesse, king of the
looked out into the garden and noticed Helen's beauty and youth,
Falling in love with her, he seduced her with the aid of Ait.hra,
Menelaos' relative through Pelops, and Klymene from the family of
Europe. He took her and fled in the ships he had with him from Troy,
with 300 Ji trai of money and much precious jewellery and silver,
together with Ait.hra, of the family of Pelops, and Klymene, of the
family of Europe, and five handmaidens, Helen's cubicularii. He
crossed over to Sidon and from there to Proteus, emperor of Egypt,
without going to the temple of Apollo or making a sacrifice in Hellas.
When the soldiers who were guarding Menelaos' palace learnt. of Helen's
flight, they were terrified and immediately sent off three soldiers from
the city of Sparta in Hellas to Gort.yn, the city in Crete, to inform
emperor Menelaos that Helen had been stolen by Paris, and that as well
as Helen, he had taken Aithra, his relative, and Klymene. Menelaos
remained in a state of stupefaction when he heard this; he was
particularly displeased because of Ait.hra, since (96) he had supposed
her to be extremely chaste. He immediately set sail and returned to
Hellas to the city of Spart.a, sending everywhere in search of Helen
and Paris and those with her. They did not find them.
6. Some time later, Paris returned from Egypt. with Helen and the
money and all her wealth. When Priam and Hekabe saw Helen with Paris
and marvelled that she possessed such beauty, they enquired from her who
she was and from whom she was descended. Helen said, "I am a kinswoman
of Alexander Paris, and am more related to Priam and Hekabe than to
Pleisthenes' son, Menelaos". For she said she was descended from Danaos
and Agenor, the Sidonians, and from the family of Priam, and so she came
from Priam's family. For Atlas and Elektra were the children of
Plesione, the daughter of Danaos. Elektra was the mother of the emperor
Dardanos, from whom came Tros and the emperors of Ilion; ... through
Phoinix, the son of Agenor, whose descendant was the emperor Dymas,
Hekabe's father; and Leda had said she was of the family of Dymas.
After saying this to Priam and Hekabe, Helen begged them and bound them
by an oath not to betray her. She said that she had taken nothing that
belonged to Menelaos but (97) had only her own possessions. Then Hekabe
embraced her and kissed her and preferred her to all others.
7. When Agamemnon and Menelaos learnt that Helen had arrived in
be handed
Troy with Paris, they sent ambassadors asking for her to
For her sister Klytaimnestra pressed her husband Agamemnon, the
back.
She wrote a
emperor of Argos, about the return of Helen, her sister.
it. to Menelaos.
letter to her, which was meant to persuade her, and gave
Menelaos came to Priam, before the outbreak of war, seeking
Helen his
wife, but the sons of Priam could not. be persuaded to hand her back.
And so the Atreidai, the emperors, prepared an expedition against
Ilion, summoning the leaders, or t.oparchs. They entreated Peleus and
his wife Thetis and her father Cheiron, the philosopher emperor,
to send
them Achilles, son of Thetis and Peleus and grandson of Cheiron.
with the
Cheiron sent for Achilles and brought him, for he was staying
his father-in-law and father of Deidameia, on his
emperor Lykomedes,
island. Achilles left with the Atreidai, bringing his own army of 3000
with
of the men known then as Myrmidons but known now as Bulgars,
They had been begged by
Patroklos, the stratopedarch, and Nestor.
Cheiron, Peleus and Thetis to accompany Achilles. (98) Achilles went to
Ilion as sole leader of his army of Argives and Myrmidons.
8. The Atreidai, the emperors, had summoned, or entreated the
rest of the emperors, or toparchs, and leaders from each country of
Europe, each with his own army and ships. They all sailed off and
gathered in the land known as Aulis. A storm blew up, and the seer
Kalchas declared that Agamemnon had to give his own daughter as a
sacrifice to Artemis, the goddess of that country. Odysseus went off to
Argos and by a trick, using a letter apparently from Agamemnon, brought
his daughter Iphigeneia back, When Agamemnon saw her coming, he wept
bitterly, but fearing the army and the toparchs he handed her over to be
a sacrifice to Artemis. While she was going to the temple of Artemis to
be sacrificed, a deer crossed the road in front of them, in the midst of
the emperors, the army, the priest and the maiden Iphigeneia. On seeing
the deer, the priest and seer said, "Seize the deer and take it for
sacrifice to Artemis instead of the maiden". So the deer was caught and
slaughtered for Artemis. He restored lphigeneia to her father
Agamemnon, and Agamemnon left her there as a priestess in the temple of
Artemis. Then Agamemnon was proclaimed emperor over all by the whole
expeditionary force and, setting off from there, they came to Troy.
9. (99) When the Hellenes came to Troy, the Trojans resisted
them and did not permit them to land. Many were slain from both sides,
amongst whom was Protesilaos, a leader of the Danaoi, but the Danaoi did
not give ground until they had the upper hand. They landed on the
Trojan sea-coast and moored their ships with ropes. As evening fell
the Trojans returned to the city and secured the gates. In the middle
of the night a man named Kyknos, a member of Priam's family who lived
nearby, heard that the Hellenes had arrived at Troy; he came out from
the city of Nea Andros with a large military force and attacked them.
A battle took place in the night; Kyknos was killed by Achilles, and
those with him fell before dawn.
Then the Danaoi decided to capture the cities near Ilion and Troy
since they supported Priam. They made a pact, that they should bring
everything that they had captured before the emperors, the leaders and
the army. They put Achilles and Aias Telamonios and Diomedes in charge
of this. Diomedes set off immediately and captured Nea Andros, the city
of the leader Kyknos, and plundered its territory. He also captured
his two sons, Kobes and Kokarkos, and his daughter, named Glauke, who
was eleven years old and beautiful, and all his possessions with the
booty from his (100) territory; and he brought them before the whole
army.
10. Achilles left. immediately with the Argives and the Myrmidons,
that is, with his own army, and attacked the city of Lesbos and its
territory, which was ruled by Phorbas, a relative of Priam's who was
deeply hostile to the Hellenes. Capturing the district and the city,
Achilles killed Phorbas and seized all his empire's possessions, and
carried off his daughter Diomeda. The girl was fair-skinned, round-
faced, grey-eyed, well-grown, with fairish hair and a slightly upturned
nose; she was 22 years old and a virgin. He came back, bringing all the
plunder from Lesbos to the army of the Hellenes.
Then, setting off again, he reached the Black Sea and ravaged the
land in his search for plunder. He captured the city of Lyrnesos, where
he killed the emperor Eetion, who held it, and took prisoner his wife
Astynome, the daughter of Chryses, priest of Apollo; she was also
called Chryseis. He captured, as well, the treasure belonging to Eetion
and the surrounding districts and took it to the ships. Astynome
Chryseis was short, slender, fair-skinned, with fair hair, a good
with ropes (99.6): C adds 'there' and continues 'The Danaoi decided
first to fight against the cities near Ilion and Troy, since they were
in alliance with Priam. And so Aias Telamonios and Achilles were given
orders by the emperors and when they had sacked many cities in Phrygia
they brought a very great quantity of loot before the army. After many
fierce battles had taken place between Greeks and barbarians, the city
of Ilion was sacked, as is related in Diktys' first book' (see Patzig,
1892, 133).
Nea Andros (99.10, 20; see Bury, 1897, 223) Slav: 'Neandros' PsS, Ke,
Sept.
the leader Kyknos (99.20) Slav: C, Ke add 'mentioned above'.
Kobes (99.21): 'Kobis' Ke, Sept; see Noack, 1891/3, 408.
10. Bo 100.1-21; C 202.16-29, PsS 42r, Ke 221.13-21; Slav: Ist.
7.22-8.9. See Sept II 16.
Phorbas (100.6): c£ Slav which adds 'in judgement'.
fair-skinned (100.8): Slav adds 'plump' and omits 'with an upturned
nose'.
with fair hair (100.18): Slav adds 'with good eyes' and omits 'slender'.
DOUR J
nose and small breasts: she was 19 years old. He also killed the array
which Eetion had summoned, soldiers known as Cilicians who had joined
him in his alliance with the Trojans.
Brises, a
11. Setting off from there, he attacked the sons of
as Legopolis. He plundered the
cousin of Priam's, in the city known
he killed many
entire district and stayed (101) to besiege the city;
Brises,
men, captured the city and took prisoner the daughter of
Menetes,
Hippodameia, who was also called Briseis and was the wife of
emperor of Legopolis. He slew her brothers, Andros and Thyas. Menetes,
off to
Hippodameia Briseis' husband, was not in Legopolis but had gone
The
summon a force for the Phrygian alliance from Lykia and Lykaonia.
emperor Menetes arrived with the force of Lykians and Lykaonians
immediately after the capture of his land, the city and his wife,
Hippodameia Briseis, by Achilles. He did not yield, but despite his
weariness from the journey he immediately attacked with the men
struck
accompanying him and Fought bitterly with Achilles, until he was
with Achilles, was one of the
with a spear by a certain Eurytion who,
exarchs of the army which belonged to him. All those with Menetes
perished.
Hippodameia Briseis was tall, fair-skinned, with beautiful breasts,
a good figure, eyebrows that met, a good nose, large eyes with painted
eyelids, and curly hair which was combed back; she was fond of laughing,
and she was 21 years old. When Achilles saw her he desired her; and,
falling in love with her, he took and concealed her in his own pavilion,
not bringing her before the whole Hellenic army, although he brought
the money, Astynome Chryseis and everything else before the leaders, the
army (102) and the emperors. When everyone realized that Achilles had
concealed Brises' daughter, the wife of Menetes - and the jewels which
she wore - they were displeased and furious with him, because he had
broken his oath through the love he had for her. Everyone reproached
him because he had concealed her. They summoned a convenfus and forbad
Achilles to attack and capture cities and plunder land, and they
appointed others in his place - Teukros, the brother of Aias Telamonios,
and Idomeneus. These captured Cyprus, Isauria and Lykia, and plundered
and destroyed them.
12. Aias Telamonios set out and besieged the Thracians of the
good eyes, and handsome; he had straight, fairish hair and the
beginnings of a beard; he was tall and well-knit and a daring fighting
man.
22. Palamedes was fair-skinned, tall, thin, with a long face,
pleasure-loving.
35. Aineias was short., fat., with a good chest, powerful, with a
ruddy complexion, a broad face, a good nose, fair skin, receding hair, a
good beard and grey eyes; he was discreet., wise and pious.
36. Antenor was tall, slender, with fair skin, fair hair, small
eyes and a hooked nose; he was crafty, timorous, cautious, an eloquent
historian.
37. Hekabe had honey--coloured skin and good eyes; she was
well-grown, with a good nose; she was beautiful, generous, well--spoken
and peaceable.
A. Andromache was of medium height., slender, with a good figure,
a good nose, good breasts, good eyes, good eyebrows, curly fairish hair
combed back, a long face, a good neck; she had dimples in her cheeks and
was charming and quick.
39. Kassandra was short., round-faced, fair-skinned, with a
masculine build, a good nose, good eyes with black pupils, curly fairish
hair, a good neck, heavy breasts, small feet.; she was peaceable, noble,
priestly, an accurate seer who foretold everything, ascetic, a virgin.
40. Polyxene was tall, refined, very fair-skinned, with large
eyes, black hair combed back, a good nose, good cheeks, a small
upturned nose, red lips, small feet.; she' was a virgin, charming,
very beautiful. (107) She was 18 years old when she was slain, as the
this to my
44.Odysseus opposed him, saying, "I am going to take
city. For you have not. laboured more for the Hellenes t.han
I have. At
abduction of Helen by Paris, I set off for Ilion
the start, after the
with Palamedes and the emperor Menelaos. Likewise I summoned the
and heroes from all quarters. Equally I brought about the
emperors
death of Paris. For, as you know, when a clash between Trojans and
chief men of
Hellenes had taken place and many had fallen and while the
firm and
Troy and you, the leaders of the Hellenes, were standing
the war, I
pressing hard against each other in order to decide
duel with the
encouraged the hero Philokt.et.es to challenge Paris to a
bow; and immediately Philoktet.es came out. in the midst of the emperors
him, he t.oo
and challenged Paris to a duel in archery. When Paris heard
bow, and his brother Deiphobos also.
rushed out in front of him with his
I for them the distance .between where they had
came up and measured out.
to stand. When they cast lots, it fell to Paris to shoot. first. Paris
shot, but missed. I shouted encouragement to Philoktet.es; he shot. in
turn and wounded Paris' left hand. He promptly let. off a second arrow
and pierced his right. eye. (111) As Paris yelled and turned in flight.,
Philoktetes loosed another arrow and transfixed his feet at the ankles.
Paris fell; everyone fled, snatching up Paris' body. on entering the
city, he summoned the three sons he had by Helen - Bounimos, Koryt.haios
and Idaios. After he had seen these young children, he lay without
breathing and gave up his spirit about midnight. When his former wife,
Oinoe, saw him, she committed suicide with a noose. Helen was taken to
wife by Deiphobos, Pr.iam's other son, who was mutilated by the emperor
Menelaos, as you all know. I also counselled that. Polyxene should go
good omen for them. The Trojan exarchs and Priam and the army compelled
Antenor to come to you emperors and by means of his embassy to. persuade
you, the Danaoi, to accept a ransom and abandon the war. All this we
ascertained and, when we came out., we reported it. to you. Antenor
arrived on his embassy and made this speech, on behalf of Priam and the
others, 'You who are emperors of the Hellenes, do the deeds of friends
rather than of enemies. We have suffered all that those who have sinned
deserved to suffer. Ilion has paid the perialt.y for the wrongs which
Alexander. Paris did to Menelaos the tombs of those who have perished
--
in the battles bear witness to this. We who survive offer you a ransom
on behalf of our gods, our homeland, our children. But since you are
Hellenes, save those who were once haughty but. are now suppliants, by
deciding a sum of money'. You all listened to Antenor and sent me and,
with me, Dioredes to Priam to decide the amount of money. We went to
(113) Priam in Troy, and after many discussions we decided that 2,000
talents of gold and, with it., an equal sum of silver should be given to
you. We returned to you with news of what had been agreed and we
brought the sum that. had been determined. I made you all swear oaths
with sacrifices not to sail from Ilion before we had made the wooden
horse with its fitted
planks and decorated it, with every adornment.; we
were to pretend to sail straight for Tenedos, after burning our camp,
while the barbarians, thinking we had departed, remained off their
guard, feasting; and so, returning by night from Tenedos and entering,
we were to put. the city to the torch, kill Priarn and return Helen to the
kingdom of Pleisthenes. When my counsel prevailed, the gods granted you
victory over the barbarians. So you, emperors and heroes, be the judges
of my labours".
46. Agamemnon and Diomedes and their army supported Odysseus,
while Neopt.olemos Pyrrhos and his army favoured Aias Telamonios, since
he was of his family. Many other points were discussed between them
until evening, and eventually it was decided that Diomedes should take
the Palladion in custody until the next day dawned, and should guard
it; meanwhile each of them was to rest, so that on the next day a
decree should be made over which of them should be given t:he Palladion.
.Aias, (114) who was raging against Odysseus, Agamemnon and Diomedes,
withdrew to his own pavilion. During the night Aias was stabbed to
death and his corpse was found in the morning. His army and that of
Pyrrhos rioted against. Odysseus, wishing to kill him.
You all listened to Antenor (112.21; 'you' corr Chil: 'we' Ba): 'You
were all persuaded by Antenor's words' C, Slav, cf PsS, No,
2,000 talents (113.2; corr Dind) C, Slav, PsS, Ke: '2 talents' Ba.
while the barbarians (113.8): 'so that the barbarians' C, Ke, Slav.
from Tenedos (113.9): C adds 'we were to fall on them'. PsS, Ke here
have other material, once again probably from D.ikt.ys; see Noack, 1891/3,
427-8.
46. Bo 113.15-114.5; C 207.25-30, 208.3-7, PsS 45r, No 232.3-11, Su IV
4.33-5.2; Slav: Ist. 17.13-22.
the Palladion (113.20): 'the image, the Palladion' C, c:£ 'the image'
Slav, and elsewhere.
was raging against (114.1; corr) C: 'had become an opponent. of' Ba.
that of Pyrrhos (1.14.4): 'Pyrrhos' C, Slav.
Du ?J'. .,l
47.Odysseus took his ships and fled, making for the Pontic.
Sea. After staying in that. region for a while he returned from
to his own
there wishing to make the voyage to the city of Ithake,
country, with his ships and his army. As he put, into a country
known as
Maronis, he met with opposition from its inhabitants. He fought and
defeated them, gaining possession of much money. So, supposing
that he
would completely defeat the inhabitants of whatever country he put
into, and carry off the wealth of each country he encountered, he made
war on the inhabitants of the land known as that of the Lotophagoi
when
he reached there. But the men of that. land defeated him and nearly
destroyed all his men,
48. So he fled from there and after a very long and stormy
voyage
reached the island known as Sikila, but now known, as Sicily. This
island was very large, and was divided among three large, strong
brothers who shared the same opinions; I mean Kyklops, Antiphantes
he freed him and his men. As soon as Odysseus was set free, he
immediately sailed away from Kyklops' land since he feared the man's
savagery. When Kykiops attacked that night and did not find the ships,
in his fury he ordered boulders to be hurled into the sea, in case
Odysseus had moored within his territory.
49. As it was the dead of night and darkness covered the land and
sea, they put into other parts of the island which belonged to
Polyphemos, brother of Kykiops and Antiphantes - for they were
unfamiliar with the area. As soon as Polyphemos learnt that men had
sailed in by night and put. into land belonging to him, he collected his
forces and set off against Odysseus, to join battle with him. They
fought all night, and many of Odysseus' men fell. At daybreak Odysseus
offered gifts to Polyphemos too and fell at his feet, saying that he had
come from the Trojan regions and had been forced off his path after
suffering much through storms; he listed the different disasters that
had befallen him at sea. Polyphemos was sympathetic and pitied him;
he welcomed him and his men until conditions were favourable for
sailing. Polyphemos' daughter, named Elpe, was amorously inclined
towards a handsome man in Odysseus' company, named Leion. When a
favourable wind blew, they abducted her and left the island of
Sicily. (117) The most learned Sisyphos of Kos has stated this.
The learned Euripides wrote a play about Kyklops, saying that he
had three eyes; he was referring to the three brothers who were
well-disposed to each other and kept an eye on each other's territory in
the island, fighting as allies and avenging each other. He also said
that Odysseus was able to flee when he made Kyklops drunk with wine,
because he had made Kykiops drunk with a lot of money and gifts so that
he would not devour his companions; and that Odysseus took a fire-brand
and blinded his one eye, because he abducted Elpe, his brother
Polyphemos' only daughter, a virgin, who was burning with the flame
of erotic ardour, that is, he burnt Polyphemos, one of Kykiops'
eyes, by carrying off his daughter. The most learned Pheidalios of
Corinth wrote this interpretation, saying that the learned Euripides
transformed everything poetically, not being in agreement with the most
passed, and swore in the temple that she would do nothing to harm him or
any of those with him. Odysseus was persuaded and spent a short time
with her, living with her in marriage at her wish. The most learned
Sisyphos of Kos and Diktys of Crete have written about Kirke.
The most learned Homer (120) related poetically that through a
magic potion she transformed the men who had been ensnared by her,
making some into the shape of lions, giving others dogs' heads, making
others into pigs and others into bears with pigs' heads. The learned
Pheidalios of Corinth, mentioned above, wrote out this poetic
composition and interpreted it as follows: he said that to turn men
into animal forms in no way corresponded with Kirke's desire for a large
army, but the poet was referring to the habits of men in love, and
Kirke made them grind their teeth and rage and go mad with desire, like
beasts, on her orders. For it is a natural habit of men in love to
cling to the woman whom they love and die on her behalf. This is the
way of men in love: they become like wild beasts in their desire and
are incapable of rational thought; their appearance is changed and they
come to resemble beasts in body, appearance and manners; they attack
their rivals, for it is natural for rivals to regard one another as wild
beasts do, and to fight with one another to the death. Men react
differently to the forms taken by this kind of desire. Some are like
dogs in their approach to sex and have intercourse frequently; others
are like lions ... pursue only their impulse and desire exclusively
...others are like bears (121) and copulate in a foul way. Pheidalios
gave the clearer and more truthful interpretation in his account.
51. On departing from Kirke's island, Odysseus, driven by contrary
winds, went on to the next island, where Kalypso, Kirke's sister,
received him. She honoured him with many attentions and lived with
him in marriage. From there he continued on to where there was a
great lake, known as Nekyopompos, close to the sea. Its inhabitants
were seers, who told him all that had happened to him and what would
happen. When he left there a great storm took place and he was cast
up from the sea on to the rocks known as the Serenidai, which produce
living with her in marriage (119.21): C adds 'She discovered that she
had conceived a male child, for there was nothing she could not find out
by her drugs, and told him. Odysseus gave her a spear with a tip made
from a sting-ray's barb, as an acknowledgement of his acceptance and
guarantee of the paternity of the child she was bearing. Many years
later Odysseus in his old age was wounded by this son and spear in
Ithake, and died', cf PsS, Ke; see Noack, 1891/3, 413-4; Griffin, 1907,
50.
for a large army (120.7; corr) C: 'a large army' Ba (reading 1to/\uo (aq
C for rtoAuo)(X Lav Ba).
men in.love (120.8; corr Chil) C, Slav: 'men raised up' Ba.
desire exclusively... (120.20): In this lacuna one would expect to
find a reference to pigs (cf Bo 120.3).
51. Bo 121.3-122.2; C 212.22-213.12 and 213.13-216.5, PsS 45v, Ke
233.1-10 and 233.10-22, Su IV 792.6-11, Tz ffistI 343-8, Tz Schol Lyk
653; Slav: Ist 22.11-23.2. See Sept VI 15.
great storm (121.10): C adds 'and contrary winds'.
Serenidai (121.11): 'Sirens' C, Ke, Slav.
irvvn .-'
52. Diomedes, taking the Palladion, likewise set off from Troy
for his own country.
he desired,
Agamemnon crossed the Rhodian sea with Kassandra, whom
wishing to reach the city of the Mykenaians.
so cremated Aias
Then Pyrrhos saw that they had all sailed away, and
Telamonios. He put his ashes in an urn and buried him with great
father, in
honour near the tomb of Achilles, Aias' cousin and Pyrrhos'
the place known as Sigris.
soon after,
53. Teukros, the brother of Aias Telamonios, arrived
He found
coming from Salamis, a city in Cyprus, to help his brother.
happened. On hearing of the honour
Pyrrhos and learnt from him what had
"You
paid to Aias' corpse, he praised and commended Pyrrhos, saying,
for you are the son of that Achilles who
have done nothing surprising,
are not carried away
had a god-like mind. For the remains of good men
Teukros
by time and virtue shines forth even in death". Pyrrhos invited
to share in food and drink with him. At the banquet (123) Pyrrhos asked
Teukros, since he was of the same family, to tell him from the beginning
everything that had happened to his father, saying that he was ignorant
of the precise details. Teukros began to speak as follows.
54., "The whole of time will not wipe out Achilles' victory
over
Hektor. He learnt that Hektor wished to meet the empress Penthesileia
in
by night; so he secretly prepared his army, and set himself and them
ambush. As Hektor was crossing the river he killed him, together with
all those who followed him, leaving only one alive. This man's hands
he
cut off, and then sent him to Priam to announce Hektor's death.
So
Achilles, while none of the Hellenes knew what had happened, brought
Hektor's corpse before dawn into the battleground. Your father tied it
departed this life after a while. He left his rule to Telemachos and
Ptoliporthos, his grandson. Telemachos divided the empire. He himself
controlled all Ithake and gave the more distant regions to Telegonos.
He installed Ptoliporthos as ruler of the lands in between. He wanted
to kill the interpreters of dreams, but. when Telegonos dissuaded him
from this judgement he ordered them to live in Sparta, They went there
and recounted the whole narrative to Diktys. This is the end of the
Odysseus story'; see Patzig, 1892, 147-9; Noack, 1891/3, 414-7.
52. Bo 122.3-11; C 216.6-15, PsS 45v, Ke 233.23-234.1, Su I
to the chariot and, with Automedon driving the horses with him, did not
cease from lashing Hektor's body. When Priam heard of Hektor's fate, he
wailed, and all the Trojans with him. Such a cry went up from the
Trojan people that even the birds of the sky were alarmed. The
Hellenes likewise cried out, but in joy. The gates of I1ion were shut.
Your father celebrated a festival of games for the emperors and the
whole army, bestowing many prizes.
"on the following day, Priam appeared before the Hellenes, wearing
mourning garments and bringing with him his daughter Polyxene, a virgin,
and Andromache, Hektor's wife, and Astyanax and Laodamas, Hektor's young
sons. (124) He also brought with him many ornaments, and gold and
silver and robes. Silence fell upon the leaders of the Hellenes as
Priam drew near. All were amazed at his boldness and went to meet him,
wishing to learn the reason for his arrival. When he saw them, Priam
flung himself to the ground, putting dust on his head and begging them
to become co-suppliants to Achilles for Hektor's body. Nestor and
Idomeneus pitied him and agreed to become co-suppliants with him to
Achilles for Hektor's body. They made entreaties to your father on
Priam's behalf. He ordered him to enter his tent, Priam entered and
fell prostrate at his feet as a suppliant; Andromache and her children
did likewise, while Polyxene embraced your father's feet on behalf of
her brother Hektor, promising to be his slave and remain with him, if he
would hand over the corpse. The emperors, who pitied his old age, made
pleas on Priam's behalf. Your father Achilles said to them, 'Priam
should have controlled his children from the beginning and not joined in
their misdeeds. But love of other men's money took hold of him. For he
did not desire Helen as his wife, but he had a passion for the wealth of
Atreus and Pelops. Pay the penalty then for your shameful acts. Let
the Hellenes and barbarians learn moderation from what has happened to
you'.
55. "They persuaded him to accept a ransom and (125) hand over
the corpse. Remembering the joyous side of life, he changed his mood
and raised up Priam and Polyxene and Andromache and told Priam to wash
himself and partake of bread and wine with him, for otherwise he would
not hand the corpse over to him. Priam, torn between fear and hope for
the future, humbly approached Achilles your father, supported by
Polyxene, and shared in food and drink. After much had been said,
they stood up. The ransom was laid out on the ground. When Achilles
saw the size of the gifts, he accepted the gold and silver and part of
the clothing; the rest he bestowed upon Polyxene, and handed over the
corpse. Priam begged Achilles to let him leave Polyxene with him, but
he told him to take her back to Ilion, putting off matters concerning
her to another occasion.
at what we saw. The Trojans, together with Memnon and the rest of the
force, attacked us with a battle cry. We stood our ground before their
onslaught and many were wounded. But when huge numbers of our men had
fallen, we, the leaders of the Hellenes, withdrew since we could not
withstand the might of their army. The barbarians could have burnt our
ships, had not night fallen. Night. came on and the Hellenes assembled
with their armies; we gathered up the bodies and burnt them. That
night we discussed which of the emperors could oppose and attack Memnon
while the others were occupied with fighting the main force. Lots were
cast among all our leaders and by some chance the lot fell on Aias
Telamonios, my brother.
"Before sunrise we Hellenes all armed ourselves and came out; the
Trojans did likewise, as did Memnon, emperor of the Indians, and all
their forces. When the battle had begun and many men had fallen, my
brother Aias ordered the emperors of the Hellenes to hold off the rest
of the Indians and the Trojans. Then he attacked Memnon, emperor of the
Indians, while the hero Achilles, your father, supported Aias from the
rear, keeping himself concealed. Memnon noticed Aias attacking him,
(129) immediately dismounted from his chariot and came near him. They
tested each other with their spears. Aias was the first to move aside
his opponent's shield, turning it with his spear as he attacked
violently. Those who were near Memnon rushed at Aias when he had Memnon
at a disadvantage; your father Achilles saw- this and, thrusting his
spear at Memnon's neck where the tendon was exposed, killed him
unexpectedly. As he fell, a sudden cry arose and the barbarians fled.
We Hellenes saw this and were filled with courage, and we slew all the
Ethiopians. Polydamas attacked Aias Telamonios but Aias rushed at him
and, striking him in the groin with his spear, killed him. After his
death and that of many others, the Ethiopians fled and were killed,
trampled to death by the cavalry. The battlefield was filled with
corpses. As evening drew near, the Trojans asked for a truce, to see
to the dead. We Hellenes agreed, and both sides lit pyres and cremated
the dead. The Trojans shut the gates and continued mourning for their
leaders and for Memnon.
"After a few days had passed, your father Achilles together with
us, the Achaians, challenged the Trojans. The brothers, Paris and
Deiphobos, came out., leading the barbarians. Together with them and the
army were Lykaon and Troilos, also sons of Priam. Once more Achilles,
your father, attacked, together with all of us Hellenes, and pursued the
barbarians. (130) In their flight many fell into the river Skamandros
and perished, though some were taken alive. Achilles slew Priam's sons,
Troilos and Lykaon, while we Achaians slew the rest. There was great
grief in Ilion for Troilos, since he was still young, and was valiant
and handsome.
58. "After a few days the festival of the Offerings was held, and
there was a truce in the war while the sacrifices were made. Both
Danaoi and Trojans made sacrifices to Apollo Thymbrios in the grove
which was a short. distance from the city. When Polyxene came out. with
Hekabe to the temple, Achilles saw her and admired her. Priam, noticing
Achilles, sent a man named Idaios to him while he was walking alone in
the grove of Apollo, with a proposal about Polyxene. On hearing the
message about her, Achilles was enflamed with passion. We Hellenes,
seeing Idaios talking privately with Achilles, were thrown into great
confusion, thinking that. your father Achilles was betraying us. So we
sent a message to him through my brother Aias, Diomedes and Odysseus, to
tell him not. to trust himself to the barbarians on his own. They went
and waited for him outside the grove, so that they could give him the
message. Your father Achilles made an agreement with Idaios to take
Polyxene in marriage. After a while Paris (131) and his brother
Deiphobos met with Achilles secretly, encouraging him over his marriage
with Polyxene. Achilles received them on his own unsuspectingly, with
no thought. of harm since he was in Apollo's grove. Paris stood by the
altar, as though confirming with an oath what had been agreed between
himself and Achilles. While Deiphobos embraced Achilles, Paris came up
by his, side and, as Deiphobos kissed him, he plunged the sword he was
carrying into him. Deiphobos held Achilles while Paris gave him a
second blow; then he collapsed and fell. Paris and Deiphobos left.
unsuspected by another way out of the grove. When they were a little
way off, they began to run swiftly, and reached the city. Odysseus
noticed them and said to Aias and Diomedes, 'Those men have been up to
no good; we must go to Achilles'. On entering the grove, they saw your
father Achilles lying on the ground by the altar, covered with blood but.
still breathing. So my brother Aias said to him, 'Did there really
exist a man who could kill you, who are the strongest of all? Your
rashness has destroyed you'. Achilles said, 'Paris and Deiphobos have
done me to death by trickery using Polyxene'. Then he expired. When he
had died, my brother Aias lifted his body onto his shoulders and they
carried him to the tents. When the Trojans saw us, they came out. (132)
to seize the body and maltreat it. We Hellenes, seeing what had
happened, were in total despair; we cremated Achilles' body and,
putting his ashes in an urn, buried them in silence".
59. Pyrrhos heard this and groaned bitterly. Teukros noticed
this and commended him, saying, "Who can list your virtues? On your
father's side you are of the blood of Peleus, emperor of the city of
Phthia and the land of Thessaly; on your mother's side you are of the
blood of Lykomedes, emperor of the Skyrioi. You have destroyed all
Ilion and Troy to avenge your father". Standing up, Teukros embraced
Pyrrhos and asked him if he might take with him the sons of Aias, his
brother, that is, Aiantides, his child by Glauke, Aias' first wife, and
Eurysakes, his child by Tekmessa, and Tekmessa herself. Pyrrhos granted
them to him. Teukros took them and immediately set sail for Salamis.
Pyrrhos likewise set sail with his own fleet. The entire Achaian
army and the heroes returned to their own lands. Sisyphos of Kos, who
was present. at. the war with Teukros, has written about this. The poet
Homer found his book and wrote the I11dd, while Vergil wrote the rest of
the story. These events are also recorded in the writings of Diktys;
(133) this work was found many years after the time of Homer and
Vergil in a box during the reign of the emperor Claudius Nero.
60. Klytaimnestra, Agamemnon's wife, who had previously heard
that her husband was in love with Kassandra, finding an opportunity,
committed adultery with Aigisthos, the senator, son of Thyestes. On
learning of Agamemnon's impending arrival in Mykenai, she plotted with
Aigisthos how he might kill Agamemnon on his return by a trick. When
Agamemnon reached the city of the Mykenaians and was welcomed by the
city and the senate and Aigisthos, he entered his palace and was
murdered. His wife immediately made Aigisthos emperor and married him
legally. She had a daughter by him, whom she called Erigone and who
after the death of her father and mother hanged herself out of fear of
Orestes. The senate, the city and the army hated Aigisthos. Orestes,
Agamemnon's son, heard of his father's arrival in the city of the
Mykenaians and returned from Schoineus, to whom Agamemnon, on the point
of departing to the war, had entrusted him to be brought up and educated
by him. His sister took him aside and told him secretly that
Aigisthos planned to destroy him. In the meantime, while Orestes was
planning what he ought to do, (134) Strophios arrived in Mykenai. He
belonged to Agamemnon's family and had with him his son Pylades, who had
been brought up with Orestes and was a fellow-student. When Strophios
learnt what had happened to Agamemnon, he planned with Orestes to make
war on Aigisthos. He took Orestes and went to the oracle of Apollo to
of Syria which shakes and you will find opposite the valley and mountain
of Silpios a mountain with the name Melantios, where there is a great
temple of Hestia. There put aside your raving madness. Go quickly".
She spoke what was to be.
Orestes received this oracle and noted it down. He immediately
set sail with Pylades and came to the land of Aulis in Scythia. After
they had disembarked from the ship, Orestes noticed a temple, situated
about two miles from the sea, with human bones scattered about. Orestes
said to Pylades, "Do you think that this is the goddess's shrine where
we have landed with the ships? I see the bones of dead strangers".
Pylades looked, and said to Orestes, "Let us flee, if
we are to be
saved". Orestes said, "We shall not flee; we are not accustomed to
running away, nor shall we invalidate the oracle".
63. Herdsmen saw them and ran to (137) Iphigeneia, saying to her,
"Daughter of Agamemnon and Klytaimnestra, two young men have come past
the Dark Rock". She said to them, "What sort of men are they? From
what land? What are the strangers' names?" For Iphigeneia used to ask
all those who were captured and brought to sacrifice what country they
came from; and then she slew them. She wanted to learn about her
father Agamemnon and his family, and about what had happened in the war
against. the Phrygians. The herdsmen said to her, "One of them said to
the other, 'Pylades'; we do not know the name of his companion for he
did not mention it". She said to them, "What does a herdsman have to
do with the sea?" They replied, "We came to wash our cattle in the salt
water". She sent Scythians and captured them. They were brought as
prisoners to be sacrificed, as the most learned Euripides has written
poetically in a play, of which this is a small part.
64. When they were tied up, she ordered one to be kept aside and
the other to be brought for sacrifice. The Scythians put. Orestes on one
side and brought Pylades to the altar of Artemis for sacrifice.
Iphigeneia asked him from what country he was. He replied, "I, unhappy
that I am, come from the land of Hellas and the city of Mykenai". On
hearing the country and the city, where her father had reigned, she
wept. Thinking that they had been instructed by the herdsmen, she said
to him, (138) "If you are from Mykenai, you know who is emperor there".
He replied, "It was once Agamemnon". She asked him another question,
"If you were correct about Agamemnon, who is his wife and which are the
children he had by her?" He replied, "By Klytaimnestra he had Orestes
and Elektra and Iphigeneia, who - they say - was offered as a sacrifice
to Artemis, but the goddess saved her and it is not known where she is.
He also had other daughters, Chrysothemis and Laodike On hearing
.
She
this, Iphigeneia ordered that he should be released from his bonds.
wrote on a dipt.ych and gave it to him, saying, "See, the goddess grants
you life through me. Swear by her that you will give this diptych to
Orestes and bring me a letter from him". He swore to her, "I will put
this into his hands and'bring him to you". Taking the diptych, he went
out in front of the temple where Orest.es was being held under guard, and
asked the Scythians if he could speak with him. He presented him with
the diptych, saying, "Come to your sister". The Scyt.hians stood there
astonished at what was happening. They brought him, with Pylades, to
Iphigeneia. Pylades said to her, "Look, this is Orestes", but she did
not recognize him. Thinking it was not he, she said, "My brother has a
birth-mark on his shoulder, the mark of Pelops' family". Looking at. his
right shoulder-blade, (139) she saw that he had Pelops' sign. She flung
her arms around Orestes and ordered his ships, and the sailors on board,
to be brought to land. So they beached the ships and remained for the
winter.
65. At the beginning of summer, Orestes secretly took Iphigeneia
and the solid gold statue of Artemis and, with Pylades, fled in the
ships which they had. They crossed over tp the land of the Adiabenoi.
From there they travelled to the East, to the Saracen I.ime._s, and reached
Trikomia in the land of Palestine. Noticing Iphigeneia's priestly
robes, the inhabitants of Trikomia received her with honour. They
stayed there, for Orestes was overcome there with his madness. The
Trikomitans built a great temple to Artemis and begged Iphigeneia to
sacrifice a virgin girl to Artemis and give the girl's name to the
village. They brought the girl, named Nyssa, before her and they made a
sacrifice to Artemis. They made a bronze statue of the girl slaughtered
by her, a tyche. Iphigeneia called the city that had formerly been a
village the city of Nyssa, after the slaughtered girl, and she also made
an altar for her, on which was inscribed the following, "Goddess Poa
Nyssa, accept those who flee from Scythia". The inscription remains
until now.
(140) Once Orestes had recovered his right. mind, Iphigeneia saw in
a dream a deer which said to her, "Flee from this land". getting out in
the morning with Orestes and Pylades, she fled to the coast. of Palestine
and, sailing from there, they came to Syria in accordance with the
oracle.
66. The emperor of Scythia, named Thoas, heard that Iphigeneia
had taken the solid gold statue of Artemis and had fled. He sent many
Scythians to pursue her, telling them, "You are not to return to Scyt.hia
unless you bring me the solid gold statue of Artemis with you". They
pursued the fugitives and looked for them everywhere and reached the
and Laodike (138.7) De insid, C, PsS, Ke: 'Laodike and Iphianassa' Slav
(cf, eg, Iliad IX 145, 287).
remained (139.4): De insid, C add 'there'.
65. Bo 139.5-140.5; De insid 1 (154.5-17), C 225,14-33, PsS 46v, Ke
236.20-237.9; Slav: Ist 34.3-20.
Poa (139.21) : Dind credibly suggests nftvLa, Ttbtva 'lady'.
66. Bo 140.6-18; De insid 1 (154.18-21), C 225.33-226.10, Ke 237.17-21;
Slav: Ist 34.20-29.
Book 5
freed from his pitiless madness and saved. This statue of Orestes,
which
is a little way outside the city, is called "The Runaway" by the
Antiochenes till the present. The learned Domninos has written about
this.
68. In the period after the capture of Troy a man named Themis
was the first to win the admiration of the Hellenes, for he invented
tragic songs and was the first to write plays. After this, (143) Minos
and, after Minos, Auleas wrote tragic choruses for plays. Then, in the
time after this, Euripides found and took from them many plots for
the
plays he wrote.
69. Then David, the son of Jesse, reigned over Israel for 40
years and two months. He reconstructed the city formerly known as Salem
and later as Jeboun, renaming it Jerusalem.
Thus from Adam to David there were 47 years.
After David, Solomon, son of David, reigned for 40 years. He built
the temple in Jerusalem, placing the bronze Cherubim and Seraphim in it.
He was the first to begin building temples for the Jews, for they had
had none previously. He also built a city on the 11mes which he called
Palmyra ("Past Fate"), because in the past the village had been fatal
for Goliath whom his father had slain there.
Thus from Adam to Solomon there were 47 years.
After the reign of Solomon, there reigned others, amongst whom was
Ahab, emperor of the Jews. During his reign lived the prophet Elijah
the Tishbite, who was taken up into heaven.
Other emperors reigned until the time of Hezekiah; at this time
there flourished the learned Homer, the poet, who wrote about the war
between Trojans and Danaoi.
(144) Thus from Adam to Hezekiah, emperor of the Jews, there were
5266 years. A prophet of the Jews, Isaiah, lived then in the time of
Hezekiah.
70. It came about in the 14th year of the reign of Hezekiah,
emperor of the Jews, that Sennacherib, emperor of the Assyrians, came up
against the strong cities of Judaea and captured them. The emperor of
the Assyrians sent Rabshakeh from Lachish against the emperor Hezekiah
at Jerusalem with a large force. He halted by the aqueduct of the upper
cistern in the Street of the Fuller's Field. Eliakim, the steward, the
son of Hilkiah, and Somnas, the scribe, and Joah, the recorder, the son
of Asaph, came to him. Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah: Thus
says the emperor of the Assyrians. In whom have you placed your
trust? Surely the battle does not take place in councils and words
from men's lips? Now in whom have you placed your trust? In that staff
of broken reed - in Egypt? It will pierce the hand of anyone who leans
on it. Such is Pharaoh, emperor of Egypt, and all who put their trust
in him. But if you say, 'We have put our trust in the Lord our God',
now join yourselves with my lord, the emperor of the Assyrians. He will
give you 2000 horses if you can give him riders for them. How will you
be able to look even one toparch in the face? Those who put their trust
in Egypt for horse and rider are slaves. And now is it. without your
lord (145) that we have come up into this land to attack it?" Eliakim,
the son of Hilkiah, and Somnas, the scribe, and Joah said to him, "Speak
to your servants in Syrian, and for what purpose do you speak for the
ears of the men on the wall?" And Rabshakeh said to them, "Surely my
lord did not send me to your lord or to you to speak these words; did he
not send me to the men sitting on the wall so that they should not eat
dung and drink urine together with you?" Rabshakeh stood and shouted in
a loud voice in the language of the Jews and said, "Hear the words of
the great emperor of the Assyrians. Thus says the emperor: Do not let
Hezekiah deceive you by saying that God will save you, and that this
city will not be delivered into my hand. He is not able to save you.
And do not let Hezekiah say to you that God will save you, and the city
will not be delivered into the hands of the emperor of the Assyrians.
Pay no heed to Hezekiah. Thus says the emperor of the Assyrians: Take
counsel that you may be blessed; come over to me and each of you eat of
his vine and his figs and drink water from your cistern until I come to
take you to a land like your land, a land of corn and wine and bread
and vines. Let not then Hezekiah deceive you saying, 'God will deliver
you'. Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from
the hand of the emperor of the Assyrians? Where is the god of Aitham
and Arpad? (146) Where is the god of Seppharothim? Could Samaria be
delivered from my hand? Which of the gods of all the nations delivered
his land from my hand, that he says, 'The Lord God of Israel will
deliver you from my hand?"'
71. They were silent and no one replied to him because the
emperor had commanded that no one should reply to him. Eliachim, the
steward, the son of Hilkiah, and Somnas, the scribe, and Joah, the
recorder, the son of Asaph, went in to Hezekiah with their garments torn
and reported Rabshakeh's words to him. It. came about when the emperor
Hezekiah heard this, he tore his robes and dressed himself in sack-cloth
and went up into the temple of the Lord. He sent Eliakim, the steward,
and Somnas, the scribe, and the elders of the priests, dressed in
sack-cloth, to Isaiah, the prophet, the son of Amos, and said to him,
"Thus says Hezekiah: Today is a day of affliction, of bonds and
reproach and rage because travail has come to the woman who gives birth
and she has no strength to bring forth. Let the Lord your God heed the
words of Rabshakeh which the emperor of the Assyrians sent to revile the
Living God, to revile Him with words which the Lord your God has heard;
pray to the Lord your God concerning those that are left". The servants
of the emperor came to Isaiah and Isaiah said to them, "Speak to your
master in this way: (147) Thus says the Lord, Do not be afraid because
of the words you have heard, with which the ambassadors of the emperor
of the Assyrians have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him
and he will hear a report and return to his own land, and the sword
shall fall on his land". Rabshakeh returned and found the emperor of
the Assyrians besieging the emperor Lomnas. The emperor of the
Assyrians heard that Thara, emperor of the Ethiopians, had set out to
lay siege to him. On hearing this, he sent Rabshakeh with a large force
to meet him. He himself remained and sent messengers to Hezekiah,
saying, "Say this to Hezekiah, emperor of Judaea: Let not your God in
whom you have put your trust deceive you when he says, Jerusalem will
not be given into the hands of the emperor of the Assyrians. Have you
not heard what the emperors of the Assyrians have done over all the
earth, and the gods of the nations have not. delivered them? Did not
my fathers destroy Gozan and Haran and Rapheis, which were in the land
of Thaiman? Where are the emperors of Aimar and Arpad and of the city
of Seppharim?"
72. Hezekiah took the document from the messengers and he read it.
before the Lord, and Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying, "0 God of
Israel, who sits above the Cherubim, since you alone, God, are ruler of
the inhabited world, you who made (148) the heaven and the earth, give
heed, o Lord, look down, o Lord, and see the words which Sennacherib has
sent reviling the Living God. For it is true that the emperors of the
Assyrians have laid waste all the inhabited world and its countries and
have cast their idols into the fire, for they were not gods but the
works of men's hands, wood and stone; and they have destroyed them.
Now, o Lord our God, save us from their hand, so that every empire on
he was worshipping his ancestral God Sarach in his house (148,22; corr
Chil; 'Nasarach' Isaiah, 'Arsach' CP) Isaiah, CP: 'he was worshipping in
the house of Sarach his ancestral gods' Ba, cf 'he was worshipping in
the house of Neserach his god' kings.
Sarsar (148.1) : 'Sarasar' I.%.9iah, CP.
73. Bo 149.6-14.
After iianasses...his brothers (149.12-13): Dind suggests a lacuna and
textual changes to correct this wild inaccuracy.
BOOK 6 The Time ofthe Empire of the
Assyrians and of Askanios,
son of Aineias
1. Bo 150.1-12.
2. Bo 151.1-5.
3. Bo 151.6-152.8; Slav: Ist 4.1-5.4. See 1knie15.
what I have seen (151.22): 'the wonder that I have seen' Slav.
4. Bo 152.9-153.3; Slav: Ist 5.4-16, Soph 60.
Book 6 81
Assyrians down to Astyages. Then Ast.yages reigned over the Persians and
began a campaign against the Lydians and attacked them with a large
force.
In that year the sun went into eclipse for many hours of the day,
an event which Thales the philosopher had predicted.
At that. time Peisistratos was a popular leader who was at war...
..the Lydians were not defeated in the war, but Astyages departed
of his own accord. When the Pisaians heard this, they celebrated a
second festival, the Pythian games, giving thanks to Helios and
committing themselves to the Lydians and to the might of his power.
Then, in the period after this, the Pisaians instituted a (153)
third festival, the Isthmian games in honour of Pluto. The Pisaians
also instituted a fourth festival and celebrated the Nemean games in
honour of Dionysos.
5. After the reign of Ardeus, eight other emperors reigned over
the Lydians until Kroisos the Proud. Kroisos reigned for 15 years.
Thus the empire of the Lydians lasted in all for 232 years.
6. In the time of his reign Kroisos subjugated all the provinces,
or empires, both those nearby and those at a distance, taking tribute
from those who submitted but their persons and their empires from those
who resisted. He was greatly feared, since he was fortunate and
victorious; and so he became conceited.
At that time Solon practised philosophy.
7. After the reign of Astyages, emperor of the Persians, Kyros
the Persian became emperor. He fell in love with Bardane, the wife of
his predecessor Dareios, and married her. In the 14th year of Kyros'
reign Kroisos, emperor of the Lydians, was informed by his senators of
the previous warlike incursion into Lydia made by Astyages, emperor of
the Persians, and was angry. He sent a message to Kyros, the emperor of
the Persians, that he should yield to him his empire and withdraw, or he
could expect a warlike incursion from his own most fortunate Majesty.
When Kyros, emperor of the Persians, received (154) the ambassadors who
had been sent and read what. Kroisos had written, he said to the
ambassadors, "How has Kroisos, whom so much land separates from me and
my empires, been injured by me? Or why, after the passing of so many
years, does he avenge injury done to his land?" In his distress Kyros
wished to flee to the land of India. When his wife saw him in
despair, she enquired and learnt from him of the problem. She said to
him, "In the time of Dareios, my first husband, there was a Hebrew, a
prophet, endowed with wisdom from God, whose name was Daniel, one of the
sons of Israel in captivity, whom the emperor Dareios held in great
honour. He did nothing in war without him. He consulted him whenever
he began a war, and so defeated his opponents. After Dareios' death
Daniel, now rich and old, withdrew into private life in the region of
Marabitis". When Kyros heard this, he sent. his nobles to him, to escort.
him with honour. The ambassadors who had been sent from Kroisos to
Kyros returned to the land of the Lydians, bearing the reply given to
them by Kyros for their emperor.
8. Kroisos, emperor of the Lydians, chose certain faithful men
from his followers. He gave them some gifts that were modest and others
that were imperial. He sent them to the oracle at Delphi, saying,
"Change your garments and wear Egyptian clothing. When you come to the
oracle, (155) give the modest gifts to the priest, saying to him, 'We
are Egyptians and we have come to consult the Pythia, but because of the
long journey we have forgotten what. it was we came to ask or request.
But make prayers and ask the goddess why we have come'. If she tells
you why. you have come, present. the imperial gifts too and tell the
priest to find out .if I shall conquer Kyros, the emperor of the
Persians". They took the gifts and went to the temple at Delphi where
they presented the modest gifts, saying that they were Egyptians and "We
have forgotten why we have come". The priest was astounded when he
heard this, but he accepted the modest gifts and went in and prayed. He
received this reply from the Pythia, "I know the number of the grains
of sand and the measurements of the sea; I can hear one who does not
speak and I can understand one who is dumb. But the emperor Kroisos and
his Lydians seek to mock me". The priest came out and said to them,
"You are not Egyptians but Lydians, and you have not forgotten but. you
said this to mock our divine power". He gave them the oracle, writing
it on diptychs so that Kroisos should know of the miracle. The
messengers were astounded and gave the priest the other imperial gifts,
telling him, "The emperor Kroisos has sent us since he is making war on
Kyros, the emperor of the Persians. Find out whether he will defeat
him". The priest went, in again and prayed and received this response,
"When Kroisos crosses the river Halys he will destroy (156) a great
empire". He wrote this oracle too on diptychs and gave it to them to
take to the emperor Kroisos, and sent them away.
9. The prophet Daniel came into the presence of Kyros, emperor
of the Persians, who said to him, "Tell me if I shall conquer Kroisos,
emperor of the Lydians". Daniel hesitated to speak and the emperor,
becoming angry with him, threw him into a den of lions. When Kyros
learnt that. he had not been harmed by the beasts, he took him out. and
fell down before him, saying, "I have wronged you, but pray to your god
and tell me if I can withstand that. grasping and arrogant. Kroisos, since
he has subjugated the whole earth and yet is not satisfied". Daniel
prayed and said to him, "You will conquer Kroisos and take him prisoner.
For the God who made all visible things has said concerning you
through the prophet. Isaiah, 'Thus says the Lord God to Kyros, my
anointed, whose right hand I have held so that peoples may submit before
him: I shall break the might of emperors, I shall open gates before him
and cities will not be closed. I shall go before him and make level
mountains, and I shall break down gates of bronze and will shatter iron
bolts. I shall give you dark treasures, I shall reveal to you treasures
hidden and unseen, so that you may know that. I am the Lord God. I raise
him up with justice, all his paths are straight. (157) He will build my
city and he will return my captive people, not for a ransom and not for
gifts', said the Lord God of Sabaoth".
When the emperor Kyros heard he this, fell
at. Daniel's feet. saying,
"As the Lord your God lives, I will release Israel from my land so that
they may worship their god in Jerusalem". He took up arms and began war
against Kroisos.
10. When the emperor Kroisos heard the oracle's response, he
set out against Kyros with a great force. He crossed the Halys, a river
in Cappadocia, and clashed with Kyros during a great. st.orrn. He was
defeated and wished to flee, both himself and his army, but since the
river was in flood because of the storm, he was unable to flee or to get
across. He was taken prisoner, and his army of 400,000 men was
destroyed. The survivors of these Kyros took prisoner, together with
Kroisos, whom he set on high bound to a wooden tripod, and paraded him
in triumph before his army. He took him and led him off to Persia.
These things are recounted by the most learned Thallos and Kastor and
Polybios in their works, and after them by Herodotos, the historian.
The learned Theophilos has also chronicled these matters.
11. As soon as Kyros, the emperor of the Persians, returned to
his empire (158) he immediately set all the sons of Israel free from
captivity, to return to Jerusalem with Zoro.babel. But. two and a half
tribes, men, women and children, 50,000 in number, remained in Persian
territory of their own choice, in fear of the neighbouring peoples. The
other nine and a half returned, as the chronicler Timotheos has
God who made. . .has said (156.14; corr Chit) Ke, 'God said, "I
made . . . " 'Ba ; s ee Bury, 1897 , 224 .
.
in the war. All this has been chronicled by the learned Africanus.
13. After the reign of Kyros, his son Dareios, also known as
Kambyses, and many others reigned over the Assyrians.
During the time of the reign of Dareios, the son of Kyros,
Anaximander practised philosophy among the Hellenes. He said that the
earth was the centre of the whole universe, and that the sun was no
smaller than the earth, and that air was the beginning of all things;
from it all things came into being and into it all things dissolved. He
declared that man's soul and all spirits were made of air, introducing
false and erroneous reasoning. (159) He also wrote about equinoxes and
solstices. Pythagoras the Samian, mentioned above, wrote on arithmetic.
He conjectured that there were some incorporeal first. causes and
introduced this belief to the Hellenes. The learned Timotheos has
recorded this in his writings.
14. In the reign of Dareios, son of Kyros, the Ethiopians, who
had a grudge against him, started a war against him. When the Jews who
lived in the land of the Medes - and there were many of them - realized
this, they departed and captured Jerusalem. Dareios, the son of Kyros,
heard this and sent his general, named Holofernes, against. them to
Jerusalem with a great force. He besieged Jerusalem and then a fearful
event took place. Judith was a Hebrew woman who plotted against the
Persian exarch Holofernes, pretending, it is said, that she wished to
betray the Jewish people. She came to Holofernes in secret. and when he
saw her beauty, he was consumed with desire for her. She said to him,
"Do not. allow any one here near me, for my sake, because they will
attack me, wishing to seduce me". He was persuaded and spent the time
tribes left, about. 50,000 people (Slav adds 'men, women and children').
Nine and a half tribes remained in Persian territory of their own
choice, fearing the nations around the land and Judaea (cf 'Lydia' Slav)
Ke, Slav (Ist 9.10-14 combined with Soph, both slightly defective but
giving this sense rather than that of Ba); see Dubarle, 1959, 543,
note 2.
12. Bo 158.7-15; Ke 242.24-243.6; Slav: Ist. 9.15-22.
of the Persians (158.9): Slav adds 'having defeated Kroisos'.
learned (158.14): 'most learned' Slav (but. the superlative and positive
seem used at random and this distinction will not. be noted again).
13. Bo 158.16-159.5; Ke 243.7-12, 273.22-274.5, cf GM 20.21-22; Slav:
Ist 9.23-10.7, Soph 63.
many others (158.17): 'the others' Ke, Slav.
air was the beginning (158.21): 'aither was the beginning' Ke.
14. Bo 159.6-160.9; Ke 243.12-244.11, GM 276.3-4; Slav: Ist 10.7-11.3,
Soph 63.
against them (159.11): 'against. the Jews' Ke, Slav.
near me (159.18): 'near you' Ke, Slav.
Book 6 85
alone with her. She bided her time with him for three days, then,
while she was in bed with him at night, she got up and cut. off his
head. At midnight she left and entered Jerusalem through the postern
gate, carrying his head, and (160) gave orders for it to be hung up,
for Holofernes had set up his pavilion near the wall for her sake. So
the Jews took the head from her and before dawn set it. on a spear above
the wall, displaying it to his army. At daybreak the Persians saw
Holofernes' head impaled on the spear and, suspecting that this had been
done by some spirit, they fled. The war came to an end and the Jews
were victorious over the Persians. This is recorded in the Hebrew
scriptures. The learned Eirenaios has written about this.
15. After the reign of Dareios, Artaxerxes reigned over the
Assyrians. Nehemiah the priest, of the seed of David, who had right of
access to Artaxerxes, made him an urgent request, for Artaxerxes loved
Nehemiah and had put him in charge of the eunuchs. Nehemiah received a
large sum of money and persuaded Art.axerxes that he should be set free
to go and rebuild Jerusalem, which had been destroyed. This was the
first capture of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple. When Nehemiah
had been set free, he went to Jerusalem and rebuilt it and the city
wall; he made its streets broad and constructed a better city, for it
had been desolate for 70 years. This was the second reconstruction of
the Temple. The Temple was completed in 40 years. Artaxerxes, at the
request of some members of his senate, set free the remaining Jews.
Whoever wished then to return to Jerusalem, returned (161) with Esdra
the prophet and leader. Artaxerxes also gave the sacred vessels and the
priestly books that could be found. Esdra had a record written from his
own memory of the books that had not been found.
16. At that time emperors reigned over the land of Macedonia.
First Kranaos reigned for 28 years. Then another 23 emperors reigned
until Philip.
The philosophers and poets Sophokies, Herakleit.os, Euripides,
Herodotos, Sokrates and the great Pythagoras were then teachers of
Hellenic learning.
Herakles had been born at the time mentioned above at Latos in the
Thebaid. He was of the family of Herakles, the son of Alkmene and Picus
Zeus. He was brought up in the land of Spain and, when he proved a
brave man, went then from Spain to Italy to escape from the emperor
alone with her (159.20): Slav adds 'and everyone kept away'.
while she was in bed with him (159.21): 'while he was in bed' Ke, Slav;
see Dubarle, 1959, 544.
postern gate (159.22): Re, Slav add 'by which she used to come to him'.
15. Bo 160.10-161.4; Ke 244.12-245.2; Slav: 1st 11.3-18.
over the Assyrians (160.10): Slav adds 'for 20 years'.
Nehemiah the priest (160.11): 'Nehemiah the Jew' Ke, Slav.
Artaxerxes (160.12,21): 'the emperor Artaxerxes' Slav.
and persuaded (160.14; corr Dind) Ke: 'and made' Ba.
16. Bo 161.5-20; Ke 245.3-15; Slav: Ist. 11.19-12.4, Soph 65.
Kranaos (161.6): probably 'Karanos' Chil.
23 emperors reigned until Philip (161.6-7): '26 emperors until Philip,
the father of Alexander' Ke.
Herakleitos (161.8; corn Dind): Re, Slav: 'Herakleides' Ba.
Pythagoras (161.9): perhaps 'Protagoras', see Bourier, 1900, 13-14.
86 Book 6
her money and putting it on board some ships, she sailed in flight
away from Phoenice with her attendants, and came to Libya, a country in
Africa. There she built a very great city which she called Carthage.
She reigned there and there she died, having lived chastely.
20. Aineias received an oracle and sailed away from Libya, with
the intention of reaching Italy. But. an opposing wind blew and he was
cast up with his ships near Sicily in Calabria at a city known as
Argyrippe, which had been founded by Diomedes, the son of Tydeus.
Diomedes was Aitolian by race (164), since he traced his descent from
Oineus, emperor of Aitolia. Oineus married a woman named Eriboia, and
by her had Tydeus. Eriboia died and he took another wife, named
Althaia, by whom he had Meleager and a daughter named Deianeira. A
young man, named Acheloos, son of Poseidonios, one of Tydeus' senators
was betrothed to Deianeira. But before the marriage he seduced
Deianeira in secret and then said to her father Oineus, "I will only
take your daughter if you hand over to me the administration of your
empire". Oineus did not consent, and so Acheloos, together with his
father, took up arms against. Oineus and fought with him. Oineus was
compelled to summon a valiant general from the land of Phthia, Herakles,
known as Polyphemos, making an agreement to give him his daughter
Deianeira. Herakles came with his well-equipped army and joined battle
with Poseidonios and his son Acheloos. In the conflict Polyphemos
killed Poseidonios, Acheloos' father, with his sword. This is why the
poets say that. Herakles broke off the horn of Acheloos, that. is, his
father's power, When Acheloos saw that his father had fallen, he fled
on horseback; and this is why he is called a Hippokent.auros. While
Polyphemos Herakles was pursuing him, Acheloos turned (165) and shot him
through the breast. Immediately Herakles shot Acheloos in return as he
crossed the river named Phorbas. On being hit Acheloos was swept from
his horse into the river's current and perished, and from that time
until now the river has been called Acheloos by the inhabitants of
Aitolia, as the learned Kephalion has stated. Polyphemos Herakles died
a few days later from the wound in his breast.
21. Meleager, the son of Oineus and brother of Tydeus and
Deianeira, performed a great deed in the land of Kalydonia when he
killed a tremendous boar. At.alante, the daughter of Schoineus, was with
him and her arrow struck the boar first, for the beast had been
ravaging that. whole country. After the beast had been killed Meleager
bestowed its skin upon Atalante, for he had been seized with desire for
her. On his return to his father Oineus, Meleager was asked by him for
money (163.14): Slav adds and silver and metalwork and all
her valuables'.
Carthage (163.17): Slav adds which is Neapolis in the African language',
cf Ke, JN.
20. Bo 163.19-165.7; Ke 246.17-247.17; Slav: Ist 13.16-14.8, Soph 66.
See Mtlller FHG III 631 (K ephalio n, f r. 8)
, .
A young man (164.5): 'When she was still a virgin, a young man' Slav.
then said to her father Oineus (164.8): 'then said to the emperor
Oineus' Ke, Slav.
21. Bo 165.8-166.5; Ke 247.18-248.9; Slav: Ist. 14.9-15.9.
her arrow struck the boar first (165.11) Ke: cf 'she struck the wondrous
boar with a club' Slav.
88 Book 6
the spoils from the beast. When Oineus learnt that he had bestowed the
skin upon Atalante, he was furious with his son. Oineus had an olive
shoot which had been kept by Althaia, his wife and Meleager's mother;
for when she was pregnant she had felt. a craving to eat the olive shoot
and had done so. Having swallowed the olive leaves, she immediately
gave birth, bearing them at the same time as Meleager. An oracle on the
subject was given to his father, Oineus, that Meleager should live only
as long as (166) the leaves that had been born with him were preserved.
In his anger against his son, Oineus threw these leaves on the fire.
They were burnt and Meleager died straightaway, as the learned Euripides
has stated in his play about Meleager.
22. After the reign of Oineus, his other son, Tydeus, the father
of Diomedes, reigned over Aitolia. After the death of his father
Tydeus, Diomedes reigned over the land of the Argives, having married a
woman from Argos named Aigialeia. Out of arrogance he subjugated his
own country of Aitolia by defeating its people. He put. an end to its
sovereignty and made it subject to the empire of the Argives, that is,
subject to his own rule. He set off immediately with the Achaians for
the Trojan War. When after the victory at Troy he returned to his own
empire, he was not received by the city or his senate, but they resisted
him with armed force, Diomedes learnt that his wife Aigialeia was
plotting his death, for she had committed adultery with one of his
senators, who also opposed Diomedes fiercely. He likewise heard that
she had committed adultery with Oiax, son of Nauplios. These men
opposed Diomedes with great strength because of their desire for
Aigialeia, as the learned Didymos has stated. So, when Diomedes
realized that the leaders and the entire land of the Argives were
opposed to him, (167) and since he was not even able to return to
Aitolia, his birthplace, as he had put an end to its sovereignty, he
abandoned his empire and left., sailing to the land of Calabria. There
he built a city on the coast which he named Argyrippe, as has been
mentioned above, which has now changed its name to Beneventum. He
received Aineias, who had been cast ashore, and entertained him in the
city, treating him with great honour and hospitality. Aineias spent the
winter with him.
23. Aineias said to Diomedes, "I know that. you have carried off
the sacred Palladion which used to be kept in Troy, so that it could be
inscribed, 'The Palladion has been given to Aineias'." Diomedes said
to him, "From the time when Odysseus and I took it away, troubles did
sentence ("I know...Aineias") with 'That image which you took in Troy:
do you have it?'
24. Bo 168.1-20; PsS 46v-47r, Ke 238.9-13, 238.23-239.3, GM 21.3-6, JN
53.1-3, cf Sk 19.19-27; Slav: Ist 16.12-26, Soph 67.
Pa11as (168.2,4) PsS: 'Palas' Ke, GM, Sk, Slav.
Pallantion (168.6; corr, cf 171.7): see Bury, 1897, 220 for the
fluctuation in Ba between - Lv and - Lov .
rpallantion) (168.6): 'Palation' PsS, Ke, GM, cf Slav.
Albania (168.16, 17, 19): cf 'Lavinia' Slav.
25. Bo 168.21-169.3; PsS 47r, Ke 238.14-18, JN 52, 54, cfSk 19.28-31;
Slav: Ist 16.27-17.3.
Julius (168.21) PsS, Slav: cf 'Iulus' Ke.
25 years (168.23; the number '2' is in an erasure; Bury 1897, 224): '35
years' Ke, Slav.
Lavinia (169.1, 3; corr Dind) PsS, Ke, Slav: 'Albania' Ba.
26. Bo 169.4-6; Slav: Ist 17.3-4, Soph 67.
27. Bo 169.7-17; Slav: Ist 17.4-12, Soph 67.
90 Book 6
Isokrates, Perikles and Thoukydides, who wrote about. the war between the
Peloponnesians and the Athenians. At the time of Thoukydides but after
the philosophers mentioned above, lived Pheidias the sculptor, and
Stesichoros and Bakchylides who were poets and invented dancing. Some
time later those mentioned above were educators of the Hellenes. After
this appeared Demosthenes, and Aristophanes the comic poet.
28, After the reign of Dareios the Younger, Artaxerxes, known as
Mnemon, reigned over the Persians for 39 years.
29. Albas, the son of Askanios, reigned over the Albanoi for 36
years and built the city of Silva; from then on the emperors were
called Silvii. (170) The emperor Albas transferred the Palladion to
the city of Silva. Then the descendants of Aineias, known as the
Aineiades, reigned for 331 years.
1. (171) Then Romus, the builder of Rome, and his brother Remus
began to reign; and so they changed their name to Romans. They
discovered the arms of Herakles, the descendant of Picus Zeus, and
placed them in the shrine of Picus Zeus in the Forum Boarium in the city
they had built. called Rome, which had formerly been known as the village
of Valentia. They have shut the arms up there to the present. The
brothers restored the building known as the Pallantion, Pallas'
imperial residence, and they built. a great temple to Zeus which they
called the Capitol in the Roman language, that. is, the head of the city.
They brought the wooden image of the Palladion from the city of Silva
and placed it in Rome. In the course of their reign the brothers became
hostile to one another and Remus was slain by Romus, and Romus reigned
alone.
2. (172) From the time when he killed his brother, the whole
city of Rome suffered earthquakes and civil wars broke out during his
reign. Romus went. to the oracle and asked, "Why is this happening now
that I am reigning alone?" The response was given to him by the Pythia,
"Unless your brother sits with you on the imperial throne, your city of
Rome will not stand, and neither the people nor the war will be at
rest". Having made from his brother's picture a likeness of his face,
that is, his features, a gold bust, he placed the statue on the throne
where he used to sit.. He continued thus for the remainder- of his reign,
with the solid gold likeness of his brother Remus seated beside him,
The earthquakes in the city ceased and the rioting among the people died
down. Whenever he issued an order as a decree, he would speak as if it
came from himself and his brother, saying, "We have ordered, and we
have decreed". The emperors' custom of saying, "We have ordered and we
have decreed", has continued from that. time till the present.. From then
on he sent out. to the cities subject to the Romans solid gold busts of
for many years (174.15) CP:'and for many years' Bo; see Bury, 1897, 224.
to teach him (174.16): 'to teach him cruelly' CP, Slav.
Poseidon had married ...held (174.19-20; cf 30.5): c 'Enyalios had
married... held' CP, C, Bo (not in Bury, 1897).
A.itesia (175.2) CP: 'Aitia' Chit, probably correctly.
Erichthonios held (175.3): 'Erichthonios held the race and others held
it in different places. Oinomaos was the first to hold' CP, Slav, cf C.
Charax's (175.5): 'the most learned Charax's' CP, cf Slav.
modelled (175.6): 'devised' CP, cf 'arranged' C.
the sea (175.7): cf Slav which adds 'and air'.
He related (175.8): 'they related' CP, C, cf 'they relate' Slav.
lanes (175.13; corr Chil): 'swords' Ba, CP, C.
astronomical motion (175.14): cf 'starry motion' CP, 'astronomical
position' C.
5. Bo 175.16-177.3; CP 208.11-209.16, C 192.19-193.2, PsS 70r, Ke
258.19-259.3, JA 31; Slav: Ist 21.17-22.14, KVI 121, 123.
names (175.21): 'the following names' CP, Ke.
94 Book 7
(pra slnon> is the Latin word for enduring, for to endure in Latin is
prar'senteuein, and the green earth endures for ever with its woods; he
gave this name to the Blue faction because there is a
great province subject to Rome, a region known as Venet.ia, whose
the
metropolis is Aquileia, which is the source of sea-blue, that. is,
Venetian dye for clothes. He attached the White faction, that is,
air, to the Green faction, that is, earth, because, he said, air rains
on and serves the earth, and belongs with it. He attached and
joined the Red faction, that is, fire, to the Blue faction, that
is, water, because water quenches fire, which is subject to it..
Then the inhabitants of Rome were divided into the factions and no
longer agreed among themselves, because thereafter they desired their
a
own side's victory and supported their own faction, as if it. were
religion. There was a great division in Rome, and the factions were
very hostile towards each other in Rome from the time when Romus devised
the spectacle of chariot-racing for them, When Rornus saw members of any
of the factions supporting the populace or senators who were disaffected
and opposed him because of the death of his brother, or for any other
reason whatsoever, (177) he would decide to support. the other faction,
and so .he secured their favour and their opposition to the aim of his
enemies. From that time the emperors of Rome after him followed the
same principle.
6. In the reign of Romus his army became large by the recruitment
of foreigners, and there was a great number of wild men in Rome
but. there were not. enough women for the number of men. The army of
young men desired the pleasures of life and they began to set upon the
women in the market.--place; rioting and civil war broke out.. Romus was
in despair, not knowing what to do, for none of the women could bear to
live with the soldiers, since they were wild and barbarian. He
promulgated a law that the soldiers were to take in marriage virgins
whom he called Brutides (daughters of Brut.us). No one however chose to
give his daughter to them, saying that they had no hope of survival from
day to day because of the wars, but the fathers all married their
daughters to men from the city. In despair Romus went to the oracle.
An oracle was given to him that he should hold chariot.-races to be
watched by women, so that the army might find themselves wives.
Gathering the body of the army in the palace, Rornus held chariot.-races,
ordering that only women should watch the racing. As an unusual
spectacle was going to be put. on, crowds of women came to the city (178)
of Rome from all the surrounding countryside and the distant towns and
villages. Women, both married and young virgins, filled the hippodrome.
The daughters of the people known as Sabines, beautiful women, came too,
from a districtnear Rome. Romus gave secret orders no married
that
woman who was a Roman citizen was to watch and he also forbad his army
to dare touch a married woman: they were to seize virgins and women
He gave this name to the Green faction ...endure (176.2-5): 'He called
the Green faction 'Praisenton', which is a Latin word meaning
enduring; to endure' CP, cf C.
thereafter they (176.15): 'they each' CP.
desired (176.14; corn Dind) CP: 'saw' Ba.
6. Bo 177.4--178.16; CP 209.16--211.7, JN 56.11-16; Slav: Ist 22.14-23.10.
Book 7 95
without husbands only. Romus then entered the hippodrome and began to
watch. While the races were being held, the army was turned loose
from the palace; they rushed into the hippodrome where they seized from
the benches the virgin women and the women without. husbands and found
wives for themselves. This Romus caused to happen once only, as the
most learned Vergil has stated. Pliny the Roman historian has also
given the same account, and Livy likewise. Other historians have
written that. the first chariot--race Rornus held for them was with mules.
7. They relate that the brothers, Romus and Remus, were suckled
by Lykaina, since the emperor Amulius, their grandfather, ordered them
to be abandoned in the forest as they were born out of wedlock. Their
mother Ilia, who was a priestess of Ares, had been seduced, and
committed adultery with a soldier, and so they say in the form of a myth
that. Ares had made her pregnant.. (179) She gave birth to twins and that.
was why their grandfather cast them out in the forest. A country-woman
found them while she was grazing sheep. She took pity on them, for they
were beautiful children, and picked them up and nursed them with her own
milk. In that country to this day they call the country-women who graze
sheep, 1y* inaa.z' (she.-wolves), because they spend their whole life among
wolves.
Because of this Rornus devised what. is known as the Brumalia,
declaring, it is said, that. the emperor of the time must entertain his
entire senate and officials and all who serve in the palace, since they
are persons of consequence, during the winter when there is a respite
from fighting. He began by inviting and entertaining first. those whose
names began with alpha, and so on, right to the last letter; he
ordered his senate to entertain in the same way. They too entertained
the whole army, and those they wanted. The Aindncira--players from each
military unit went. in the evening to the houses of those who had invited
them to dine the next. clay and played, so that the unit should know
that they would be entertained by that. person the following day. This
custom of the Brumalia has persisted in the Roman state to the present.
day.
Romus did this as he wished to blot out. his shame, because the
Romans, who were hostile to him and hated and reviled him, used to say
that they ought. not be ruled by one who had been degraded, since the two
full
brothers had been fed by strangers (180) until they had become
grown and began to reign; they meant. by this that they had been brought.
up by Faustus, the farmer, and his wife Lykaina, eating the food of
strangers, as has been mentioned above, For it. was a disgrace among the
Romans and all ancient peoples for anyone ever to be fed by strangers.
This is why at. the banquets known as phili/aa (friendly gatherings) each
participant brings his own food and drink with him to the banquet and
everything is then served in common; in their eating they preserve to
the present clay the ancient custom of not being called "Eaters of other
men's food". Romus devised this custom with the intention of mitigating
his own shame, naming the meal Brumalium in the Roman language, as the
most learned Licinius, the Roman chronicler, has related.
8. After the brothers Romus and Remis there reigned six other
emperors in Rome down to Tarquinius Superbus, the unjust.. He was the
seventh emperor of Rome after the building of the city. The empire was
taken away from him.
During the time of his reign lived the Cumaian Sybil, a seer.
9. .Tarquinius had a son named Arruns, who was the cause of his
expulsion from the empire, for Tarquinius' son Arruns had forced himself
on Lucretia, who was of a senatorial family, and raped her; she, being
chaste, killed herself, A great civil war (181) broke out in Rome and
lasted for years, and many people were killed, The learned Servius, the
Roman writer, has written of this.
Tarquinius was expelled from the empire in the following way. When
war had been started against Rome by the tribe known as the Ardeni, the
emperor Tarquinius took a force and went to make war on the land of the
Ardeni. His enemies, the senators Brut.us, who was Lucret.ia's uncle,
and Collatinus, her husband, found an opportunity to plot against him.
They were joined by the remaining senators and all the citizens, in an
attempt to expel him from the empire. They persuaded the troops known
as the Celeriani, who guarded the palace and the city of Rome and were
very fierce in battle, to join them in not receiving the emperor
Tarquinius in future when he returned to Rome. When Tarquinius learnt.
what had been contrived against him by the senate, the army and the
people, he too sent and corrupted Brutus' son, who was a friend and
young contemporary of his son Arruns. The young man was persuaded to
agree that, when Tarquinius attacked Rome, he would betray the city and
kill his father Brutus. Vindicius, Brutus' slave, who attended his son,
learnt of this and reported secretly to his master Brut.us about the
plot that was going to be carried out. against him by his son. As soon
as Brutus heard this, (182) he arrested his son and, examining him in
front of everyone in the forum at Rome, compelled him to reveal what he
and Tarquinius had planned. He confessed to his father that he had made
a treacherous agreement with Tarquinius; Brutus immediately put his son
to death. Then the entire Roman senate gathered and deposed Tarquinius
from the throne, putting his dethronement in writing. Then first of all
they designated by a vote two consuls to administer the Roman state.
They chose Brutus the Great and Collatinus, Lucretia's husband, who were
appointed as leaders after special scrutiny. They decided too that from
henceforth there should be no emperor in Rome and wrote to the army
which was with Tarquinius, telling them to desert. him, which they did
immediately.
As soon as Brut-us was appointed consul, he immediately brought his
slave Vindicius before the senate and people to express his thanks, for
he had kept faith with his master. Be celebrated a solemn festival in
honour of Justice and, seated on the high tribunal, he raised Vindicius
to a high position in front of him. He stretched out. his right hand and
struck him three times on the cheek with the palm of his hand and cried
out, "You have shaken off your fate as a slave, Vindicius, and you have
cast off its yoke: put on now the breast-plate of Roman freedom for the
rest of your life". He took a golden ring from his own hand and put it
on Vindicius' right hand, giving him the rank of comes and a share of
his own (183) wealt.h. He called this day the Festival of Consilia,
which means the Day of Giving. He ordered those who were appointed by
him as consular governors of the provinces to celebrate on that day each
year a sacred vigil and festival of Justice in memory of the victory
over Tarquinius and of Vindicius' well-deserved freedom, so as to
encourage other servants everywhere to be well-disposed towards their
masters and be worthy of similar freedom and honour. Provincial
governors of consular rank to the present day celebrate these Consilia
with due solemnity. The learned Livy and many others have written about.
this.
10. Many years later the Gauls rebelled and started a war against.
the Romans. When the Roman senate learnt of this, it appointed a
powerful general, named Manlius Capitolinus, against. t.hern. He took up
arms, collected a very war-like army and set out. for Gaul. He joined
battle and completely defeated them. On his return he celebrated his
victory with a triumph in Rome, and he entered the city and behaved
arrogantly towards the senate, the army and the people. Because of
this the senate and everybody else were displeased. He also provoked
the envy of an enemy in the senate, a powerful man, named Februarius,
who was of Gallic descent, and a plot was made against him. (184) When
Manlius Capitolinus entered a conventus and the body of the senators was
seated, the senator Februarius stood up and said to Manlius, "Why do you
give yourself such airs now that the Roman army has defeated the Gauls,
as if you had overcome them in single combat.? The tvche of the Romans
always defeats her enemies. It has not escaped our attention that this
has led you to such arrogance that you wish to usurp power over the
Romans. This you shall not do". When the senate, the army and the
people heard this, they attacked Manlius Capit.olinus. The people,
rising up at the instigation of the senate, cried out. that Manlius
Capitolinus should be expelled from the city of Rome. So, in fear of
the army and the people, he went off to his own estates, near the
district. known as Apulia, and there lived quietly. After he had fled,
the Roman people attacked his house and pillaged all his belongings.
11. The Gauls had appointed a powerful warrior, named Brennus, to
be their king, and they immediately began a campaign against Rome when
they heard that Manlius had been expelled from the city. King Brennus
set out and made a sudden attack on Rome, and captured it during a
stormy night, on 15t.h Sextilis, having first. sent men secretly to kill
the gate-keepers and open the (ate to him. With the gate-keepers dead,
there was panic in the city. The senators realized that the city had
been captured and they all fled and some of the leading men of the city
went onto (185) the Capitol with their wives and children, to the temple
of Zeus, taking their possessions with them. When king Brennus took the
city of Rome, he slaughtered many of the citizens and some of the
soldiers, and also took prisoners. He continued to besiege the Capitol
since the senators, and their possessions, were on it. The senators
found an opportunity and wrote to Manlius Capitolinus, begging him to
collect. up the troops stationed in the various Roman cities and
territories, so that he could come to avenge Rome and help them. When
Manlius Capitolinus received the letter from the senate and learnt that
Rome had been captured and the Capitol was under siege by Brennus, king
of the Gauls, he was shocked. He immediately collected up a body of
soldiers from all areas and set off. He came upon king Brennus suddenly
and unexpectedly in Rome. Leading his army through the streets of the
city by night., he surrounded king Brennus and all his men, since they
were strangers to the city, and killed them. Having got. the better of
them, he captured king Brennus and immediately beheaded him and stuck
his head on a pole. Then, cutting down his soldiers and his aoj'te he
,
freed all the Romans whom Brennus had taken prisoner and took back all
the goods that had been plundered by the Gauls. The Roman senate left.
the Capitol after Manlius Capitolinus' victory, then immediately voted,
together with the army and the surviving people, that he should
administer Roman affairs on his own.
12. (186) When Manlius Capitolinus recovered control of Rome, he
immediately showed his displeasure at the city's capture, and the shame
of the Roman defeat, He cut short the days in the month known as
Sextilis, on the grounds that it was of ill-omen to the city of Rome,
and he removed its name so that it. should no longer be called Sextilis.
to avenge the city of Rome (186.10-11): Slav adds 'and the senators'.
cudgels (186.24): Ba qualifies this word with the adjective (3cO(.Go11voc
which we do not. understand.
Eri Fehrzcurie (187.1; corr): 'Exithi, Februari' Ba.
13. Bo 187.14-22.
14. Bo 188.1-4; Slav: Ist. 29.1-4, Soph 71, KVI 124.
Collatinus (188.3; corr Chil): 'Callatinus' Ba.
the city (188.2): Slav adds 'of Rome'.
15. Bo 188.5-16; Slav: Ist 29.4-13, Soph 71. Cf Cyril of Alexandria,
fonts I
.Tulfanun (PG 76, col 553 b).
highpriest (188.6; see Bury, 1897, 225): 'priest' Bo.
.L UU BOOK /
emperor, became conceited; they usurped power over the whole earth and
the empire was given into the hands of the Assyrians, the Persians, the
Medes and the Parth ns.
19. Philip rein ned over Macedonia for 20 years. When he had
conquered and subjug ted Thessaly, he built a city in Macedonia which he
called Thessalonike, it having previously been known as the town of
Thermai. Dionysios states that it was called Thessalonike later after
an empress in Philip's family. The empire, or toparchy, of Macedonia
lasted for 602 years, until the reign of Philip, as the most learned
Eusebios Pamphilou has chronicled.
After Philip, Alexander, (191) the son of Philip, ruled Macedonia.
After Ochos, Dareios the Mede, the son of Assalam, reigned over
the Babylonians and had power over all men. During his reign, the
Romans became dominant and expanded the boundaries of their territory;
since they appointed powerful consuls, they kept seizing more lands.
1. (192) In the fourth year of the reign of Dareios the Mede, son
of Assalam, God raised up Alexander, toparch or emperor of Macedonia,
the son of Philip, against the Assyrians, Persians, Parthians and Medes.
Alexander built Alexandria the Great, which was previously known as the
town of Rakoustis, and named it. Alexandria after himself, sacrificing a
virgin girl whom he called Macedonia. He built a temple to Ser-apis
Helios and a public bath, which is called The Horse, and other- temples.
The emperor Alexander, having won the support of united and valiant
generals in his anger at. the Assyrians' folly, was the first. to engage
Dareios, emperor of the Persians, in battle.
Arriving at Byzoupolis in Europe, he built. a place there which he
(193) called the Strategion, for it was there that he practised his
generalship with his army and his allies. He crossed over from there
with his army to a trading-station, in Bithynia known as Diskoi. Wishing
to win over his army, he issued them there with a great deal of gold and
he changed the name of this trading-station to Chrysopolis, which it is
called to the present. day.
Be set out. from there and arrived at Troy. After offering a
sacrifice at Achilles' tomb, since he was descended from his family (for
Olympias, Alexander of Macedon's mother, was descended from Molossos,
the son of Pyrrhos and Andromache), he prayed for his spirit to fight on
his side in the war. Alexander immediately set out from there like a
leopard and captured all lands with his generals. He defeated Dareios,
emperor of the Persians, the son of Assalam, and captured him, all his
empire, all the land of the Assyrians, Medes, Parthians, Babylonians and
Persians and all the empires on earth, as the most learned Bot.t.ios has
written. Alexander freed the cities and territories and all the land of
the Romans, Hellenes and Egyptians from subjection and slavery to
Assyrians, Persians, Parthians and Medes; he restored to the Romans all
that. they had lost.
2. Thus from Adam to Alexander of Macedon's (194) victory there
were 5557 years. Addous was then high priest of the Jews.
3. The Persian region and its empires were overthrown at that
time; the Macedonians and Alexander, together with his allies,
established dominion over the land of the Chaldaeans, Medes,
Persians
and Parthians. After defeating and killing Dareios, t1ey succeeded to
his empires. Alexander made laws for their territory and reigned over
them. The Persians erected a bronze equestrian statue of him in Babylon
which stands to the present day. Alexander captured Roxane, the
daughter of Dareios, emperor of the Persians; she was a virgin, and he
married her. Alexander also captured all the regions of India and their
empires, taking prisoner Poros, emperor of the Indians; he also
captured all the other empires of barbarian peoples, except. the empire
of the widow Kandake, who reigned over the Indians ofthe interior. She
caught Alexander in the following way. Alexander was in the habit of
going in soldier's clothes with ambassadors whom he sent. to opposing
emperors, to see what the emperor in question was like. The empress
Kandake learnt. of this and made a thorough investigation to discover
what he looked like and what identifying marks he had. She was told
that he was short, (195) with large prominent. teeth and one grey eye and
one black. She took private note of this. When he came to her with the
ambassadors he sent., she recognized him by the identifying marks. She
arrested him and said, "Emperor Alexander, you have captured the whole
world but one woman has captured you". Alexander said to her, "Because
of the excellence and the quickness of your mind, I shall preserve from
harm you, your land and your sons, and I shall take you to wife". On
hearing this, Kandake surrendered herself. Alexander took her with him
immediately and went. to Ethiopia and other countries.
4. When Alexander was on the point of death, he ordained that all
the champions and allies with him should reign over the territory where
he had left them and should control. the lands there. Alexander lived
for 36 years and, having subjugated the world, reigned for 17 years.
The war lasted 9 years and he subjugated 22 barbarian nations and 13
Hellenic tribes, and he and those with him built. many cities.
Thus from Adam to the death of Alexander there were 5593 years, as
Theophilos the chronicler has written.
5. After the death of Alexander of Macedon, the lands which
Alexander had subjugated with his allies were divided into four
toparchies or empires. (196) Alexander's Macedonian comrades reigned
over these in the following way, just. as he had ordained. Macedonia and
all Europe were to be controlled and ruled by his elder brother Philip.
Philip reigned and after Philip, Kassandros reigned and after
Kassandros, Kassandros' sons reigned and after them, Demetrios reigned;
after Demetrios, Pyrrhos of Epirus reigned and after Pyrrhos of
Epirus, Meleagros reigned and six other emperors reigned until the
reign of Perseus of Epirus. Their empire lasted for 157 years after the
death of Alexander.
6. Alexander ordained that. all Egypt and Libya should be
controlled and ruled by Ptolemy, the son of Lagos, the astronomer. He
reigned over the Egyptians for 42 years in the time of the Macedonians'
dominion. The second emperor was his son Ptolemy.
4. Bo 195.12-20; JN 59.9.
5. Bo 195.21-196.11; JN 59.10; Slav: Ist. 2.1-2.
Kassandros' sons (196.6; corr Chil): 'Alexander's sons' Ba.
6. Bo 196.12-16; Ke 284.14, JN 59.10; Slav: Ist 2.2-5, Soph 76.
42 years (196.15): Gelzer, 1885a, 273 proposes '40 years' by a
dittography with 'second'.
104 Book 8
near the great river Drakon, renamed the Orontes, on the site of the
village known as Bottia, opposite lopolis, that they marked out
the foundations for the wall. Through the agency of Amphion, the chief
priest and wonder worker, he sacrificed a virgin girl named Aimat.he,
between the city and the river, on 22nd Artemisios-May, at the first
hour of the day, at. sunrise. He called the city Ant.ioch after his son,
who was known as Antiochos Soter. He immediately built a temple which
he called that of Zeus Bottios, and raised up the walls also to be
really tremendous with the help of the architect Xenarios. (201) He
set up a bronze statue of a human figure, the girl who had been
sacrificed as the tyche of the city, above the river, and he
immediately made a sacrifice to this troche.
14.He went off and razed the whole city of Antigonia to the
ground. He brought the materials from there down the river and made a
statue of the tyche Antigonia, a bronze figure holding Amaltheia's horn
in front of her. He constructed a four-columned shrine and put the
tyche in a high position, placing a lofty altar in front of it. After
the death of Seleukos, Demetrios, the son of Ant.igonos Poliorket.es,
carried this statue of the tyche off to Rhosos, the city in Cilicia.
The city. of Rhosos was built by Kilix, son of Agenor.
15. After destroying Antigonia, Seleukos made the Athenians who
used to live in Antigonia migrate to the city that he had built., Antioch
the Great. Antigonos had left them there in Antigonia with his son
Demetrios and some others, some Macedonians - a total of 5300 men.
Seleukos made a tremendous bronze statue of Athene in Antioch the Great
for the Athenians, since they worshipped her. He also brought. down
from the acropolis the Cretans whom Kasos, the son of Inachos, had
left to live up there. They had migrated to Antioch with the Cypriots,
since the emperor Kasos married Amyke, (202) also known as Kitia,
daughter of Sasalaminos, emperor of Cyprus. Cypriots came with her
and made their homes on the acropolis. Amyke died and was buried 100
st.ades from the city; because of her the district was called Amyke.
Seleukos won over the Argive Ionitai as well and brought them down from
Iopolis to live in Antioch. He made them city officials, since they
were a priestly and well-born group.
16. Seleukos set up a stone statue of an eagle just. outside the
city. He ordered that the months in Syria should be named in the
Macedonian fashion, since he found that giants had lived in the land;
for two miles from the city of Antioch is a place with human bodies
turned to stone because of God's anger, which are called giants to the
present day; equally, a giant known as Pagras, who lived in the land,
was burnt. by a thunderbolt.. So it is plain that the people of Antioch
in Syria live in the land of the giants.
17. Seleukos set up just outside the city on the other side of
the river another statue, of a horse's head, and next. to it a gilded
helmet., inscribing on them, "On this Seleukos fled from Ant.igonos, and
was saved; he returned from there and conquered and killed him".
Seleukos also set. up inside the gate known as Romanesian a marble statue
of Amphion, who had made the bird-sacrifice with him.
18. Seleukos Nikator also built. another coastal city in Syria
named Laodikeia, (203) after his daughter, which was formerly a village
named Mazabda. He made the customary sacrifice to Zeus and when he
asked where he should build the city, an eagle came again and seized
some of the sacrifice. In his pursuit. of the eagle he met. a great
wild-boar, emerging from a reed-bed, and killed it with the spear he was
holding. After killing the boar, he marked out the walls with its, blood
by dragging the carcass, and ignored the eagle. And so he built the
city over the boar's blood and sacrificed an innocent. girl, named Agave,
setting up a bronze statue of her as the city's tycho.
19. Seleukos Nikator built another great city in Syria, named
after his daughter Apama, after finding a village formerly known as
Pharnake. Seleukos fortified it. and named it. a city, calling it.
Apameia, and made a sacrifice. He changed its name to Pella because the
tvche of the city of Apameia had this name, for Seleukos was from Pella,
the city in Macedonia. He made a sacrifice, of a bull and a goat. Once
again the eagle came and picked up the heads of the bull and goat. He
marked out. the circuit of the walls with the blood. Seleukos also built
various other cities in other provinces and in Persian territory, as
many as 75 in number, as the learned Pausanias the chronicler has
written. Seleukos named (204) these cities after himself and his
children, as he saw fit. The learned Pausanias stated that Seleukos
named Antioch the Great after his father, since his father was also
called Antiochos. But no one building a city calls it after a dead man,
for that is nonsense: he calls it. after a person who is alive and well.
He named this city after his son Antiochos, as mentioned above. The
most learned Pausanias has written much else poetically.
20. Seleukos planted the cypresses in the city that once was
Herakleis, but is now known as Daphne, near the temple of Apollo; these
followed the cypresses planted by Herakles, the wonder worker, who built
Daphne and called it the city of Herakleis, after himself. The city had
been built outside the grove by the temple of Athene. The temple of
Apollo was called the Daphnaion and was in the middle of the grove.
Herakles was the first to expound the art of wrestling.
Then Seleukos died at the Hellespont., at the age of 72, and he was
buried at Seleukeia in Syria.
17. Bo 202.15-21.
and conquered (202.19): om Bo; see Bury, 1897, 225 and Downey, 1961, 77,
note 107.
18. Bo 202.21-203.10; JN 61.6; Slav: Ist. 5.7-9, Soph 77.
19. Bo 203.10-204.8; JN 61.7, 62; Slav: Ist 5.9-20, Soph 77.
20. Bo 204.9-18; Slav: Ist 5.21-26, Soph 77.
expound (204.16): 'devise' Slav.
108 Book 8
21. After the reign of Seleukos, his son Antiochos, called Soter,
reigned for 20 years. This Antiochos fell in love with his stepmother
Stratonike, the daughter of Demetrios, and (205) he married her. He had
by her two sons, Seleukos who died in infancy, and Ant.iochos called
Theoeides. Antiochos, the son of Seleukos, died and after him
Antiochos Theoeides reigned for 15 years. After him his son by Bernike,
Seleukos Kallinikos, reigned for 24 years and Alexander Nikator for 36
years, Seleukos Philopator for 10 years, and Antiochos Epiphanes for
12 years.
22. During his reign, when there was a plague and many people in
the city perished, Leios, a wonder worker, ordered that.a rock from the
mountain above the city be carved with an enormous mask, crowned and
looking towards the city and the valley. He wrote an inscription on it
and stopped the deaths from the plague. To the present. day the
Antiochenes call this mask Charonion.
The emperor Antiochos, known as Epiphanes, first. built in Antioch
the Great outside the city the building known as the .bouleuterion, so
that all his senators might assemble there with the city officials
and all the landowners of the city and discuss what should be done
about the matters that arose and then refer their recommendations to
him. He also built some other constructions outside the city and called
this area the city of Epiphania after himself: but. he did not. build a
wall for it, and the settlement was left open on the mountain.
23. Ant.iochos Epiphanes grew angry with ' Ptolemy, (206) emperor
of Egypt, since he demanded taxes from the Jews who were from the
country under Antiochos' rule. The Jews came from Palestine to Ant.ioch
and asked Antiochos to write to Ptolemy, toparch and emperor of Egypt,
not to demand tax from them when they, imported grain for them to eat.,
since there was then a severe famine in Palestine; for the Jews used to
import grain from the land of Egypt. After receiving Antiochos' letter,
Ptolemy ordered that more demands should be made of them. Then
Antiochos Epiphanes began a campaign against. Ptolemy because he did not
obey his letter. When a battle took place between them, a large number
of Antiochos' men fell
and he went. off in flight. to the On
learning of this the Jews of Jerusalem, thinking that Antiochos was
dead, lit. bonfires in Ptolemy's honour, commending themselves to him.
But Antiochos Epiphanes gathered an army, fell upon Ptolemy and killed
him, cutting his army to pieces. Learning how the Jews of Jerusalem had
acted against him out of pleasure at his defeat, he marched against
Jerusalem. He besieged it, attacked and captured it. and massacred
everyone. He brought Eleazar, the high priest of the Jews, and the
Maccabees to Ant.ioch, where he tortured and killed them. He abolished
the office of highpriest in Judaea and made the temple of the Jews, that
had buildings outside the wall and a woman threw a tile down onto his
head and killed him.
28. After this Magnus Paulus the Macedonian became consul. He
killed in battle (209) the emperor of Macedonia, named Perses. He
captured the land of Macedonia and made it subject to the Romans.
Sallust mentions this in his Catilinarian history, in recording Caesar's
speech.
After this Perseus of Epirus, the sea warrior and t.oparch of
Thessaly, reigned in his own land. Eutropius the Roman writer named
this Perseus in his account, in the translation. Palaiphatos mentions
him too. Lucius Paulus, the Roman consul, killed Perseus in battle.
29. At this time a man named Hannibal, king of the Africans,
rebelled for 20 years against Rome, which had no emperor but was
administered by the consuls. He destroyed the greater part of all Italy
after conquering it in wars and he slew the Paulus mentioned above.
Then the senate of Rome appointed a consul who was powerful in all
respects, but particularly in war, the man known as Scipio the Great.
While Hannibal delayed in Italy, Scipio took a large army and went off
to Hannibal's land in Africa and destroyed it. He burnt Carthage, the
city of which Hannibal was king, enslaved it. and captured all his people
together with his senate, and returned to Rome.
On learning of this, Hannibal went off to Bithynia to (210)
Antiochos, the son of Nikomedes, emperor of Asia, and called upon him
to become his ally. The Macedonians had had solemn treaties of
friendship with the Romans from the time of Alexander of Macedon since
the Romans had supplied him with an army against Dareios. Ant.iochos,
emperor of Asia, was persuaded by Hannibal and joined with him. He went
with him against the Romans, trusting in his army, and set. out from
Bithynia. On hearing of this the senators of Rome appointed a powerful
consul, the second Scipio, brother of the first Scipio. They sent. him
against these two, Antiochos, the emperor of Asia, and Hannibal, the
king of Africa. He met them and engaged them in a great. battle. After
many had been slaughtered Hannibal fled, seeing Scipio's power and that
he had the upper hand. He committed suicide by drinking a fatal potion,
and died. On seeing that Hannibal had fled, Antiochos turned in
flight. Scipio pursued him as far as the mountain in Isauria known as
Tauros. After going up there, Antiochos sent ambassadors to him,
pleading with him that he had no quarrel with the Romans but had been
fighting on behalf of another.
Scipio received him and made him subject to the Romans by a decree
of the senate of Rome, on condition that each year he should pay the
Romans four talents of gold and silver and (211) certain other
payments for the rest of his life. Scipio gave a banquet and invited
him and granted him first place, honouring him as an emperor. Scipio
returned to Rome in glory, as the most learned Florus noted from
Livy's writings.
30. In the 15th year of the Antiochos the Leper, son of
Dionikes, mentioned above, emperor of Syria, a man called Tigranes,
emperor of the Armenians, came and fought. a great. battle with Ant.iochos.
After defeating Antiochos, Tigranes, emperor of the Armenians, captured
Ant.ioch the Great. and his empire, taking away from him all that he
possessed. The emperor Antiochos fled from Tigranes to Persian
territory. Pompeius Magnus came out. from Rome because of Caesar and
attacked the Cilicians, who had rebelled against him; and when he had
defeated them, he made war also on Tigranes, emperor of the Armenians.
After defeating him, he captured Armenia, Cilicia and Syria, putting an
end to these t.oparchies too. He laid claim to the Ant.iochenes and,
entering the city of Antioch, he made it subject to the Romans, giving
generously to them and rebuilding the for it. had fallen
down. He honoured the Antiochenes since they were Athenians by
descent.
31. Byblos, a powerful general, discovered a village on the
coast of Phoenice, and made it into a city by fortifying it, (212) and
called it. Byblos after himself. He asked the Antiochenes as a favour
for the statue of Athene that had been made by Seleukos and was
tremendous, and for the statue of Zeus Keraunios that had been made by
Seleukos and was tremendous too; he took them away and sent them to
Rome for the Capitol, since they were a magnificent. sight. and since they
had become subject to the Romans. The statues remain to the present
day. The inscription is, "The people of Ant.ioch the Great. honoured the
Romans by presenting statues in gratitude".
32. The emperor Ant.iochos, son of Dionikes, on hearing of the
downfall of Tigranes, emperor of the Armenians, and of Pompeius Magnus'
victory over him, came to Pompeius and fell down before him, asking him
to restore his empire to him. Pompeius was won over and restored to him
the empire of Syria, Cilicia and everything that. Antiochos had held
formerly. On 19th Daisios Pompeius set. out. from Antioch against Egypt.
Antiochos the Macedonian, the son of Dionikes, began to reign again.
33. At that time lived Cicero and Sallust, the most learned Roman
poets.
34. When the emperor Antiochos, the son of Dionikes, was on the
point of death, he left to the Romans all that. was subject to him,
together with his estate. After the death of the emperor Ar,t.iochos,
was deceived and, overcome by passion, fell in love with her and was
subjugated by her. Cleopatra was short but very beautiful, and had
mystic knowledge. She admitted Antony and his army into the city, and
married him. Then Antony, after marrying her, joined in her rebellion
against the Romans. After slighting and repudiating his wife, Augustus
Octavian's sister, and recruiting another large army, he won over the
Persians, making them many promises; he also built many fast ships and
Liburnian warships and sailed from Alexandria. He set. out. against. the
Romans with Cleopatra, for he wanted to capture Rome itself and
intended to reach Rome by way of the land known as Epirus.
When news of this rebellion of Antony and Cleopatra reached Rome,
Oct.avian immediately took up arms against. them, both for the good of
Rome and because of the insult to his sister, since Antony had
slighted her. Augustus took a powerful general, selecting from the
senate a man named Marcus Agrippa, and he married his sister Octavia to
him. He set. out from Rome with the general Agrippa and his military
forces. When he arrived in the land of Epirus at the promontory known
as Leukat.e, he engaged (220) Antony and Cleopatra in a great. sea-battle,
as the learned Vergil has written in his X A-inq of the Shield in his
eighth book. The troops of both armies covered the land and the sea.
Many of Antony and Cleopatra's men were killed in the battle so that the
sea-water was mixed with blood, and looked like nothing but. waves of
blood. After his victory, Augustus Octavian killed Antony but. he
captured Cleopat.ra and put her in chains, and celebrated a triumph. He
ordered that she was to be kept under guard to be taken to Rome as a
prisoner and be led in a triumph. But. Cleopatra committed suicide and
died after being bitten by an asp, for she used to carry asps and other
snakes in her ships for battle. While she was being guarded by
soldiers, she died after being secretly bitten by an asp, in order not
to be taken alive to Rome. After her death her body was embalmed and
brought to Rome, as a favour to Augustus Octavian's sister, as the
learned chronicler Theophilos has recorded. Those who have written the
local history of Alexandria the Great said that Cleopatra was captured
in Egypt., as well as other details that. are inconsistent. with the Roman
writers.
11. After this great. victory Augustus Oct.avian with Agrippa, his
general and brother-in-law, set out from the village (221) in Epirus and
Both toparchs named (223.20):cf 'He ordered both toparchs to name' Slav.
their lifetime (224.6): cf 'his lifetime' Slav.
18. Bo 224.7-13; Slav: 1st 16.26-31.
19. Bo 224.14-21; Slav: Ist 16.31-17.6, Soph 87, KVI 130.
Augustus crossed (224.14): Slav adds 'the sea'.
He sent ...with an army (224.18-19): cf 'Having allocated Brutus to guard
Pharsalia, he sent an army and' Slav.
Book 3 119
consulship of Calvinus and Pollio, as Lucan the learned Roman poet has
written.
20. At that time lived Sosibios, an Ant.iochene senator, who had
returned with Augustus to Rome. He died, leaving his income to his
native city, so that every quinquennium for 30 clays in the month of
Hyperberetaios (225) there could be held contests of theatrical and
dramatic performances of all kinds and athletics and also chariot.
racing.
21. August-us' brother-in-law Agrippa arrived in Ant.ioch on his
second visit.. He cleared the old hippodrome of rubble which had
accumulated as a result. of the previous earthquakes. He watched the
various spectacles and went away from there in admiration. Quintus
Marcianus, king of the Romans, had formerly done building work on this
old hippodrome and the old palace at his own expense, when he came to
Antioch in Syria to visit Philip Barypous, the Macedonian who was
reigning over Antioch, in order to agree on the contribution that he was
to pay the Romans.
22. The most. sacred Augustus became the first. sole emperor of the
Romans, and also orrgloA7&wn&-s. He styled himself thus : Augustus Caesar
O ct.av i an , t.ri umphat.or , the August, mighty i mperat.or , that is, supreme
ruler. Augustus reigned for 56 years in all. In appearance he was
short., slender, with straight. hair, good eyes and a good nose,
23. In his reign he built the temple of Zeus in Rome and
reconstructed the Capitol, making both tremendous buildings.
24. (226) In the 39th year and 10th month of his reign, he
promulgated a decree and proclaimed that there should be a census of all
the land which was subject to him - and of that which the Romans had
held formerly - during the consulship of Agrippa, for the second time,
and of Donatus; and all the land subject to the Romans was assessed by
Eumenes and At.talus, Roman senators. For the emperor inspired great.
fear, since he was very irascible.
1. (227) In the 42nd year and the fourth month of the reign of
Augustus our Lord God Jesus Christ was born, eight days before the
Kalends of January, on 25th December, at the seventh hour of the day,
in a city of Judaea named Bethlehem, which is near Jerusalem, in the
year 42 according to the calendar of Antioch the Great, while Quirinius
the ex-consul was governor of Syria, Octavian and Silvanus were
consuls, and emperor Herod was toparch, or emperor, of Judaea.
2. Thus from Adam to Phalek, the son of Heber, the total is 2533
years, and from Phalek until the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus
Caesar (228) 2967 years, so that the total from Adam the first-created
until the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. and the 42nd year of the
reign of Augustus Caesar is 5500 years.
Then our Lord God passed 33 years on earth among men, as is recorded
in the scriptures, so that from Adam until the incarnation of our Lord
Jesus Christ and his crucifixion there were 5533 years. For Phalek,
according to the prophetic words of Moses, is said to be at the
mid-point in time before the future coming of Christ. For just as he
created man on the sixth day, as Moses stated, he recorded this too in
his writings, "One day for the Lord is as a thousand years". It was on
the sixth day, as scripture said, that God created man and man fell into
sin, so it is plain that it was on the sixth millennium day that our
Lord* Jesus Christ appeared on earth, and saved man through the Cross and
resurrection. This has been written by Clement., Theophilos and
Timotheos, the learned chroniclers, who agree among themselves. The
chronicler Eusebios Pamphilou, most dear to God, who became bishop of
Caesarea in Palestine, also says (229) that the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Saviour of all, appeared in the sixth millennium, corresponding to the
5500 (229.6) Hes: '5502' LM, '502nd year' (ie of the sixth millennium)
Slav.
5533 (229.7): perhaps '5335', cf '5305' Slav, '5534' LM.
All (229.8): 'all the accurate writers' Hes; this reads like an
attempt to make sense of this sentence, an attempt with which one can
sympathize.
sixth year (229.9): 'the year 6000' LM, Slav, Hes.
and even if (229.10; corn von S) LM, Hes, 'and' Ba.
3. Bo 229.13-16; GM 294.10,14; Slav: Ist 4.15-18.
revered (229.13): Slav adds 'Octavian'.
4. Bo 229.17-231.11; LM 427.37-428.27; Slav: Ist 4.18-6.10.
to the East (230.1): 'from the East' LM, cf 'to Jerusalem' Slav.
Vinicius (230.14; corn): 'Vindicius' Ba, LM.
Varus (230.14; corr): 'Valerius' Ba, 'Varius' LM, cf Slav.
Book 10 123
showing us the God greater than itself". They offered to him as god the
gifts which they were carrying and, (231) having been warned by a
divine sign, they departed to Persian territory by another route, that
by the 12ne_q, taking no notice of the emperor Herod. The emperor Herod
was furious at being fooled by the _qoi. He enquired carefully from
the high priests of the Jews and learnt where Christ. was born. He sent
his soldiers and slaughtered all the infants in the city of Bethlehem in
Judaea, as the sacred scripture says. Herod was immediately overcome by
an incurable disease and died from being eaten by maggots. Archelaos,
his son, became emperor or toparch of the Jewish people for nine
years, in the consulship of Lamia and Servilius, as the most learned AD3
Clement. the chronicler has stated.
5. Augustus Caesar Octavian in the 55th year of his reign, in
the month Oct.ober--Hyperberetaios, visited the oracle. He offered a
hecatomb in sacrifice and asked, "Who will reign over the Roman state
after me?" No answer was given him by the Pythia. Then he made another
sacrifice, and asked the Pythia why no answer had been given him but the
oracle had remained silent.. The Pythia made him the following reply, "A
Hebrew child ruling as god over the blessed ones bids me abandon
this abode and return to Hades. (232) So now depart from our leaders".
Augustus Caesar left the oracle and came to the Capitol where he placed
a great, tall altar, on which he inscribed in Roman letters, "This is
the altar of the first-born god". This altar stands on the Capitol to
the present day, as the learned Ti.mot.hieos has written.
6. Caesar Oct.avian was stricken by an illness and died in Rome
as an old man aged 75; he was childless and had lived chastely, free
from sins of the flesh. He was a high priest with mystic knowledge, and
emperor.
7. After the reign of Augustus Caesar, Tiberius Caesar reigned
they were carrying (230.23): LM, Slav add 'gold, frankincense and
myrrh'.
sign (231.1): cf Slav which adds 'they did not return to Herod'.
toparch (231.9): 'toparch in the tetrarchy' LM, cf 'tetrarch' Slav.
Servilius (231.10; corr): 'Serellianus' Ba, 'Servilianus' LM, Slav.
Bo 231.12-232.6; LM 428.44-429.6 (for extra material, probably
5.
irrelevant to Malalas, see Weber, 1927, 31-6), LG 276.35-277.5 (57.1-7),
Su I 411.2-8, PsS 75v, Ke 320.17-22, Sk 25.11-20, Nik Kall I 17; Slav:
Ist 6.10-7.5, Soph 91.
55th (231.12): cf '56th' LM.
oracle (231.14) Sk: cf 'Delphi' LG, Ke.
A Hebrew child (231.20): von S 15 proposes to omit 'child' and read 'A
examined by
Hebrew god'; this is unlikely, in view of the parallel text
Erbse, 1941, 179.
ruling as god over the blessed ones (231.20) LM, LG, Ke, Sk: cf 'ruling
the blessed gods' Slav, Su.
Hades (231.21) Slav: cf 'road' LG, Ke, Sk, 'song' Su.
our leaders (232.1): 'our homes' LG, PsS, Ke, Sk, Slav, cf 'our altars'
Su.
placed (232.3): 'built' Bo; see Bury, 1897, 226.
first-born god (232.4) Su, Sk: 'son of God' LM, 'ancestor of god' Slav.
6. Bo 232.7-9; Slav: Ist. 7.5-7, Soph 91.
7. Bo 232.10-15; LM 435.15; Slav: Ist 7.8-14, Soph 92.
AD14 for 22 years, beginning from the consulship of Sextus and Sextus.
thin, with good eyes, dark skin, short
He was of medium height, old,
upturned nose; he was an avid builder,
curly hair and a slightly He
but fought, no battles and at their
campaigned against. the Persians
request made a peace treaty.
8. On his return to Rome, he came to Ant.ioch the Great and built
known as Silpios two great and very
outside the city near the mountain
roofed colonnades, with a total length of four miles. He built
handsome
vaulted tetrapyla at the cross-streets, adorning them with mosaic work
and marble, and ornamented the street with bronze figures and statues.
enclosing the mountain within
He surrounded the colonnades with a wall,
it, (233) and he joined the new wall to the old city wall built by
Seleukos. He enclosed the acropolis and Iopolis too with his wall. The
council and people of Antioch set up a bronze statue in honour of
Tiberius Caesar and placed it on a great Theban column in the street in
the centre of the colonnades he had built. This place was called the
navel (omphalos) of the city, and had a relief of an eye lophthalmos)
carved in stone. This statue stands to the present day.
9. Tiberius Caesar learnt that the emperor Seleukos had avoided
the mountain and built the city on the plain, in fear of the floods of
water coming down from the mountain in winter and forming lakes. So he
added to his statue a stone box, in which he put a talisman made by
Ablakkon, a wonder-worker and priest, to prevent the waters from the
winter torrents of the river Parmenios and the streams coming off the
mountain from harming that part of the city or from destroying the two
great colonnades he had built. The citizens of Antioch say that this
stone box is their city's ransom-price, because Tiberius redeemed that
part of the city through the protection that the wall he built, gave them
against attack and capture by the barbarian Saracens and Persians. (234)
For there had formerly existed no wall for the part of the city by the
mountain that had been built by the illustrious emperor Antiochos
Epiphanes. This emperor also built the bouleuterion and other temples.
Equally the emperor Antiochos, known as Philadelphos, also built many
buildings outside the city. It was he who built two temples, to Apollo
and Artemis, in the grove at Daphne, and he set up two golden images in
them and granted privileges to those who took refuge there so that
nobody could be driven out of these temples. They built these buildings
during the existence of the Macedonian empire.
10. Tiberius Caesar built a great temple to Capitoline Zeus in
the city of Antioch. Likewise he built a public bath near the Olympias
all my livelihood and wealth on doctors but. found no cure. (238) When I
heard of the cures which Christ performs with his miracles, who raises
the dead, restores the blind to sight, drives demons out of men and
heals with a word all those wasting away from disease, I too ran to him
as to God. I noticed the crowd surrounding him and I was afraid to tell
secretly into the crowd around him and I won my cure by touching his
hem. The flow of blood was stopped and immediately I was healed. He,
however, as though he knew in advance my heart's purpose, cried out,
"Who has touched me? For power has gone out of me". I went. white with
terror and lamented, thinking that the disease would return to me with
greater force, and I fell before him covering the ground with tears. I
or emperor of the land (236.14): cf 'in the empire of the land' JD.
Flaccus and Rufus (236.16; corr): 'Flacco and Rufinus' Ba.
his wife (236.16): 'the wife of his brother Philip' LM, Slav (Slav
omits 'son of Philip' at 236.13-14).
12. Bo 237.1-239.17; JD 1372a-1373a; Slav: Ist 9.4-11.13. See j4ft.thew
9.20-22, h rA- 5.25-34, Luke 8.43--48.
II, the son of Philip M7.2): cf 'the son of Philip' JD, 'second after
Philip' Slav.
Veronica (237.4,11, 239.8): cf 'Vernike' JD, cf Slav.
statue (237.7): 'bronze statue' Slav, cf 'gold statue' JD.
ran (237.8) JD, Slav: 'runs' Bo; see Bury, 1897, 226.
I have come (237.13): cf 'I write to you' JD.
certainly obtain my requests (237.14): c£ 'obtain all my requests' JD.
restores the blind to sight (238.2): 'restoring them to the light of
Book 10 127
world. The most learned Phlegon of Athens has written in his work
about this darkness as follows, "In the 18th year of the reign of
Tiberius Caesar there was a very great eclipse of the sun, greater than
any that had been known before. Night prevailed at the sixth hour of
the day so that even the stars appeared". (241) The Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of the Living God, gave up his spirit on that Friday, at about
the ninth hour. Immediately there was a great earthquake over all the
world. Graves were opened up, rocks were split and the dead rose up, as
is all recorded truly in the sacred scriptures, so that the Jews said,
"In truth he whom we crucified was the Son of God".
Jesus Christ was buried at the tenth hour of that Friday, in the
AD33 consulship of Sulpicius and Sulla, in the 79th year according to the
calendar of Antioch the Great, while Cassius, who had been appointed by
AD31 Tiberius Caesar, was governor of Syria.
Jesus, our Lord God, rose on 25th Dystros-March, at the tenth hour
AD30 of the night, as Sunday 26th March was dawning, the moon being in its
16th day. He appeared to the apostles and to many other saints and
lived with them on earth for 40 days after his resurrection. Our Lord
God Jesus Christ was taken up into the heavens on Thursday 4th
Artemisios-May, at the second hour of the day, while the holy apostles
and a great crowd of others saw how he was taken up into the clouds and
the holy angels said, "Men of Galilee, why do you gaze into the heavens?
This is Jesus". (242) The Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, descended on
his holy apostles on Sunday 14th Artemisios-May, at the third hour of
the day, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. He had been
appointed to govern that people by Tiberius Caesar, who had put an end
to the empire of the Jews and had assigned for them the governor whom he
had chosen. Annas and Caiaphas were then high priests of the Jewish
people.
15. Four years after the resurrection and ascension of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, during the reign of Tiberius Caesar - after St Paul
had left Antioch the Great where he had first proclaimed the word
with Barnabas in the street near the Pantheon, known as Singon, and
had gone to Cilicia - Peter came from Jerusalem to Antioch and began to
teach the Word. Having installed himself there as bishop, he was
persuaded by the Christians who had converted from Judaism not. to accept
or cherish the faithful who had been gentiles. He thus ignored them and
left the city. After this St Paul returned to Antioch the Great and
learnt what St Peter had done; he removed the scandal everywhere and
accepted and cherished all equally, exhorting all to the faith, as the
over the world (240.17) LM: Slav adds 'from the sixth hour to the
ninth', cf CP.
of Athens (240.18): Slav adds 'a Hellene'.
Sulla (241.9; corr): 'Sola' Ba,'Solatus' LM, Slav.
tenth hour (241.14) LM: cf 'sixth hour' Slav.
third hour (242.3; corr von S) LM, Slav (var.EL): '13th hour' Ba, 'first
hour' Slav (main tradition).
15. Bo 242.8-22; Slav: Ist 14,4-15.
Singon (242.12) : 'theJaw-bone' Slav (ieE Laychv ) ; see Downey, 1961,
275, note 13.
Having installed himself there as bishop (242.15): cf 'He was
consecrated bishop and installed himself' Slav.
Book 10 129
the third year of his reign, in Antioch of Syria, the supporters of the
Blue faction in that city chanted in the theatre against. the Greens
there, "Time raises up and casts down: the Greens are lechers",
while the consular governor, Petronius, was watching the races. There
followed a great faction riot and disaster fell on the city. For the
Hellenes of Antioch fought with the Jews there in a faction brawl,
killed many Jews (245) and burnt their synagogues. When the priest of
the Jews in Palestine, named Phineas, heard of this, he collected a
large number of Jews and Galileans who were citizens. With about
30,000 of these he came suddenly to the city of Antiochos from the
city of Tiberias and killed many there, for he made a single unexpected
attack with armed men. Then Phineas broke off the attack and returned
to Tiberias. When the emperor Gaius learnt of these events he was
angry with Pontous and Varius, the senators in the city of Antioch; he
sent and confiscated their property, seizing all their wealth, and he
requisitioned the houses in Antioch that belonged to them. These houses
were called "the Imperial Houses" in Antioch in Syria from that time.
The senators themselves were led away in chains, since they neither put
an end to the riot in the city, nor did they resist the priest Phineas
when he, was ravaging the city. Gaius sent. to the city of Tiberias in
Palestine, captured Phineas the priest of the Jews and beheaded him as a
rebel; he also put many Jews and Galileans to deat.h. He put. the head of
the priest Phineas on a pole outside the city of Antioch, on the other
side of the river Orent.es. He sent money and reconstructed the areas of
the city that had been burnt.
21. In that year the emperor Gaius, at the age of 39, was
murdered in (246) the palace by his own the eunuch
cuhieularii, with the complicity of the senate.
22. After the reign of Gaius Caesar, Claudius Caesar Germanicus
AD39 began to reign, during the consulship of Caesianus and Solon. Claudius
Caesar reigned for 14 years and nine months. He was short, sturdy,
with grey eyes, greying hair, fair skin, a long face; he was of
a most calm disposition. He built a city which he called Claudioupolis
after himself. He also built Bretannia, a city near the Ocean. The
and casts down (244.20): 'time casts down' Slav and P. Maas in von S
271, note 28.
lechers (244.21; reading u&XXoL with von S; see Downey, 1961, 193,
note 132): 116XO. Ba (see Bury 1897,226), 'warlike' (=
V&XLIOL ?) Slav,
w±aXo L (?) Bo.
Petronius (244.21; corr): 'Pronoios' Ba; see Downey, 1961, 191,
note 127.
30,000 (245.3): '230,000' Slav.
Gaius learnt (245.8): 'Gaius Caesar learnt'
Slav.
21. Bo 245.22-246.2; CP 432.19-21 (AD40),
De insid 6 (157.5-7); Slav:
Ist. 16.15-18.
at the age of 39 (246.2) CP, De insid:
cf Slav which adds 'and had ruled
3 years and 8 months'.
murdered (245.22): De insid adds 'following
a conspiracy'.
in the palace (246.1): CP, De insid
add 'in Rome', Slav adds 'as he was
washing in the morning'.
22. Bo 246.3-11; LM 435.21; Slav:
Ist 17.1-6, Soph 93.
Caesianus (246.4; corr): 'Casius'
Ba.
BooK IU 131
He replied, "Yes". Then Nero asked Peter, "Is he really Christ?" Peter
replied, "He is not-
, I am his disciple and in my presence he ascended
into heaven". Summoning Pilate Nero asked him about Simon, "Is he the
man whom you handed over to be crucified?" Looking at him closely
Pilate said, "He is not, for this man has long hair and is very fat".
Nero then asked Pilate about. Peter, "Do you recognize this man as a
disciple of his?" He replied, "Yes; for they brought him before me
as a disciple of his and I asked him, and he denied that he was his
disciple, so I let him go". So, on the grounds that Simon was an
imposter in calling himself Christ, which he was not, and that. Peter
too, (255) when examined by Pilate, had denied Christ, Nero gave orders
and both were thrown out of the palace. They remained in Rome working
miracles, in competition with each other. Simon the magus had a great
bull brought in; he spoke a word in its ear and immediately the bull
fell down dead and Simon was applauded. Peter immediately prayed, and,
in the presence of all, made the bull come back to life and the bull was
restored to its master. All praised Peter, saying that to make the dead
live was the greater miracle. They worked many other signs in
competition with each other, which are written in the Acts of the Holy
Apostles.
34. The apostle Peter by his prayer killed Simon the agns who
had decided on an ascension; for Simon said to Peter, "You said that
Christ, your god ascended into heaven; see, I too can ascend". Peter
saw that he was borne up in the air by his magic in the middle of the
city of Rome. Peter prayed, and Simon the m,9gn,: was hurled out of the
air to the ground in the street. and perished. His remains have lain
there where they fell to the present and have a stone balustrade around
them. From that time on the place has been known as the Simonium.
35. When the emperor Nero heard that. Simon had been killed by
Peter, he was angry and ordered Peter to be arrested (266) and put to
death. As soon as St Peter was imprisoned, he handed over the vestments
of the bishopric of Rome to a disciple of his named Linos, for he was
following him when he was arrested. St Peter was an old man, in stature
of average height, with receding short hair, both hair and beard
completely grey, fair but. rather sallow skin, wine-coloured eyes, a
good beard, a long nose, eyebrows that met, upright in posture; he was
sensible, swift to anger, changeable, timorous; he spoke through
the Holy Spirit and was a miracle-worker. The man known as Linos
succeeded Peter, the bishop or patriarch of Rome, as the learned
Eusebios Pamphilou has chronicled.
St. Peter the apostle was martyred, being crucified upside down, for
the apostle had bound the prefect by an oath to this effect, saying,
"Let me not be crucified as my Lord was". St Peter was put. to death
during the consulship of Apronianus and Capito. AD59
seven months (258.9) CP, Sk: cf 'one year and seven months' LM, 'nine
months and 13 days' Slav.
holy apostles (258.11-12): Slav adds 'Peter and Paul'.
49 (258.15): cf '59' Slav, '73' Sk.
42. Bo 258.16-259.3; LM 435.24, CP 460.11-15 (AD69), Sk 29.13-15; Slav:
Ist 25.6-11.
43. Bo 259.4-19; LM 435.25, CP 460.16-17, 461.1-2 (AD69), Sk 29.16;
Slav: Ist 25.11-16, Soph 99.
nine years and eight months (259.5) LM: cf 'eight months and a half'
Slav, 'eight months' Sk; see von S 220-1.
Cyrenius (259.13; corr Dind) CP: 'Kyrenaios' Ba.
44. Bo 259.20-260.4; LM 435.26; Slav: Soph 99, Meshchersky 282,
Capito (259.22; corr): 'Capitianus' Ba.
During his reign... Christians (260.3-4): The consuls referred to are
those of the year 251 and the persecution is that of Decius; see von S
225-6.
138 Hook 10
45. In the 38th year after the ascension of the Saviour Christ,
during the reign of his father Vespasian and during the consulship of
AD78 Commodus and Rufus, Titus captured Judaea and Jerusalem. He ravaged
the temple of the Jews on
Jerusalem and all Palestine, and destroyed its
day, when he captured the city; 1,100,000 souls perished,
festival cut
to pieces by the sword. A further 150,000 youths, both boys and
unmarried girls, he sold into slavery, as the most learned Josephos has
written. Josephos was a Hebrew and was present at the war. Titus
devastated all the provinces of Judaea. The learned Eusebios Pamphilou
has written thus, "The Jews crucified Christ during their festival and
during that same festival, when the Saviour abandoned them, they all
perished". Jerusalem was destroyed three times including this, as the
most learned Eusebios has written.
Titus celebrated a triumph for his victory and went. off to Rome.
Out of the spoils from Judaea Vespasian built in Antioch (261) the
Great, outside the city gate, what. are known as the Cherubim, for he
fixed there the bronze Cherubim, which Titus his son had found fixed to
the temple, of Solomon. When he destroyed the temple, he removed them
from there and brought them to Antioch with the Seraphim, celebrating a
triumph. for the victory over the Jews that, had taken place during his
reign. He set on an upper level a bronze statue in honour of Selene
(the moon) with four bulls facing Jerusalem, for he had captured the
city at night by moonlight. He also built the theatre of Daphne,
inscribing on it, "Ex praeda Iudaea" (From the spoils of Judaea).
The site of the theatre had formerly been a Jewish synagogue but he
destroyed their synagogue to insult them and made it a theatre, setting
up there a marble statue of himself, which stands to the present day,
46. Vespasian also built in Caesarea in Palestine out of the
spoils from Judaea a very large odeon, the size of a large theatre; its
site too had formerly been that of a Jewish synagogue.
He created the province of Second Macedonia, dividing it off from
First Macedonia.
During his reign, on 20th June-Daisios, late in the evening,
Corinth, the metropolis of Hellas, suffered from the wrath of God. He
gave generously to the survivors and the city. He also built many
buildings in the provinces of Pannonia and Commagene. (262) He divided
Europe from Thrace, building the city of Herakleia, formerly known as
Perinthos; he made it into a metropolis and gave it a governor.
He also
built near the theatre in Antioch the Great a temple which he called the
temple of the Winds. He was stricken by illness and became paralysed,
34 years and eight months, as the most learned chronicler Domninos has
written.
52. The most sacred emperor Domitian built a city in Isauria
which he named Domitianoupolis. Domitian grew angry and executed the
famous Asclepion who had said to him, "You will die by violence". A
short time later a plot was made by the senate against Domitian and when
he (267) entered the temple of Zeus to make a sacrifice, he disappeared
and died at the age of 45. Everyone said that he had been taken up from
earth into the sky as a philosopher, but he had been killed, murdered in
the temple of Zeus by the senate, because he had been arrogant and had
insulted them. The senators had the purple cloak which he wore
suspended from a chain belonging to one of the hanging lamps in the
temple. All those who entered the temple were deceived, thinking that
he had been taken up into the sky. It became known later that he had
been murdered and there was a great. uproar, for he had been murdered in
the temple.
53. After the reign of Domitian, Nerva Augustus reigned for one
year and one month. He was of average height, old, with good eyes, a
long nose, a good body, dark skin, greying curly hair, a bushy beard; he
was a good man.
During his reign Diokaisareia, a city in Cilicia, suffered its third
calamity from the wrath of God, as did Nikoupolis and its territory.
The emperor immediately sent there a Roman senator named Zarbos, to
rebuild it, providing him with eight centen rI& When the senator
Zarbos reached Cilicia and saw the destruction, he applied great energy
and reconstructed the city, making many improvements to it. And so the
city was named after him as an indication of the citizens' gratitude to
him. The senator had called the city Nerva, after the emperor Nerva,
(268) but it happened that the emperor died before the city had been
completed, so they renamed it Anazarbos, ordering the notaries to call
it by this name; for the city was originally named Skynta. It
suffered its first calamity in the time of the Roman consuls, and was
reconstructed and renamed the city of Kiskos. It suffered again its
second calamity in the time of Julius Caesar, and was restored and
renamed Diokaisareia. When it suffered in the time of Nerva, as
mentioned above, it was renamed Anazarbos. Zarbos sacrificed a country
girl named Kepara and made a bronze statue of her, as the tyche of the
city. Zarbos informed the emperor of the citizens' plight and the
emperor, being munificent, gave generously to the survivors.
54. Nerva recalled the apostle St John and he returned to Ephesos
from Patmos.
During his reign Manes appeared, preaching, teaching and
their own accord set terms for peace and submission through an embassy
to the Persian emperor. The emperor of the Persians agreed and sent two
, rzamanata., whose names were Fortunus and Gargaris, with a large
Persian force of 3,000 men. As soon as the emperor Trajan reached the
city of the Seleukeians in Syria by fast boat, he wrote in secret to the
Antiochene dignitaries and to all the citizens, announcing his arrival
and saying, "We know that your city contains a large number of its own
men apart from the nuieri of soldiers stationed there. The Persian
enemies who are in your city are few in comparison with your number. So
let each man kill the Persians he has in his own house, taking heart
from our arrival, for we have come to avenge the Roman cause".
4. On hearing this the Antiochenes made an attack at night on the
Persians in their city. They kept themselves awake and killed them all.
Seizing Fortunus and Gargaris, the two Persian generals known as
.Mrz&wnataj, they killed them too and they dragged their corpses
throughout the entire city chanting this slogan about them, (272)
"Look! Fortunus and Gargaris are being dragged along in honour of the
victory of the lord Trajan. Come on! Come on! Gargaris, Fortunus!"
Those Persians who were able to escape while these men were being
dragged .about by the mob slipped out and fled. That night they started
a fire and burnt a small section of the city by the district known as
Skepine. When he heard this, the emperor Trajan praised the bravery of
the citizens of Antioch. The expedition's fleet having arrived from
Seleukeia, they went up to holy Daphne to pray and to sacrifice at the
temple of Apollo. And from Daphne he sent orders to the Antiochenes
that the corpses of the Persians who had been killed were to be removed
from the city; they were to be piled up some distance from the city and
burnt. The whole city was to be purified, and there were to be pyres
made of laurel trees in each quarter and at each gateway of the city,
and much frankincense was to be thrown into the fire of laurel leaves
and they were to beat drums through the whole city to chase out the evil
spirits of the slaughtered Persians; and this was done. The emperor
Trajan arrived from Daphne and entered Antioch in Syria through what is
known as the Golden Gate, that is, the Daphnetic Gate; he wore a crown
of olive twigs on his head. This happened on Thursday 7th Audynaios -
January, at the fourth hour of the day. (273) He ordered the drums to
be beaten every night for a period of 30 days, and he also ordered that
this should be done each year at the same time as a memorial of the
destruction of the Persians. Domninos the chronicler has written this.
5. While the emperor Trajan was spending time in Antioch in
Syria making plans in connection with the war, Tiberianus, the governor
of the people of First Palestine sent him the following message, "To the
victorious Imperator, Caesar, the most sacred Trajan. I have grown
weary punishing and killing the Galileans who belong to the belief of
those known as Christians, in accordance with your decrees. And they
will not stop incriminating themselves in order to be put to death. So
hsrza wtai (271.7; corr von S 43, cf 271.22; see Bury, 1897, 227):
'barzamaratai' Ba.
4. Bo 271.19-273.4.
Seizing Fortunus and Gargaris (271.23): von S 44 proposed to delete
the two names.
5. Bo 273.5-19.
Book 11 145
I have worked very hard, advising them and threatening them not to be so
bold in betraying themselves to me as adherents of the belief mentioned
above. But they will not give up being persecuted. Be pleased
therefore to issue as a decree to me whatever solution presents itself
to Your Triumphant Majesty". Trajan ordered him to stop killing the
Christians. Likewise he gave this order to governors everywhere, not in
the future to kill those known as Christians. And there came about a
small respite for the Christians.
6. Trajan left. Antioch the Great and started war against the
Persians. He conquered them completely in this way. Hearing that there
was a quarrel between Sanatroukios, emperor of the Persians, and his
cousin Parthemaspates, (274) the emperor Trajan sent a message to
Parthemaspates and offered him a bribe, promising to give him the empire
of the Persians if he would become his ally. Parthemaspates accepted
the bribe and came over to Trajan at night. Taking him and his troops
on to his own side, the most sacred Trajan set out against Sanatroukios,
emperor of the Persians. Many Persians fell and he captured
Sanatroukios, emperor of the Persians, as he fled, and put him to death.
Trajan made the man named Parthemaspates, the son of Osdroes, emperor of
the Persians in his place, in accordance with the agreements, and those
Persians who survived prostrated themselves before him. Trajan wrote to
the senate at Rome, "This country is so immeasurably vast and separated
from Rome by such an incalculable distance that we cannot administer it,
but let us grant them an emperor subject to the Roman power". The
senate wrote back to him from Rome to do whatever he wished and
considered to be in the interests of the Roman empire. Parthemaspates
reigned over the Persians. The most learned Arrian the chronicler
composed an account of the war and of the most sacred Trajan's victory
over the Persians; he investigated this and wrote it all down
accurately.
7. The emperor also made Amida a metropolis, and designated
Mesopotamia a province, dividing it off from Osrhoene and giving it a
governor and the status of a metropolis. He also (275) created another
province by the Danube river, which he called Dacia Ripensis.
8. During the reign of the most sacred Trajan, Antioch the Great
near Daphne suffered its third calamity, on Sunday 13th
Apellaios-December, just after cock-crow in the year 164 according to AD1 15
the calendar of the Antiochenes, two years after the arrival of the most
sacred emperor Trajan in the East. The surviving Antiochenes who
remained then built a temple in Daphne on which they inscribed, "Those
who were saved erected this to Zeus the Saviour".
On the same night that Antioch the Great suffered, the island city
of Rhodes, which was part of the Hexapolis, suffered its second calamity
from the wrath of God.
9. The most pious Trajan erected buildings in Antioch the Great,
beginning first with the building known as the Middle Gate near the
temple of Ares where the Parmenios torrent flows down, very close to
6. Bo 273.20-274.19.
7. Bo 274.20-275.2.
8. Bo 275.3-13; JN 72.12-13.
Apellaios (275.5; corr Chil): 'Aprilleos' Ba.
9. Bo 275.13-276.10.
146 Book 11
trieterica Baccho
org/a nocturnusqup vocat clawore Cithaeron
which means in the Greek language, "Every third year when Dionysos
calls aloud in the night the festival of the Orgies on the mountain of
Kithairon".
4. The emperor set aside a specific sum to pay for the kynegl.?
which were to be celebrated in every period of four years as follows;
they were to be held for 42 months till the cessation of slaughter and
were then to be suspended for the remaining six months for the
collection of the wild beasts for the festival in honour of Ares and
Artemis.
5. Immediately after that the first Syriarch was nominated; he
was Artabanes, an official appointed by the landowners and the whole
people.
6. He set aside the remaining funds to pay for mimes, (286)
dancers and the other entertainments which are provided in public
festivals. And from that time the necessary funds to enable the city of
the Antiochenes to put on the spectacles mentioned above were provided
in full from the public treasury in a proper manner. And the
Antiochenes set up a bronze statue to the emperor Commodus in the centre
of their city.
So during his reign the Olympic festival was celebrated for the
first time by the Syrian Antiochenes, in accordance with his sacred
AD211/2 command mentioned above in the year 260 according to the era of the
Syrian Antiochenes; it was held in the Xystos which he had built. The
Antiochenes had bought the Olympic festival from the Pisaians of Hellas
for 90 periods of the Olympic contests, that is, for 360 years, by an
unwritten agreement.
7. An alytarch too was created in Antioch by the same sacred
command, the first appointment being Afranius, the ex-prefect and a
citizen of Antioch. He wore the costume of the alytarch and was
honoured during his period in office and received obeisance as if he
were Zeus himself. He did not enter a house or lie down on a bed during
this period, but slept in the open courtyard on the ground on top of
stones with clean bedding, and a rush mat. He wore a robe as white as
snow and interwoven with gold, a crown of rubies, pearls and other
precious stones. He held an ebony sceptre and wore white sandals on his
(287) feet. During these days he would sleep in the open courtyard of
the basilica known as the Kaisarion, which had been built. by Caesar
Julius the dictator. The statue of Caesar which was outside the Conch
of the basilica stood there. The Kaisarion was opposite the temple of
Ares at what is known as the Macellum, because that. is the only place
where pig-meat is butchered, near the temple of Ares.
8. The secretary was appointed for the first time by the council
and the people; he was named Pompeianus Quaestor and was from a
senatorial Roman family. He too wore a white robe and a solid gold
crown in the form of laurel leaves. They honoured and made obeisance to
him, they say, like some Apollo.
9. The council and people also appointed as amphithales a man
named Cassius Illustris, who wore equally a white robe of pure silk and
a crown woven from laurel leaves with a gold bust of Zeus in the middle.
They honoured and made obeisance to this amphithales as Hermes,
according to the learned Domninos, the chronicler, who has written about
all these arrangements.
10. Young people of noble birth from every city and country
district would come to the sacred contest of the Olympic festival to
compete under a vow, and they matched themselves against each other.
They conducted themselves chastely and with great moderation, and
received no gain from any source. For they were rich and had their own
slaves as attendants, (288) each according to his wealth. Many of them
were girls. They used to bring much gold from their native city. But.
they competed because of their oath and their vow and in order to win
glory in their own city. So they came in a competitive spirit and with
a formidable reputation. Some wrestled, some ran, some played the
trumpet, some took part in the rxwnkrition, others fought in boxing
matches wearing box-wood finger-guards, others drove chariots with young
horses, while others sang songs from tragedy. There were also virgin
girls who practised philosophy and who were present under a vow of
chastity, competing, wrestling in leggings, running, declaiming and
reciting various Hellenic hymns. These women fought against women and
the competition was fierce whether in the wrestling, the races or the
recitation. Anyone among them, as they say, whether a woman or a young
man, who was crowned as victor amid the acclamations of the holy
populace would remain chaste till the end of his life, for immediately
after the contest he would be ordained and become a priest. Equally the
philosopher virgins who were crowned would become priestesses after the
contest. Then they would all depart from there. Those who were owners
of landed property did not pay taxes, but the victor's property remained
exempt from tax from the moment of his victory but only for his (289)
lifetime. If he also owned workshops, the workshops that the competitor
possessed remained immune from obligations for his lifetime only. So
many came to compete that their numbers were unparalleled, but however
many happened to arrive under a vow, whether young men or virgin girls,
they were all allowed to take part in the spectacle. Sometimes a great
number came, and at other times they did not, depending on the seasons
and the sea winds.
11. During the reign of Commodus, Nikomedeia, the metropolis of
Bithynia, suffered from the wrath of God. This was her third calamity
and it extended to Moudoupolis and the river Sangaris and surrounding
8. Bo 287.8-12.
9. Bo 287.13-18.
10. Bo 287.19-289.7; Slav; Soph 105.
11. Bo 289.8-12.
154 Book 12
Septimius began to reign. He was elected by the Roman senate during the
consulship of Falco and Clarus. He reigned for 17 years and nine AD193
months. He was of medium height, slender, with a good chest, a long
nose, good eyes, dark skin, completely grey curly hair, a large beard
and crippled feet. He was magnanimous and prone to anger.
19. During his reign the senator Albinus rebelled. The army,
which had been sent by the previous emperor Didius to fight against the
Gepids, proclaimed Albinus emperor, overruling the senate. Severus
pursued him into Thrace, captured him and put him to death.
20. When Severus came to Byzantion and found that the situation
of the city was good, he restored Byzoupolis and built a public
Bath known as the Zeuxippon because a bronze statue of Helios (the
sun) stood there in the middle of the Tetrastoon. On its base was
inscribed the mystic name of the sun, "To the horse-yoking
god", for that is-what the Thracians called the sun. So the people of
the city of Byzas used to call the public bath Zeuxippon after the
original (292) name of the place, and they no longer used the name
Severium which the emperor had given it after himself. The emperor
Severus added the public bath, which he built, to the Tetrastoon,
in the middle of which stood the statue of Helios. In turn he built a
shrine or temple to Helios on the Acropolis of the city of Byzoupolis,
near to the other two temples there that had been built. formerly, one by
Byzas to Artemis with her deer, the other by Phidalia to Aphrodite.
Severus moved the statue of Helios from the Tetrastoon and placed it
above the temple, and he also built a very large kynegion opposite the
temple of Artemis and a theatre opposite the temple of Aphrodite. The
most sacred Severus set up the hippodrome in Byzantion; after
purchasing buildings and removing trees which were in the garden
there, he constructed the hippodrome for the Byzantines, but he was not
able to complete this. Severus also reconstructed what is known as the
Strategion, which had been built formerly by Alexander of Macedon when
he campaigned against Dareios. He had named the place Strategion
because it was after practising his generalship there that he set off
across the Bosphoros against the Persians.
public bath there in the level area of the city. When they finished the
bath they named it, because of mutual jealousy, the Livianium after the
woman who had sold the site. Severus set off for another war and died
in barbarian territory in the West, at the age of 65.
23. After the reign of Severus, Antoninus Getas reigned for one
year. He was short with a broad face, an upturned nose, slightly bald
with greying hair, a large belly, a large mouth, white skin and small
eyes. The army killed him, and he died at the age of 51.
24. After the reign of Antoninus Getas, Antoninus Caracallus, son
of Severus, reigned for six years and 22 days. He was of a good height,
strong, with a good colour, a crooked nose, a bushy beard, and greying
curly hair. He was loved by all the people of Rome and favoured the
Green faction.
25. ...he was murdered in the palace as he was setting out for the
temple, at the age of 47.
'The Augustus Alexander was murdered by the army, when he was in the
tent in Mainz, at the age of 30. They strangled his mother Mamaea, who
was with him, with a rope inside the tent' CP 500.11-14.
Sk begins with an encomium on Alexander's (and Mamaea's) good
government: but the style of Malalas only becomes evident. in the passage
translated here. The CP narrative of his death (omitted by De insid) is
strongly marked by Malalas' style.
v Maximinus
'Maximinus (cf 'Maximus' LM) Augustus ruled for 3 years (LM adds 'and 10
months'), having been proclaimed by the army' CP 500.15-16 (cf LM
436.6).
'The senate of Rome came to dislike Maximinus, the persecutor of
Christians, and they made threats against the soldiers who had made him
emperor (cf Sk 35.23). So when a riot occurred among the populace
because of a food shortage, the inhabitants of the city of Rome attacked
the emperor Maximinus in the palace. His son Pulcherianus made a sortie
against them, fully armed and with a contingent of troops, but was
killed by the city mob. The troops who were with him were terrified of
the huge mass of the citizens of Rome, so they abandoned him and fled,
leaving him to be seized on his own. Maximinus left the palace and went
off to Aquileia, angry with the inhabitants of the city and with the
army for their betrayal of his son. The soldiers seized an opportunity
and attacked him. He was killed there at the age of 75 (cf CP 501.2-3)'
De insid 16 (159.5-17).
This version of events is idiosyncratic, and it is hard to combine
others with it - especially Sk 35.19-36.11 (on which, see Patzig, 1896,
39).
vi Balbinus
'Balbinus reigned for 3 months and was murdered' CP 501.3-4, cf Sk
36.10-11 and '...for 1 year and 3 months' LM 436.7 (von S 361 deletes
'1 year and').
'A plot. was made against Albinus ('Galbinus' Sk) in the palace and he
was murdered by his own relative at the age of 60' De insid 17
(159.19-20), cf Sk 36.13.
vii. Pupienus (Pompeianus)
'Pulpius reigned for 3 months' LM 436.8, 'Puplius reigned for 100 days'
CP 501.5, 'Pompianos, 2 months and he too was murdered. Pouplios
Galbinus 3 months, and he was murdered' Sk 36.12-13. 'Pompeianus too set
out to war and was murdered in Parthia at the age of 52' De insid 18
(159.20-21).
Confusion of names has caused duplication in Sk, and perhaps in Malalas;
see Patzig, 1896, 41. The De insid passage links 'Pompeianus' to
Gordian III, whose death was caused on a Parthian campaign, though he
was much younger than 52.
viii Gordian I
'The aged emperor Gordian arrived from Libya. He reigned for 22 days
only' Sk 36.14-16, cf LM 436.9 and 'Gordian Senior reigned for 6 years'
CP 501.6 (cf Gordian III).
'The Augustus Gordian formed the nu erus of those called Gann'Ic/at.1,
enrolling them selectively as being full-grown, strong and of imposing
appearance, from the regiment known as the schoJarY , He called the
schola of the nuinerus Seniores after himself. These are the troops of
160
Book 12
emperor of the Saracen barbarians, who controlled the land of Arabia and
took the side of the Romans. He had a wife named Zenobia, a Saracen
empress. Enathos, emperor of the Saracens, destroyed all the Persian
troops in Sapor's force, as the learned chronicler Domninos has stated.
The most learned Philostratos has written a different account of events
concerning Sapor, emperor of the Persians, saying that he also captured
the whole of Syria and burnt down many other cities as well as Antioch
the Great, and that likewise he also took Cilicia and burnt Alexandria
Minor ana lthossos ana enazarnus aiiu Algae ana Nikopolis and many other
cities in Cilicia, and that he passed through Cappadocia into Persian
territory and that Enathos, emperor of the Saracens, came to meet him to
become, he said, an ally of his and then killed him. Domninos' record
is the truer; he said that he sent his satrap Spates to Cilicia with an
army.
The emperor Valerian had left. Rome and had set off to fight at
Milan. Events in the East were reported to him and he (298) wanted to
turn back and set out for the East, but he was unable to do so because
he was surrounded and killed there at Milan, at the age of 61.
27. After the reign of Valerian, Gallienus Licinianus reigned for
14 years. He was well grown in stature and valiant, with a dark skin,
curly hair, a bushy beard, a good nose, and large eyes; he was
magnanimous and he favoured the Blue faction.
As soon as he began to reign, he began a campaign against the
Persians and went to avenge the Romans. He gave generously to those who
had been plundered and survived, and he restored what had been burnt
down and remitted taxes for four years. He also built a great temple in
Emesa. He joined battle with the Persians and, after many on both sides
had fallen, he made a peace treaty. From there he turned back and went
to Arabia, and joined battle with Enathos, emperor of the Saracen
barbarians, and killed him and seized Arabia. He returned to Rome,
where he died stricken with illness, at. the age of 50.
28. After the reign of Gallienus Licinianus, Claudius Apollianus
reigned for nine years. He was of medium height, fair-skinned with a
big paunch, straight hair, a broad face, a slightly upturned nose,
greyish eyes, fairish hair, a twisted mouth and a slight lisp; he was
magnanimous and he supported the Green faction.
During his reign Nikomedeia, the metropolis (299) of Bithynia,
suffered its fourth calamity from the wrath of God as far as the rivers
and Dacibyza. He gave generously to the survivors and the city.
In that year Zenobia the Saracen, the wife of Enathos, avenged the
death of her husband. She gathered his relatives and captured Arabia,
which was at that time in Roman possession. She killed the durof the
Romans, Trassus, and all the troops with him in the reign of Apollianus
Claudius. The emperor Claudius was campaigning in Sirmium, and he died
there at the age of 56.
29. After the reign of Apollianus Claudius, Quintilian reigned
for 17 days. He was of medium height, slender, with a long face, a long
the whole of Syria (297.12): 'Syria' Bo; see Bury, 1897, 227.
27. Bo 298.3-16; LM 436.19.
Licinianus (298.3): cf 'Licinius' LM.
28. Bo 298.17-299.10; LM 436.20, CP 508.8, Sk 39.2.
29. Bo 299.11-16; LM 436,21.
164 Book 12
nose, dark skin, straight hair, good eyes and both his hair and beard
were grizzled. He died in the palace at the age of 41, for he was sick
when of dire necessity he was proclaimed emperor.
30. After the reign of Quintilian, the most sacred Aire.lian, the
warrior, reigned for six years. He was tall, slender, slightly bald,
with small eyes and completely grey hair; he was magnanimous and quick
moving. He wore a diadem decorated with a star.
As soon as he began to reign, he started to rebuild the walls of
Rome to make them strong, for they had been ravaged by time. He himself
directed the work and forced the guilds of Rome to undertake the
construction. He completed the walls in a very short (300) time, and he
issued his sacred command that from that time onward the workmen of the
whole city should be called Aureliani, taking the title from the name of
the emperor as an honour for their hard work.
After receiving a dispatch Aurelian began a campaign against
Zenobia, empress of the Saracens, and set out for the East. It was
reported about her that she had plundered and burned the eastern regions
up to the boundaries of Antioch the Great and that she had set up camp
near the river Orontes. As soon as the emperor Aurelian reached
Antioch,. he immediately set out, just as he was, to march against her.
When they joined battle he cut down the entire mass of her troops. He
captured Zenobia herself, set her on a dromedary and paraded her through
all the districts of the East and brought her also to Antioch the Great.
After he had watched the chariot-racing there, he brought. her in on a
dromedary. He built a structure in Antioch and placed her on top of it
in chains for three days; he called the structure he built "Triumph".
He took her down from there and led her off to Rome as empress of the
barbarian Saracens. After parading her in his triumph in Rome in the
old manner, he beheaded her.
The emperor Aurelian also made Arabia into a province under Roman
control. It had been in the possession of barbarian Saracens, relatives
of Enathos the Saracen, all of whom Aurelian killed.
(301) When he was on the point of leaving Antioch the Great, those
known as the nonetari.i of Antioch rioted before him, chanting for some
customary rights. He was angry with them and punished them.
Aurelian also created the province of Dacia Ripensis; it was
situated near the river Danube. Aurelian began another war. He was
treacherously murdered by his army at a place known as New Fort., on the
grounds that he had commanded the army badly. He died at the age of 61.
31. After the reign of Aurelian, Tacitus Augustus reigned for
seven months. He was of medium height, slender, slightly bald and
eloquent, with short, completely grey hair and a delicate nose; he was
sensible.
of Christians.
During his reign there was a great persecution Among
them St George the Cappadocian and St Babylas were martyred; the latter
was the bishop of Antioch the Great. The emperor Numerian arrived
there as he was setting out to fight the Persians. Wishing to observe
the sacred mysteries of the Christians, he resolved to go into the holy
church where the Christians used to gather to see what the mysteries
were which they were performing, because he had heard that the Galileans
performed their liturgies in secret. When he drew near he was suddenly
met by St Babylas, who stopped him, saying to him, "You are still
contaminated by the sacrifices you have made to idols and I will not
allow you to see the mysteries of the living God". The emperor Numerian
was angry with him and put him to death immediately.
Then he left Antioch and began a campaign against the Persians.
When he joined battle, the Persians attacked him (304) and destroyed the
larger part of his force, and he fled to the city of Carrhae. The
Persians besieged him, took him prisoner and killed him immediately.
Then they flayed his skin and made it into a bag, which they pickled
with myrrh and kept for their own glory; the remainder of his troops
they butchered. The emperor Numerian died at the age of 36.
36. After the reign of Numerian, Carinus Augustus, his brother,
reigned for two years. He was short, fat, with a broad face, fair skin,
curly receding hair and a thin beard; he was magnanimous. He favoured
the Green faction,
As soon as he began to reign he began a campaign against the
Persians to avenge his brother Numerian, and he overcame them
completely.
During his reign the saints Kosmas and Damian were killed in the
following manner, because they were envied by their superintendent.
They were doctors by training and were highly favoured by the emperor
Carinus because they worked cures; for this is what had happened to the
emperor Carinus. After he had gained the upper hand in a battle with
the Persians and had cut down an enormous number of them, a very harsh
winter set in and the Persians asked for three months' truce. Because
of the harshness of the winter he spared his own army, because of their
exhaustion, and he granted the request for peace for three months.
Taking his own forces he went to the region known as Kyrrhestike, (305)
wishing to rest his army and to have the wounded treated. He arrived in
Kyrrhestike in winter and was staying there, dealing with the business
of the war, when it suddenly happened that his face was twisted
backwards. The many doctors in attendance on the emperor were not able
to help him at all, so the doctors of the region were summoned to the
emperor, because they knew the airs of their own region. Amongst these
was the superintendent of the saints Kosmas and Damian who came to the
emperor, and the saints came with him. When the doctors were unable to
help the emperor Carinus, the saints Kosmas and Damian had a secret
the manufacture of weapons for the army, and he built arms factories in
Edessa too to supply weapons for local use. Equally he built arms
factories at Damascus, bearing in mind (308) the incursions of the
Saracens. He also built in Antioch a mint so that coins might be struck
there, for the mint had been destroyed by an earthquake and was now
reconstructed. He also built a bath, which he called the Senatorial,
and likewise three other baths.
39. The Caesar Maximian set out against the Persians, defeated
them completely and returned to Antioch, bringing as a captive the wife
of the emperor of the Persians, for the Persian leaders had fled with a
few men to the Indian Ilmes because their army had been destroyed. The
empress of the Persians, Arsane, lived under guard, though with honour,
in Daphne for some time at the command of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
Later, when peace treaties had been made, she was restored to the
Persians and her husband, after honourable captivity.
40. In that year gifts were distributed by the emperor to the
whole Roman state in celebration of the victory.
Diocletian also built fortresses on the l.ime..s from Egypt to the
Persian borders and stationed limitanei in them, and he appointed daces
for each province to be stationed further back from the fortresses with
a large force to ensure their security. They put up statues to the
emperor and the Caesar on the limes of Syria.
41. In that year the Egyptians rebelled and killed their governors.
The emperor Diocletian began a campaign against them (309) and made an
attack on Alexandria the Great. He besieged it, dug trenches and
cut and destroyed the aqueduct which came from the place known
as Canopus and supplied the city. He captured Alexandria and burnt
it. He made his entrance into the city on horseback with his
horse trampling on the corpses, for he had ordered his army not to stop
their slaughter until the blood of the slain came up to the knees of the
horse on which he was mounted. It happened at God's command that, near
the gate where he had entered, the horse on which the emperor was
mounted trod on a man's corpse and stumbled and knelt on it so that the
horse's knee was bloodied. The emperor noticed this and granted a
pardon, and the soldiers stopped cutting down the citizens of
Alexandria. The Alexandrians erected a bronze statue to the horse in
thanksgiving. This place is called to this day Diocletian's Horse.
From that time the year was designated as the first year of the era of
Alexandria, Thus the calendar of Egyptian Alexandria dates from that
year.
42. During his reign there appeared in the city of Rome a
Manichean named Boundos. He broke away from the Manicheans' belief and
introduced his own belief, teaching that the good god had made war on
the evil one and had conquered him, and that it was necessary to honour
the victor. He also went and taught in Persia. (310) This Manichean
belief, is called by the Persians "that of the Daristhenoi" in their own
language, which means "that of the good one".
39. Bo 308.6-14.
40. Bo 308.15-22.
41. Bo 308.23-309.18.
which came (309.3; adding C vta with von S 74): om Ba.
42. Bo 309.19-310.2.
Book 12 169
43. Bo 310.3-6.
44. Bo 310.7-311.2.
Domninos (310.18-19; corr): 'Dometianos' Ba.
45. Bo 311.3-11; LM 436.30.
Naximian...ruled for 19 years (311.4): c£ 'Diocletian and Maximian ruled
for 19 years' LM, listed after Licinianus (cf Bo 314.9).
46. Bo 311.12-312.6.
170 Book 12
47. After Maximian had laid aside the empire, Maxentius Galerius
reigned for three years. He was short and broad with curly hair,
fair-skinned with a good beard, a slight squint and an upturned nose;
he was irascible and favoured the Blue faction.
During his reign lamblichos the philosopher taught, and lived in
Daphne until his death.
In that year the Persians became allies of the Armenians, and
together they made war on the Romans, invading their territories and
plundering them. Maxentius began a campaign against them and made war
on the Persians, He marched out against them through Armenia and
destroyed them. He detached territories from Persarmenia and put them
under Roman rule, calling them First and Second Armenia, the Roman
provinces. While Maxentius was in Persarmenia, the Persians invaded
Osrhoene. They captured a city, burnt and destroyed it, and taking much
plunder made a quick retreat. The city captured by them was called
Maximianoupolis. The emperor (313) Maxentius restored it and also built
its walls. He gave many generous gifts to the survivors and remitted
their taxes for three years. On returning to Rome he was
murdered, at
the age of 53.
48. After the reign of Maxentius, Constantius Chlorus reigned for
13 years, He was tall, slender with greying hair, body and eyes both a
good colour, a good nose, a thin beard; he was peaceable and
magnanimous.
In his reign the city of Salamias in Cyprus suffered
from the wrath
of God, and the greater part of the city was plunged
into the sea by an
earthquake, The remainder was levelled to the ground.
restored it, gave many extremely generous
Constantius
gifts, undertook buildings and
remitted taxes from the surviving
citizens for four years. As he
provided a variety of buildings for
what was previously known as
Salamias, it had its name changed from that time
to Constantia. It. is
now the metropolis of Cyprus.
In his reign he sent out Maximus,
also known as Licinianus, with a
large army to guard the regions of
the East against the Persians and the
Saracen raids, for they had formerly
been causing trouble in the East as
far as Egypt,
it happened in that year that
the emperor Constantius died after an
illness of 40 days. He was 60 years old.
49. After the reign of Constantius,
the army in the East (314)
proclaimed Maximus Licinianus
emperor. He left Festianus as exarch in
the East with forces to guard the
East and he set out for Rome.
was on the point of leaving Antioch When he
he watched chariot races,
people of the city insulted him and the
because he had not. given generously
the city although he had been proclaimed to
emperor there. He became angry
and ordered troops out against
them. The soldiers shot at them
hippodrome, and 2,000 perished. in the
The emperor Maximus went
reigned for seven years. to Rome and
He had a good chest,
well-knit, had a bushy beard, good black hair, was
eyes and a crooked nose;
keen soldier, irascible, and a good administrator, he was a
1. (316) After the reign of Maximus Licinius, the most sacred and
faithful Constantine the Great, the son of Constantius Chlorus, began to
reign eight days before the Kalends of August during the consulship of
07 Severus and Maximianus. His reign lasted for 32 years. He was tall,
ruddy, magnanimous, peaceable and dear to God.
2. In the time of his reign a great war broke out in the West.
The most, sacred Constantine went out against the barbarians, but was
defeated and encircled by them. In his distress, when he was on the
point of sleep, he prayed that he might be rescued from them. Overcome
by sleep he saw in a dream a cross in the sky on which was inscribed,
"In this, conquer". After reading the inscription on the cross, he
awoke. He got up and made a standard (317) showing the cross, just as
he had seen it in the sky, and had it carried before him. After urging
on his army, saying, "Victory is ours", he set out and joined battle
with the barbarians. He won the battle so completely that none of the
barbarians survived but all perished. He returned to Rome victorious
amidst great joy, with the standard of the cross carried before him. He
explained to everyone the meaning of the vision and of the standard of
the cross, saying, "This is the sign of the God of the Galileans who are
known as Christians". Immediately he destroyed the temples and all the
shrines of the Hellenes and opened up the Christian churches, sending
imperial edicts everywhere that the churches of the Christians should be
opened. After fasting and having taken instruction, he was baptised by
Silvester, bishop of Rome - he himself and his mother Helena and all his
relatives and his friends and a whole host of other Romans. And so the
emperor Constantine became a Christian,
3. He began a campaign against the Persians, was victorious and
made a peace treaty with Sapor, the emperor of the Persians. It was
the Persians who asked to have peace with the Romans.
The emperor Constantine (318) also created the province of
Euphratesia., dividing it off from Syria and Osrhoene and granting the
status of a metropolis to Hierapolis.
On his return he came to Antioch the Great and built there the Great
Church, a very large undertaking, after demolishing the public bath
known as that of the emperor Philip, for the bath was old and ruined by
time and unfit for bathing. He also built a hospice nearby. Likewise
he built the basilica known as that of Rufinus; this had been a temple
of Hermes which had been demolished by Rufinus, the prefect of the
sacred praetorians. He had set out with the emperor on the campaign but
1. Bo 316.1-5; LM 436.31.
2. Bo 316.6-317.16; JN 77,52-3, 60.
3. Bo 317.17-318.22; JN 77.61.
Sapor (317.18): written as 'Sarabaros' Ba.
Book 13 173
4. Bo 318.23-319.13.
Julius (319.1;): written as 'Illus' Ba.
5. Bo 319.14-18; JN 77.63.
6. Bo 319.19-20.
7. Bo 319.20-321.5; CP 527.18-528.18 (AD328), 493.18-494.12 (AD197),
C 193.6-7, GM 499.15-18, 500.4-9.
Gallicanus (319.21; corr Chil) CP: 'Gallianus' Ba.
The emperor Constantine (319.22): 'The glorious emperor Constantine' CP.
made a lengthy procawus...Byzantion (319.22-3): 'went from Rome and
stayed in Nikomedeia, the metropolis of Bithynia, and made a lengthy
ru-nceaus at Byzantion' CP.
the earlier city wall, that of Byzas (319.23-320.1): 'the earlier wall
of the city of Byzas' Bo, CP; see Bury, 1897, 228.
174
Book 13
constructed many buildings in the trading alive, the story continues, she
settlement, and she also set
up there a tyche., which she called
Keroe' CP; CP 493.18-494.12 is
more easily integrated into the text
around this point than at
Bo 291.15.
down to the sea (321.4): 'from sea to
sea, which is now the old wall
of Constantinople, that is,
from the district called Petrion
of St Aimilianos, near the area to the gate
called Rhabdos' CP.
and ruled in the city (321.5): 'It
lay at the point which
called the Nikai, near the Kilikes. is now
He gave the place the status
city' CP. of a
8. Bo 321.6-322.16; CP 528.19-529.7 (AD328),
18-530.11 (AD330).
basilica (321.9): CP adds 'with an apse'.
Book 13 175
When he had finished ...race-meeting (321.16-17): 'In the year 301 after
the Lord's Assumption into heaven, and the 25th year of his reign,
the most pious Constantine, father of the Augustus Constantine the
Younger and of Constantius and Constans, the Caesars, built a great,
glorious and blessed city, honouring it with a senate. On the fifth day
before the Ides of March, on the second day of the week, third
indiction, he named it Constantinople, proclaiming that the city
formerly called Byzantion was to be known as Second Rome' CP 529.11-18,
but probably not derived from Malalas.
Regia and the palace (322,5):' Regia of the palace' CP; see Downey,
1961, 394.
candles (322.11): 'white candles' CP.
the carriage (322.11) CP: 'the detachment (?)' Ba, reading Oxnua CP
foraxnua Ba, cf &pna Preger 42.8 (=173.1), 196.9.
the pit (322.12): reading art&ua 'the arena', 'the pit' for ox&ua Ba,
ox&upa CP; cf Preger 42.11 (=173.3), 143.15, 196.10. The assumption of
textual corruption seems more likely than that adopted by Guilland,
1969, 452, that both words were current. Greek for the same area of the
hippodrome.
make obeisance as he gazed at this statue (322.14): cf 'make obeisance
to the statues' CP.
9. Bo 322.17-323.2.
he called the loaves "politikoi" (civil) (323.1-2): Dagron, 1974, 533,
note 5 proposes, probably correctly, that the confusion between
176
Book 13
was emperor at Rome. His father made him emperor of Rome in his own
lifetime during the consulship of Ursus and Polemius. AD328
(325) The emperor Constantine the Younger reigned in Rome for 12
years. After the death of his father he went on a prose .sus, but he was
murdered in Mothone by his brother's men at the age of 20.
16. After the reign of Constantine the Younger, his brother
Constans reigned in Rome for 16 years. He was stricken with dysentery
and died, at the age of 27.
17. After the reign of Constantine the Great, his younger son
Constantius reigned in Constantinople for 30 years. He was magnanimous
and an Exakionite, that is, an Arian.
During his reign the Persians, that is, their emperor Sapor, broke
the peace. Constantius began a campaign against them, and appointed as
Caesar his relative Julian.
When he came to Antioch the Great he completed the Great Church and
inscribed on it the following, (326)
"For Christ Constantine wrought these beautiful
dwellings in all ways like the vaults of heaven,
brightly gleaming, with Constantius obeying the
commands of the ruler; the comes Gorgonios
carried out the function of cublcularius":
Advancing to Persian territory, he made a peace treaty with the Persians
for a certain period, after many on both sides had fallen in the battle.
He returned and performed the dedication of the Great Church in Antioch.
Then Constantius left Antioch, on his way back to Constantinople, and
reached Cilicia. He built there the bridge over the river Pyramos, a
very great work. He came to Mopsuestia, a city in Cilicia, and fell ill
and died there, at the age of 40.
18. After the reign of Constantius, his relative Julian the
Apostate, who had previously been appointed Caesar, began to reign
during the consulship of Mamertinus and Nevitta. He reigned for seven AD362
years, and was an eloquent man. He was called the Apostate because
21. As the emperor Julian was marching out against Sapor, emperor
of the Persians, he arrived at Hierapolis. He sent (329) and had
boats built at Samosata, a city in Euphratesia, some made of wood
and some made of skins, as the very learned chronicler Magnus of
Carrhae, who accompanied the emperor Julian, wrote. Leaving Hierapolis,
he came to the city of Carrhae, and there he found two routes, one
leading to the city of Nisibis, which once belonged to the Romans, and
the other to the Roman fortress known as Kirkesion, lying between the
two rivers Euphrates and Abboras. This had been built by Diocletian,
emperor of the Romans.
The emperor divided his army and sent 16,000 legionaries to Nisibis
under two exarchs, Sebastianus and Prokopios. Julian himself reached
the fortress at Kirkesion. Leaving behind in the fortress at Kirkesion
the 6,000 soldiers whom he found stationed there, he added to them 4,000
other legionaries with two exarchs Accameus and Maurus. He went on from
there and crossed the river Abboras by means of the bridge, since the
boats had arrived on the river Euphrates. The number of these was
1,250. He assembled his army, having with him the maq ster Anatolius,
Salutius the praetorian prefect and his inagistri milituun. He mounted a
raised platform and addressed the army in person, praising them and
urging them to fight the Persians enthusiastically and with discipline.
(330) The emperor commanded them to embark immediately on the boats,
and he went on board the boat prepared for him and ordered the advance
scouts to go ahead of them, 1,500 valiant men from the numerus of the
Lanciarii and Mattiarii. He ordered his standards to be raised, and the
comes Lucianus, a most warlike man, to accompany him. Lucianus
destroyed many Persian fortresses lying along the Euphrates and on
islands in the middle of the water, and killed the Persians who were in
them. Julian instructed Victor and Dagalaifus to be behind the rest of
the boats and to guard the main body.
The emperor departed with all his army by means of the great canal
of the Euphrates, which connects with the river Tigris. He came to the
river Tigris itself,'where the two rivers meet and form a great marsh.
He entered the Persian territory in the land of those known as the
Mauzanites, near the city of Ktesiphon where the Persian court resided.
The emperor Julian was victorious and camped on the plain of the city
of Ktesiphon, desiring with the support of his senate to go on as far as
Babylon and take control of affairs there.
22. The emperor Sapor, suspecting that the Roman emperor Julian
was marching by way of Nisibis, set out against him with his entire
force. When he was informed that (331) the Roman emperor Julian was at
his rear taking over Persian territory, and that in front he was
confronted by the Roman generals and large forces, he realised that he
was surrounded and fled into Persarmenia. As a trick he slit the noses
of two of his senators at their own request, and sent them to Julian,
the Roman emperor, to lead him astray, so as to prevent his own close
pursuit and capture. The Persians with their slit noses came to the
Roman emperor, saying that they wished to betray the emperor of the
Persians, as he had punished them. Deceived by the oaths which they
swore, the emperor Julian followed them with his army. They diverted
him into a waterless desert for 150 miles, leading the army astray, on
25th Daisios-June. Finding there the ancient ruined walls of a city
known as Boubion, and another place which was called Asia, with its
buildings still standing though it was deserted, the emperor Julian and
all the Roman army went and camped there. But when they were in this
area they lacked food, and there was not even any fodder for the
animals, for it was a desert. The whole Roman army realised that the
emperor had been deceived and had led them astray and had brought them
into desert regions, and they became extremely mutinous. On the
following day, 26th June, the emperor took the Persians who had misled
him and questioned them. They confessed, saying, "For the sake of our
country and the safety of our emperor we have condemned ourselves to
death (332) and led you astray. Behold your slaves, ready for death".
Julian accepted their confession and did not kill them but gave them his
assurance, provided they got the army out of the desert region.
23. About the second hour of that day the emperor Julian, while
moving among the army and urging them not to behave in an undisciplined
way, was mysteriously wounded. He went into his tent and died during
the night, as Magnus, whom we referred to above, stated. But the
Cappadocian chronicler Eutychianos, a soldier and vicarius of his
nunmerus, the Primoarmeniaci, also took part in the war himself, and he
wrote that the emperor Julian went into Persian territory for a distance
of 15 days' march, entering via the Euphrates, had been victorious, and
had defeated all his opponents, and occupied the country as far as the
city known as Ktesiphon, where the Persian emperor had his court. The
emperor fled towards the region of Persarmenia. Julian wanted to set
off the next day with his senate and army as far as Babylon, and to
capture it during the night. While he slept, he saw in a dream a full-
grown man wearing a cuirass approaching him in his tent in a city
known as Asia near the city of Ktesiphon; the man struck him with a
spear. The emperor was frightened and woke up with a cry. The eunuch
cubicularii and spatharii and the soldiers guarding the tent got up and
went in to him with imperial lamps. (333) The emperor Julian, observing
that he had been fatally wounded in the armpit, asked them, "What
is the name of the town where my tent. is?" They told him that it
was called Asia. Immediately he cried out, "0 Helios, you have
destroyed Julian". And, bleeding profusely, he breathed his last at. the
fifth hour of the night in the year 411 according to the calendar of AD363
Antioch the Great..
24. Before the Persian enemy heard what had happened, the army
immediately went to the tent of Jovian, who held the rank of comes
domesticnrum and a9_grater mllittun. They brought him unawares into the
imperial tent, pretending that the emperor Julian had sent for him.
When he entered the tent they seized him and proclaimed him emperor on
27th Daisios-June, before daybreak. The main body of the army, which
was encamped at Ktesiphon and was a fair way distant, did not learn
what had happened until sunrise, since they were at a distance. So died
the emperor Julian at the age of 33.
25. That same night Basil, the most holy bishop of Caesarea in
Cappadocia, saw in a dream the heavens opened and the Saviour Christ
seated on a throne and saying loudly, "Mercurius, go and kill the
emperor Julian, who is against the Christians". St Mercurius, standing
before the Lord, wore a gleaming iron breast-plate. (334) Hearing the
command, he disappeared, and then he re-appeared, standing before the
Lord, and cried out, "The emperor Julian has been fatally wounded and
has died, as you commanded, Lord". Frightened by the cry, bishop Basil
woke up in confusion; for the emperor Julian held him in honour both as
an eloquent man and as his fellow-student, and wrote to him frequently.
St Basil went to church for the morning service, summoned all his
clergy
and told them of his mysterious dream, and that the emperor Julian had
been fatally wounded and had died that same night. They all entreated
him to be silent and to tell nobody of such news. But the most learned
chronicler Eutropius did not agree with some of these details in his
account.
26. After the reign of Julian the Apostate, Jovian, the son of
Varronianus, reigned; he was crowned by the army
there in Persian
AD363 territory during the consulship of Salustius. He was a devout
Christian; he reigned for seven months.
27. As soon as he began to reign he addressed the whole army and
the senators with him, proclaiming in person, "If you wish me to reign
over you, you must all be Christians". The whole army and the senators
(335) acclaimed him. When Jovian came out with his army from the
desert to the fertile Persian land, he considered anxiously how to
escape from Persian territory.
Now the Persian emperor Sapor had not yet learnt of the emperor
Julian's death and was filled with terror. Pleading
and begging for
peace, he sent from Persarmenia one of his nobles, named Surenas, as an
ambassador to the Roman emperor. The most sacred emperor Jovian
welcomed him cordially and consented to receive the peace embassy,
saying that he too would send an ambassador to the Persian emperor.
Hearing this, Surenas, the Persian ambassador, asked the emperor Jovian
to agree on a peace treaty there and then. Selecting one of
his
senators, the patrician Arintheus, he entrusted
the whole affair to him.
He promised to abide by the terms approved or agreed
by him, for the
emperor was too proud to make a peace treaty with the Persian senator,
or ambassador; a truce in the war for three days was granted during
the peace negotiations. It was agreed (336) between the Roman patrician
Arintheus and Surenas, senator and ambassador of the Persians, that the
Romans should cede to the Persians the entire province known as Mygdonia
and its metropolis known as Nisibis, just the city with its walls alone,
without the people who lived there.
When this had been confirmed and the peace treaty committed to
writing, the emperor Jovian took with him one of the Persian satraps,
named Junius, who had been with the ambassador, to conduct him and his
expedition safely from Persian territory, and to take over the province
and its metropolis. On reaching the city of Nisibis, the emperor Jovian
did not enter it, but encamped outside its walls. But Junius, the
Persian satrap, entered the city at the emperor's command, and set up a
Persian standard on one of the towers, since the Roman emperor had
ordered that all the citizens to the last man were to depart with all
their possessions. Silvanus, a comes in rank and a magistrate of the
city, came out and threw himself down before the emperor, beseeching him
not to surrender the city to the Persians, but could not persuade him.
He said that he had taken an oath, and added that he did not wish to
have a reputation in the eyes of the world as a perjurer. Then, having
built a walled city outside the wall of the city of Amida, he called
it the town of Nisibis, and made all the people from the (337) area of
Mygdonia live there, including the magistrate Silvanus.
Then, proceeding to Mesopotamia, he immediately restored
Christianity completely, gave the Christians control of affairs and
appointed Christians as governors and exarchs throughout the East. The
emperor Jovian, leaving the East, after concluding a peace treaty with
the Persians for a short time, set off eagerly for Constantinople with
his army because the winter was severe. As he journeyed back, he came
to the land of the Calatians, and he died of natural causes in a village
known as Dadastana, at the age of 60.
28. After the reign of Jovian, Valentinian the Ruthless began to
reign in the city of Nikaia, and reigned for 16 years. He was a
Christian. He was appointed by the senate and crowned emperor by
Salutius, the praetorian prefect, who had chosen him and forced him
The prc9P.pos tus of his palace, (340) named Rhodanos, a most powerful
and wealthy man who administered the palace since he was chief eunuch
and held in great honour, was burned alive on a pyre of brushwood by the
emperor Valentinian at the curved end of the hippodrome, while the
emperor was watching the races. His praaet7osltus Rhodanos had seized
some property belonging to a widow known as Beronike, having fabricated
a charge against her from his position of authority; and she approached
the emperor Valentinian. As soon as he began to reign he appointed
the patrician Salutius as their judge in the case, and he found
the araP.positus Rhodanos guilty. The emperor, learning of the judgement
from the patrician Salutius, ordered the praaepoa,sltus to return to
the widow what he had stolen from her. But Rhodanos could not be
persuaded to make restitution to her, and appealed against the
patrician Salutius. In his anger, the emperor told the woman to
approach him while he was watching the races, and the woman went up to
him at the time of the fifth race in the morning. While the
prasposltus Rhodanos was standing next to him on his right, the emperor
gave the order and he was dragged from the kathtsmet before the whole
city, and was taken to the curved end of the hippodrome and burned. The
emperor Valentinian gave the widow all the praepositu_s Rhodanos'
possessions. He was acclaimed by the whole people and the senate as
just and ruthless. And a great fear arose among evildoers and those who
seized others' property, and justice prevailed.
(341) Likewise, hearing that the lady Marina, his wife, had bought
an estate near the city that gave a good return and that she had paid
less for the estate than it was worth, since she was deferred to as
Augusta, he sent and had the estate valued, binding the valuers by oath.
When he learned that its value was far greater than the price paid, he
became angry with the empress and banished her from the city, and
returned the estate to the woman who had sold it.
32. The emperor proclaimed his son Cratian emperor. The lady
Marina was recalled by her son Valerian when he was made emperor in
Rome by his father.
The most sacred Valentinian was stricken with illness and died some
time later in the fort of Brigetio, at the age of 55.
33. After the reign of Valentinian the Great, the Ruthless, the
army made a man named Eugenios emperor, flouting the authority of the
senate. He reigned for 22 days and was immediately assassinated.
34. (342) The most sacred Valens, brother of Valentinian the
40. Bo 346.3-347.7.
Philonauta (346.13; corr Chil): 'beloved
of him' (cpLXov avtiou ) Ba.
Julius Caesar (346.21; corr Chil): 'Julianus
Caesar' Ba.
41. Bo 347.8-10.
42. Bo
First and created a province (347.14;
corn Chil): 'First and created
governor' Ba. a
43. Bo 347.16-348.5; Th 72.19-27 (AD391/2),
GM 577.1-5, 5k 65.15-31.
Book 13 189
44. The emperor divided Second Galatia from the First and made it
a province, giving the city of Pessinos the status of a city and a
governor.
45. The emperor Theodosius, while making a pnrocessus on his way
to war, became ill in Milan and died there in Milan at the age of 65.
His remains were brought to Constantinople. When Theodosius was on the
point of death, he learnt that Arcadius had gone to Rome to visit his
brother Honorius who was ill and so he wrote to him, telling him to
return to Constantinople to secure the East. But the emperor Arcadius
spent some time in Rome with his brother the emperor Honorius, and
equally delayed on the journey. While Arcadius was returning to
Constantinople, Gainas the senator led a rebellion, wishing to become
emperor. But Arcadius arrived back in Constantinople and executed the
rebel Gainas.
46. After the reign of Theodosius the Great, the Spaniard, his
son Arcadius reigned in Constantinople (349) in all for 23 years, having
come from Rome where he left his younger brother Honorius. He was very
quick in his movements and energetic. Immediately on his arrival he
made his son, Theodosius the Younger, emperor in Constantinople.
44. Bo 348.6-8.
45. Bo 348.9-20; JN 84.11-12.
46. Bo 348.21-349.4; LM 437.1, TF II 11-14, CP 565.14-15 (AD394), LG
307.3-8 (105.2-8).
in Constantinople (349.4): IT, cf LG, adds 'In the reign of Arcadius
(the most holy John, archbishop of Constantinople) was exiled as the
result of a plot made against him by Theophilos, bishop of Alexandria
the Great, Severianus, bishop of Gabala and the Augusta Eudoxia, wife of
Arcadius. He was sent to Koukousos, a city in Armenia. At the moment
he was exiled, the most holy bishop went into the baptistery of the most
holy Great Church of Constantinople and embraced the most pious
Olympias, the daughter of Seleukos the ex-prefect, and other honourable
ladies. He prayed and left the (church. Meanwhile fire suddenly
enveloped the church on all sides. It came rushing) from the sanctuary
and went up by means of the chain of the ever-burning candle hanging in
the apse of the sanctuary, and burned the whole church, and around the
church (the senate house) as far as the palace. There was a great
disturbance in the church and the city, for bishops were expelled from
various cities, and also clerics of different ranks, as well as monks
and lay people, since they did not wish to take communion in church
because of the exile of John, the bishop. Many senators of high rank
were beaten and had their property confiscated because they would not
take communion in church. No one consented to take communion. But they
brought in honourable ladies of senatorial rank from their houses,
dragging them shamelessly in public without veils and barefoot. They
instructed them, at the command of the emperor Arcadius and Eudoxia his
wife, either to take communion in church or to (pour out) a river of
gold'; the passages in brackets, which are missing or illegible in the
palimpsest fragment, have been inserted by Mai on the basis of
corresponding passages in Sozomen, Socrates and Palladius. See Patzig,
1890/1, 5 and 8-9 on the possible length of the lacuna of which this is
a part.
190 Book 13
47. Arcadius created his own numerus which he called the Arcadiaci.
He fell ill and died suddenly, at the age of 31.
48. After the reign of Arcadius, his brother Honorius reigned in
Rome for 31 years. He was irascible and chaste.
This emperor closed the temple of Serapis Helios in Alexandria the
Great.
49. During his reign a great civil disturbance took place in
Rome and he left in anger for the city of Ravenna. He sent and
brought from Gaul the miiitun Alaric, with his forces, to
plunder Rome. When Alaric arrived in the city, he allied himself to
the city and the senatorial enemies of Honorius. He harmed nobody in
the city, but burst into the palace and took all the palace treasure and
Honorius' half-sister on his father's side, Placidia, (350) who was
still a young virgin. Then he went off again to Gaul in rebellion.
Constantius, who was still a comes with Alaric and was entrusted by him
with the girl Placidia, found an opportunity and took her away. He
escaped from Alaric and brought her to the emperor Honorius. Honorius
was grateful to him and made him a senator, gave him Placidia in
marriage and made him emperor in Rome. Constantius had a son by her
whom he called Valentinian. During his joint reign with Constantius,
Honorius killed the four senatorial usurpers, Attalus,
Sebastianus,
Maximus and Constans, who were rebelling against him and seducing the
populace. After they had been executed and their property confiscated,
Honorius left Constantius reigning in Rome, while he himself went to
Constantinople to reign with Theodosius the Younger.
50. Constantius, emperor of Rome, died a natural death during
the reign and lifetime of Honorius. Then, with the collaboration of the
other senators, a senator named John
rebelled and reigned in Rome. When
he learned this, Honorius went mad, was stricken
with the illness of
dropsy and died, at the age of 42.
and eloquent, Pulcheria asked her aunts whether she was a virgin, and
was informed by them that she was a virgin kept chaste by her father who
had been a philosopher in Hellas, and that she had had an extensive
education in philosophy. She gave orders that the girl and her aunts
should wait under the watchful eye of and said that she
would take her petition from her and go in to see her brother the
emperor Theodosius. She said to him, "I have found a very good-looking
young woman, refined, with a good figure, eloquent, from Hellas, a
virgin (355) and the daughter of a philosopher". When he heard this,
Theodosius, being a young man, became excited. He sent for his
fellow-student and friend Paulinus, and asked his sister to bring
Athenais Eudokia into her chamber on some other pretext, so that he,
together with Paulinus, might observe her from behind the curtain. So
she was brought in. When he saw her he fell in love'with her, and
Paulinus too was struck by her. He kept her and converted her to
Christianity, since she was a Hellene, and renamed her Eudokia; he
married her, celebrating an imperial wedding with her. He had a
daughter by her named Eudoxia.
5. When the brothers of the Augusta Eudokia heard that she had
become empress, they sought refuge in Hellas in terror. She sent for
them and brought them from the city of Athens to Constantinople, with
reassurances, and gave them high rank: the emperor appointed the one
known as Gessius to be praetorian' prefect of Illyricum, and Valerius
to be The empress Eudokia, their sister, said to them, "If
you had not treated me badly, I should not have been compelled to come
here and become empress. And so you bestowed upon me the imperial rank,
which goes beyond my birth-right. For it was my good fortune, not your
attitude towards me, which made you uncharitable towards me".
6. The emperor Theodosius also advanced Paulinus through all the
ranks, since he was his friend, (356) matchmaker for his marriage and
their table companion. After that he promoted him to and so
his fortunes increased. Since he had free access to the emperor
Theodosius, as his bestman at his marriage, Paulinus also often visited
the Augusta Eudokia, as ,m.sgister.
7. Theodosius the emperor sent the patrician Aspar to Rome with
a large military force against the rebel John. Aspar defeated John,
deposed him from the imperial rule in Rome and executed him. The
emperor Theodosius made Valentinian the Younger emperor in Rome. He was
his relative, the son of the elder Placidia and the emperor Constantius.
Theodosius gave him his daughter, named Eudoxia, whom he had had by
the Augusta Eudokia, daughter of the philosopher. By her Valentinian
had two daughters, Eudokia and Placidia.
8. It so happened that, some time later, when the emperor
Theodosius was proceeding to the church at Holy Epiphany, the magi[ter
Paulinus, who was indisposed because of his foot, remained behind and
sent his apologies. A poor man brought to the emperor Theodosius a
Phrygian apple of enormous size, so big as to defy description. The
emperor and all his senate were amazed. Immediately the emperor gave
(357) 150 nomismetato the man who brought the apple, and sent it to the
Augusta Eudokia; and the Augusta sent it to the magi ster Paulinus,
since he was a friend of the emperor; but the nwgister Paul inus, not
being aware that it was the emperor who had sent it to the Augusta, took
it and sent it to the emperor Theodosius, as he was entering the
palace. When the emperor received it, he recognised it and concealed
it. He called the Augusta and questioned her, saying, "Where is
the apple which I sent you?" She replied, "I ate it". Then he made
her swear the truth by his salvation, whether she had eaten it or had
sent it. to somebody. She swore, "I have not sent. it to anybody, I have
eaten it myself". Then the emperor commanded the apple to be brought in
and showed it. to her. He became angry with her, suspecting that. it
was because she was in love with Paulinus that she had sent him the
apple and had denied it. For this reason the emperor Theodosius put
Paulinus to death. The Augusta Eudokia was offended at the insult she
had received, for it was known everywhere that Paulinus had been
executed on her account, for he was a very handsome young man. The
Augusta asked the emperor Theodosius to be allowed to go to the Holy
Places to pray, and he gave her permission. She travelled from
Constantinople to pray in Jerusalem, and built many buildings in
Theodosius gave him (356,12): CP adds, perhaps not from Malalas, 'in the
month Hyperberetaios on the fourth day before the Kalends of November'.
8. Bo 356.17-358.4; TF II 14-16, Ev I 20-21 (28.30-29.1, 7-9), CP
584.5-585.23 (AD444), De virt 12 (162.9-24), Th 99.18-28 (AD447/8), GM
609.6-610.6, LG 308.5-20 (106.16-107.10) Ke 591.2-24, JN 87.4-22; Slav:
Soph 118 (= Ist 10.11-11.2).
sent it to the emperor Theodosius (357.4): De virt. summarises from
this point 'and the result is obvious. For Theodosius had Paulinus
executed, the Augusta went to Jerusalem and the Holy Places and erected
many buildings', returning to the full narrative only with the last
sentence 'when she was on the point. of death'.
as he was entering the palace (357.5) GM, LG: cf 'as he was leaving
the church' CP.
received it (357.5): cf CP which adds 'without the Augusta'.
and showed it to her (357.11-12): CP, Slav, LG, Ke, JN add 'and the
result was estrangement and separation between them'; see Patzig,
1890/1, 12.
put Paulinus to death (357.14) CP, GM, cf LG, Ke, JN: of 'ordered
Paulinus to be exiled to Cappadocia and then put to death' Th,
to pray in Jerusalem (357.20): CP, cf TF, adds 'When she entered Antioch
Book 14 195
37. During his reign St Symeon the Stylite died, while Ardabourios
the patrician, the son of Aspar, was mcagister ni1.r'tum per Orientem.
The Antiochenes chanted, demanding the body of the righteous man,
and so Ardabourios sent a force of Goths and brought the body of St
Symeon to Antioch the Great. A martyrium was built for him there, a
great shrine, and he was laid inside, in a tomb.
38. In the reign of Leo, Isokasios, the gue?estor and philosopher,
was accused of being a Hellene. He was originally from Aigai in
Cilicia, but he was a landowner in Antioch the Great.. (370) He held
many offices with honour, for he was a very learned man. He was
arrested at. the emperor's command, living as he then was in
Constantinople, and he was dismissed from his office. Then he
their benefactions. In the palace, the first and second buildings were
brought down, while the others remained standing, together with the
neighbouring bath, which provided washing facilities for the city
because of the disaster, though previously it had not been in use. This
was essential, because of the destruction which occurred to the other
baths. The earthquake brought down the colonnades in front of the
palace and the nearby tet..rapylon, and the towers at the gate of the
hippodrome and some of the neighbouring colonnades. In the old city,
the colonnades and houses were left completely untouched by the
earthquake, but the baths of Trajan, Severus and Hadrian were a little
shaken and damaged. In the neighbourhood known as Ostrabine some
buildings collapsed; the earthquakes destroyed that called the
Nymphaion, together with the colonnades. Details of each of these cases
have been carefully recorded by John the Rhet.or. He says that 1000
talents of gold were remitted to the city from its taxes, while the
citizens were excused from tax on buildings destroyed in the earthquake.
The emperor also took responsibility for work on public buildings'.
37. Bo 369.10-16; Ev I 13 (22.29-23.11), CP 593.17-594.3 (AD464), PsD
771 (AD459/60); Slav: Ist 16.13-19, Soph 121.
St Symeon the Stylite (369.10) CP: cf 'Symeon the great Stylite' Slav.
the son of Aspar, was nagister mill tron p r
Orientaw (369.11-12): 'the
son of Aspar, the 1w,9gi4ter militum, was comes Orientis' CP, probably
wrongly; see PLRE lI 136. CP later (594.12-20, AD465) adds the
following passage in which Patzig, 1890/1, 10 rightly finds strong signs
of Malalas' style, 'Under these consuls (ie Basiliscus and Herminericus)
Menas the prcaefectus vigilum was accused of depravity and questioned by
the senate in the hippodrome. At the emperor's command a child tripped
him and threw him flat on his face at the furthest point of the
hippodrome bend, and the people took hold of him and began to drag him
along. When the officials saw what had happened they were terrified and
withdrew. They dragged him as far as the house of Stoudios. A Goth
picked up a stone and struck him on the ear and killed him. His corpse
was dragged by the people as far as the sea'.
38. Bo 369.17-371,4; CP 595.6-596.12 (A0467), Th 115.9-18 (AD467/8), LG
313.24-30 (115.5-12), Su II 601.14-15, JN 88.7-11; Slav: Ist
16.19-17.10.
landowner (369.19): CP, Slav add 'and householder'.
living as he then was (370.2-3) Slav: cf. 'because of the riot which had
then occurred' CP.
204
Book 14
from Constantinople to
Chalkedon (370.4): 'to
Constantinople' CP, Slav, Chalkedon opposite
the cclq Iakobos (370.5-6):
CP, Slav add 'the Cilician' (perhaps an
error; see PLRE II 582).
arthistrns (370.6): CP adds
'of the city',
an image (370.9) Slav: cf 'images'
by the praetorian prefect (370.16) CP.
Slav: CP adds 'and
tribunal (370.17): cf 'curtain' consul'.
CP.
39. Bo 371.5-8; CP 596.13-16 (AD467),
Ist 17,10.13. PsD 776 (AD465/6), ,3N
88.5; Slav:
flute nor lyre (371.7;corr Dind) CP:
Bury, 1897, 228); cf PsD 'with flutes(?),
which adds 'nor tambourine', lyre' Ba (see
everyone (371,8) Slav: cf all
things' CP.
Observed (371.8) CP: cf 'was annoyed' Slav.
40. Bo 371.9-372.2; Ev
11 16 (66.14-18), CP 596.17-597.9
insid 31 (160.25-161.11);
Slav: Ist 17.13-27. (AD467), De
During his reign (371.9): De
insid adds before this
patrician behaved in a very troublesome point 'Aspar the
because of his confidence in way to the emperor
Leo. It was
the force of Goths
that he did this. he had at his disposal
During this period Aspar
to marry his son Patricius, the patrician made
who was Caesar, to the requests
but when the people, the emperor's daughter;
monks and the clergy
plans were put. in abeyance'. opposed it, the marriage
This and two other passages
(see bodies
Book 14 205
ash instead of rain, and the ash settled on the tiles to a depth of four
fingers. Everyone was terrified and went on processions of prayer
saying, "It was fire, but through God's mercy it was quenched and became
ash".
43. There occurred in his reign a great. conflagration in
Constantinople, such as had never been experienced before. The flames
spread from sea to sea, and the emperor Leo, fearing for the palace,
left the city and crossed over to St Mamas. He spent six months there
on a proce.5Lsus, He built. a harbour there and a colonnade, which he
called the New Colonnade, as it is called to the present day.
44. Leo in the time of his reign began a campaign against Geiseric
the Vandal, king of the Africans, fighting a tremendous sea-battle. He
sent a large fleet under the command of the patrician Basiliscus, the
brother of the Augusta Verina, Leo's wife. Basiliscus accepted bribes
from Geiseric, king of the Vandals, and betrayed the ships, (373) with
the exarchs, the comites and the whole army. He with his ship - a fast
vessel - was the first and only one to escape. All the rest of the
ships and the army perished, sunk at sea. Among them was Damonicus the
ex-dux, who had become the ma_gister nrilitum of the expedition, and was
originally from the great city of the Antiochenes. He fought bravely
against the Africans, but was isolated and surrounded, captured and
flung, fully armed, into the depths. Basiliscus returned, defeated, to
Constantinople.
45. During the reign of Leo, Anthimios, the emperor in Rome, was
murdered. He had aroused the enmity of his son-in-law, Ricimer the
e_gister militum, and was afraid of him, as he was a Goth. The emperor
Anthimios then went and sought refuge in St Peter's, saying that he was
ill. When the emperor Leo heard of this, he sent to Rome the Roman
Everyone was terrified... became ash (372.8-10) CP, of Th: of 'The whole
city and the whole area was in great fear; panic and terror took
hold of all who persisted in prayer, sorrow and tears by night and day;
everyone said, "This dust which rained from heaven was fire which God
was to send in his wrath upon earth; but the mercy of the living God
spared the world and extinguished it and turned it into dust so that it
should not burn and consume the whole human race. And now let us turn
from our wrong-doings, lest we perish utterly in our sins"' PsD.
became ash (372.10): CP adds 'on 11th Dios-November', cf '6th November'
Eccl Hist.
43, Bo 372.11-16; CP 598.15-19 (AD469), Eccl Hist 112.4-7, PsD 785
(AD473/4); Slav: Ist 18.5-10.
occurred (372.11) OF, Slav: of Eccl Hist which adds 'on 1st September'.
sea to sea (372.12-13) CP, Slav: Eccl Hist adds (probably not from
Malalas) 'that is, from Neorion to the harbour of Julian'.
harbour. (372.15) CP: of 'almshouse' Slav.
44. Bo 372.17-373.8; Slav: Ist 18.11-21.
Geiseric (372.17): written as 'Sinzirichos' Ba (of paras 26, 45).
king of the Vandals (372.22): of 'king of Africa' Slav.
45. Bo 373.9-375.11; De insid 32, 33 (162.15-162.21); Slav: Ist
18.21-19.27,
Ricimer (373.11, 17 etc): written as 'Recimer' Ba, De insid; see PLRE
II 942.
heard of this (373.13): CP, Slav add 'in Constantinople'.
Book 14 207
patrician Olybrius, after his consulship, which he had held together AD464
with Rusticius. He was told to reconcile the emperor Anthimios and his
son-in-law Ricimer, as they were both Roman senators. Leo's orders
were, "After Anthimios and Ricimer have become friends, leave Rome
and go to Geiseric the Vandal, the king of Africa, since you have free
access to him because he has your wife Placidia's sister as his son's
bride, (374) and persuade him to become my ally".
But the emperor Leo suspected that Olybrius supported Geiseric
and was on his side, and so Leo was an his guard against him in case, if
Geiseric were to declare war on Leo, Olybrius should betray
Constantinople to Geiseric (being a relative) and Olybrius should become
emperor in Constantinople. After Olybrius had travelled to Rome,
leaving his wife Placidia and daughter in Constantinople, the most
sacred emperor Leo wrote through a ingistrranus to Anthimios, emperor of
Rome, as follows, "I put. to death Aspar and Ardabourios, so that nobody
should oppose my orders. You too should execute your son--in-law
Ricimer, to prevent him giving you orders. See, I have also sent. to you
the patrician Olybrius. Execute him too, and reign as one who gives
orders rather than as one who takes them". Now Ricimer had stationed a
guard of Goths at every gate of Rome, and at the harbour, and whoever
was entering Rome was asked what he was carrying. When the qistrzlanus
Modestus, who had been sent from Leo to the emperor Anthimios, arrived
and was searched, the imperial rescripts from Leo to Anthimios were
removed and taken to Ricimer. He showed them to Olybrius. Then Ricimer
sent to Goundoubarios, his sister's son, (375) and summoned him from
Gaul where he was w.z7itum He arrived and killed the emperor
Anthimios, while he was in the holy church of the apostle Peter. Then
Goundoubarios immediately returned to Gaul. Ricimer crowned Olybrius
emperor with the consent of the Roman senate. Olybrius reigned in Rome
for a few months, but then he fell ill and died. Then Ricimer chose
another emperor from the senate of Rome, Majorian, but. they killed
him as well, since he supported Geiseric, king of the Africans. To
replace him, Ricimer chose yet another emperor in Rome from the ranks of
the senate, named Nepos. Then Ricimer died.
46. The emperor Leo chose two sons-in-law for his daughters:
for Leontia, the elder, the patrician Marcianus, the son of Anthimios,
emperor of Rome, and for Ariadne, Zeno Kodisseos the Isaurian. He made
them both ,nagistrl 1w/I tuJ7 and patricians. The most
1. (377) After the reign of Leo the Younger, the most sacred
Zeno reigned for 15 years. In the eighth month of his reign, he
appointed Peter, the porannonarios of St Euphemia's in Chalkedon, as
bishop and patriarch of Antioch the Great and sent him to Antioch.
2. After two years and ten months of his reign, he quarrelled
with his mother-in-law, Verina, over a request she had made of him but
which he had refused her, and so his mother-in-law, the lady Verina,
began to plot against him. Terrified that he would be assassinated by
someone in the palace, since his mother-in-law was living in the palace
with him, he made a processus to Chalkedon and escaped from there using
post-horses, and got away to Isauria even though he was emperor. (378)
The empress Ariadne, who had also secretly fled from her mother, caught
up with him in Isauria and remained with her husband.
3. After the emperor Zeno and Ariadne had fled, the lady Verina
immediately chose an emperor by crowning her brother Basiliscus.
Basiliscus, the brother of Zeno's mother-in-law Verina, reigned for two
years. When Verina had made Basiliscus emperor, she also named him as
consul, together with Armatus who had been appointed by Basiliscus as AD476
senior ,'nagister niii tum prae..Rentaiis. These two held the consulship.
As soon as Basiliscus began to reign, he crowned his son, named
Marcus, as emperor. These two reigned jointly.
4. During the reign of Basiliscus and his son Marcus, a city in
First Syria named Gabala suffered from the wrath of God in the month of
Gorpiaios at dawn. The emperor Basiliscus bestowed 50 Iitraai of gold on
the city for its reconstruction.
illustrious Ariadne had a son as her first child, and called him Leo.
The most distinguished Leontia had only daughters.
The emperor Leo crowned Leo the Younger, his grandson, son of Zeno,
in Constantinople, making him (376) co-emperor with himself.
The Caesar
Leo the Younger became consul in the month of January of the 12th
AD474 indiction, in the year 522 according to the era of Antioch. On the
following 3rd February the emperor Leo the Elder was stricken with
illness and died of dysentery at the age of 73.
47. After the reign of Leo the Elder, Leo the Younger reigned
for one year and 23 days, He was a small boy. He was under the
influence of his mother, the most illustrious Ariadne.
As Zeno the
mzagister mi,litcun, the patrician, his father, made obeisance to him as
emperor, he placed an imperial crown on his father's head on 9th
AD474 Peritios of the 12th indiction, and they reigned jointly.
The emperor Zeno Kodisseos the Isaurian reigned with his son Leo for
a short time. The most sacred Leo the Younger became consul in the year
AD474 522 according to the era of Antioch of the 12th
indiction. But in the
11th month of his consulship the
most sacred Leo the Younger fell ill
and died, in the month of November of the 13th indiction, in the year
AD474 523 according to the era of Antioch, at the age of seven, as was
written by the most learned Nestorianos, whose chronicle ended
with Leo
the Younger.
1. (377) After the reign of Leo the Younger, the most sacred
Zeno reigned for 15 years. In the eighth month of his reign, he
appointed Peter, the 6ra1#onarr'oq of St Euphemia's in Chalkedon, as
bishop and patriarch of Antioch the Great and sent him to Antioch.
2. After two years and ten months of his reign, he quarrelled
with his mother-in-law, Verina, over a request she had made of him but
which he had refused her, and so his mother-in-law, the lady Verina,
began to plot against him. Terrified that he would be assassinated by
someone in the palace, since his mother-in-law was living in the palace
with him, he made a prvicessus to Chalkedon and escaped from there using
post-horses, and got away to Isauria even though he was emperor. (378)
The empress Ariadne, who had also secretly fled from her mother, caught
up with him in Isauria and remained with her husband.
3. After the emperor Zeno and Ariadne had fled, the lady Verina
immediately chose an emperor by crowning her brother Basiliscus.
Basiliscus, the brother of Zeno's mother-in-law Verina, reigned for two
years. When Verina had made Basiliscus emperor, she also named him as
consul, together with Armatus who had been appointed by Basiliscus as AD476
n
senior / .9gister /1)111 tU/!Y , esentaJis, These two held the consulship.
As soon as Basiliscus began to reign, he crowned his son, named
Marcus, as emperor. These two reigned jointly.
4. During the reign of Basiliscus and his son Marcus, a city in
First Syria named Gabala suffered from the wrath of God in the month of
Gorpiaios at dawn. The emperor Basiliscus bestowed 50 litrai of gold on
the city for its reconstruction.
Odovacer, in whose place he ruled Rome as king for 47 years. After this
he was reconciled with the emperor Zeno and did everything in accordance
with his wishes, recognizing the consuls of Constantinople and (384)
praetorian prefects; he also received the codicils of his chief
magistrates from the emperor Zeno, notifying Zeno whom he wanted to be
appointed. He even received the rods of the consuls in the presence
of the emperor himself.
10. As soon as Theoderic became king, a Roman widow of senatorial
rank, named Juvenalia, approached him with the following information,
"For 30 years I have been involved in a law-case with the patrician
Firmus. Please free me from it". So he brought in the lawyers
of both parties and said to them, "If you do not give them the
judgement and discharge them by tomorrow or the day after it, I shall
behead you". So they sat down for two days, pronounced a legal
decision, gave them a judgement and discharged them. Juvenalia lit some
candles and approached Theoderic to thank him for freeing her from her
case. He was angry with the lawyers, summoned them and said, "Why did
you not do in 30 years what you have done in two days so as to discharge
them?" So he sent and had the lawyers of both parties beheaded, and
there was much fear. He published a decree about each law.
He left Rome and lived in Ravenna, a coastal city, until his death.
After his death (385) his grandson Athalaric became king of Rome. He
was Arian in belief, that is to say, an Exakionite.
11. During the reign of Zeno Constantinople suffered its second
calamity from the wrath of God, an earthquake over a small area as far
as the Forum Tauri. Nikomedeia, the metropolis of Bithynia, also
suffered then, its sixth calamity, and likewise Helenoupolis in the same
province. Zeno provided them with much assistance.
a scar from the wound. He went to the emperor Zeno and asked for
leave to go to the East for a short while for a change of air, as he
said, because he was ill from the wound. The emperor Zeno was
persuaded by this and released him from his position as and
made him magister militum per Orientem, granting him full authority.
Illus asked to take with him, to conciliate the Augusta, the patrician
Leontius, the son of Paulina, so that he could hand over to him the lady
Verina, the mother of the empress Ariadne, to convey her to
Constantinople. Illus asked the emperor for permission to take other
senators too to enhance his own reputation; permission was given him.
So the patrician Illus departed, taking with him the patrician
Leontius and the other senators. He arrived in Antioch the Great
and stayed there for a short time and gave generously to the people
before departing for Isauria. He took the lady Verina from the
fortress, and made her crown the patrician Leontius as emperor in St
Peter's outside the city of Tarsos in Cilicia. Leontius was persuaded
to accept the crown since he was a free-born man. Verina issued
sacred commands for each city and imperial rescripts for the governors
and soldiers, so that they should receive Leontius (389) and there
should be no resistance. She wrote a rescript that contained much
scar from a wound (388.2): Th, De insid, Slav add 'and he used to wear
a cap'.
ill from the wound (388.5): Slav appears to add at this point 'as
Plato, the city prefect, had fled to escape the attacks of the
populace'; see PLRE 11 892. But in Slav (EL) Bo 388.5-407.7 is
transposed with 407.7-428.4; Istrin restores the correct order, but by
an ,oversight he leaves the start of the later passage, 407.7-9, in
the wrong place so that it appears as a spurious 'addition' here.
Spinka/Downey, 1940, 106 and Tvorogov, 1975, 140 compound the error.
full authority (388.7): De insid adds 'to do whatever he saw fit', cf
Th 'even to appoint duces' (probably supported by a muddled passage in
Slav).
taking with him the patrician Leontius (388.14): De insid adds 'to take
and escort Verina'.
He arrived in Antioch the Great (388.15): De insid, cf Slav, Th, JN and
Ev, add 'having with him a large army and Leontius (Th adds 'the
patrician, who was a Syrian by birth, and an excellent man in education
and military experience, and the nzagister militia per Thracias . cf 'the
patrician, who was Thracian by birth' Slav; see Stein, 1949, 28, note 2
and Downey, 1961, 494, note 95), the patrician Pamprepius (Th adds 'the
senator who was accused of magic'), the ex-consul Marsos, the ex-consul
Justinian, the ex-prefect Ailianos, the ex-illustris Matronianus, the
ex-prefect Kouttoules and many cnmites'. Again there is decisive
evidence against Patzig, 1890/1, 15 who regarded this passage too as an
insertion; cf Downey, 1961, 490, note 73.
for a short time (388.16): 'two years and erected many ('certain' Slav)
buildings' De insid, Slav.
free-born man (388,20): Slav, De insid add 'Leontius was handsome,
with curly abundant hair'; Slav continues 'young, pure, with a fair
complexion, a good nose and good eyes, and courteous', cf 'well-grown
and pure' De insid.
Verina issued ...no resistance (388.21-389.1): 'Verina issued a ('her'
Book 15
217
abuse of Zeno. Leontius ruled in
Antioch for
14. At this news
the emperor Zeno sent a few days.
)m.?_qster miiitum, John the out a large force
Illus and his supporters, Scythian. When Leontius heard this with the
they went up with and also
Papyrion. Verina died there of Verina to the
on the battlements as a natural causes. fortress of
traitor in their Pamprepius was killed
midst, and his
corpse was
De insid) rescript to the
Leontius as emperor (De insid, Antiochene
Slav add 'and
Syrians for them to
issued rescripts to all the not resist receive
him').
diocese (Th adds 'and that of governors of the East and the She also
not to oppose him', of JN)' Libya to accept Egyptian
De insid, Slav, Leontius as emperor
letters were first read in the Th, of JN. and
praetorium of the
Slav adds 'These
Antioch, and ran as follows', c£ magrster militia in
'it ran as
She wrote...Zeno follows' De
(389.1-2): "'Aelia Verina, insid.
citizens of Antioch (cf 'Verina perpetual Augusta,
Augusta, to our to our
Christ-loving peoples, greeting' Th, governors and
not want to who, unlike
confine the letter De insid and
to the Slav,
imperial rule is ours, and that Antiochenes). Know that does
we chose as emperor after the death of Leo of the
Traskilisseos (Th, JN, pious memory,
'Stratokodisseos' De insid), later of
renamed 'Traskoliseos' Slav,
and all military
contingents should benefit. Zeno, so that the subjects
state together with its But now, seeing
subjects are being
we have considered
it necessary to ruined through his that the
crown you a avarice,
distinguished for his piety and Christian emperor,
Roman state, bring a peaceful justice, so that he
end to the war may preserve the
accordance with the laws. and
We have crowned protect all subjects in
(Slav, Th, of JN, add the most pious
'emperor of the Leontius
on all of you". And immediately theRomans'), who will bestow his
as one and cried out, whole populace of care
"God is great" and Antioch rose up
you what is good and "Lord, have
beneficial"' De insid, mercy; may he
1961, 495, note 98. Slav, Th, of grant
JN; see Downey,
,Leontius ruled in
Antioch for a few days
usurper left the city of (389.2-3):
Tarsos and came 'Leontius the
(Slav adds 'the Great, in the alone without
consulship
Illus to Antioch
June in the seventh of Theoderic', of Th
indiction') and ruled 'on 27th
Great (Slav adds 'and remained as usurper in
palace of that city', of there for twelve Antioch the
JN). He appointed days.
JN) as praetorian Ailianos (cf Entering the
prefect, Pamprepius as 'Lilianos' Th,
jargitionuin. From there he went and _gi.ater and Justinian as
in Syria, because they did not fought against
the city of
cams
half' De insid, Slav, of Th, receive his portraits Chalkis
JN. for a month and
14. Bo 389.4-14; a
De insid 35
129,23-26 (AD482/3), (166.13-28), cf Th 132.16-18
129.29-130.8 (AD483/4),
10,28-11.8. JN 88.86-91; (AD487/8),
Slav: Ist
When Leontius heard
Cilicia,
this...Papyrion (389.5-7):
heard of this and 'Illus, who remained in
wrote to Leontius
Antioch, both of them and in Antioch;
the fortress of Pamrepius and Verina and leaving
Papyrion in Isauria' De the rest went up
on the insid, Slav, cf to
battlements (389.8): literally JR.
and the following 'up high' Ba,
phrase suggest the De insid, Slav;
as a traitor interpretation given, JN
(389.8) 'as he was
Slav. suspected of being a
traitor' De insid,
218
Book 15
did they burn only the corpses of the Jews? They ought to have burned
live Jews too". This silenced the affair.
16. The emperor Zeno asked the very learned comes Maurianos who
would reign after him, for Maurianos used to foretell many things for
him since he had mystic knowledge. He predicted that an
ex- silentiariti.s wouldsucceed both to his state and his wife. When he
heard this the emperor Zeno arrested the patrician Pelagius, who was an
and had attained the rank of patrician, a learned man.
Zeno confiscated his property and ordered that he be kept under guard.
During the night his guards strangled him and threw his corpse into
the sea at the emperor's command. When Arcadius, the praetorian
prefect, heard this, he rebuked the emperor Zeno about Pelagius. This
reached Zeno's ears and he ordered that Arcadius be killed as he
entered the palace. But Arcadius learned of this and when he was
summoned by the emperor, as he was passing the church, pretended he
wanted to pray. So he got out of the carriage and went into the Great
Church of Constantinople. He stayed inside, and escaped death. While
he was there, (391) the emperor Zeno confiscated his property.
But a short time later the emperor Zeno was overcome by dysentery
and died, at the age of 60 years and nine months, on 9th Xanthikos
of the 14th indiction, in the year 539 according to the era of Antioch. AD491
Thus from Adam to the death of the emperor Zeno there were 5983
years.
wall. They dug up the remains of the Jews who were buried along the
length of the synagogue, collected a lot of brushwood and set it alight
and threw the bones on the fire. The churches and houses of the streets
known as the Distadia were burned down. The emperor Zeno heard of this
when the Jews came and made supplication to him' Slav, cf De insid which
begins the passage 'During the reign of the emperor Zeno'.
They ought to have burned live Jews too (390.2-3): Slav adds, cf De
insid, 'throwing them on the fire together with the dead ones'.
the affair (390.3): Slav adds 'in Antioch'.
16. Bo 390.4-391.6; CP 606.3-21 (AD490), 607.3-4(AD491), Th 134.25-135.6
(AD489/90), 136.16-20(AD490/91), Ke 620.20-621.2, LG 315.5-11(117.8-14),
JN 88.92-97; Slav: Ist 12.10-26, Soph 123,
When he heard this the emperor Zeno arrested the patrician Pelagius who
was an ex-silentiarsus (390.8-9) CP, Slav, JN: these words are omitted
by Ba.
his guards (390.11): CP, Slav, Th add 'the excubitnres for this and
subsequent small additions, see Patzig, 1890/1, 11.
strangled him (390.12) CP adds 'with a noose'.
about Pelagius (390.14): 'because of the murder of Pelagius' CP, Slav;
Slav adds 'the patrician'.
Arcadius (390.16): 'Arcadius, the praetorian prefect' CP.
the church (390.17): 'the Great Church' CP, Slav.
escaped death (390.20): 'escaped a bitter death' CP, Slav, Th.
60 years and nine months (391.3): '65 years and nine months' Slav, cf
'65 years and nine days' CP.
Xanthikos (391.3): 'Xanthikos-April' CP.
5983 years (391.6): cf Th '5983 years according to the accurate true
calculations of the Alexandrians',.'5458 years and seven months' Slav.
BOOK 16 The Time of the Emperor
Anastasios
and so he
boldness, went for him and dismembered him limb by limb,
breathed his last. The crowd, which was hemmed in, set fire to the
Chalke, as it is known, of the hippodrome, and the colonnade was
burned as far as the imperial Awthisirhe (395); and also the public
colonnade, as far as the Hexahippion and the Forum of Constantine, was
completely burned and destroyed, collapsing throughout its length.
After many had been arrested and punished, there was quiet, when Plato,
who was patron of the Green faction, was appointed as the city prefect.
5. During his reign a man named John Isthmeos, who came from the
city of Amida, appeared in Antioch the Great. He was an alchemist and a
tremendous imposter. He secretly went to the money dealers and showed
them some hands and feet of statues made of gold, and also other
figurines, saying that he had found a hoard of such figurines of pure
gold. And so he tricked many of them and conned them out. of a lot of
money. The Antiochenes nicknamed him Bagoulas, which means a slick
imposter. He slipped through everyone's fingers and fled to
Constantinople, and there too he conned many money dealers and so came
to the emperor's attention. When he was arrested and brought before the
emperor, he offered him a horse's bridle of solid gold with the
nose-piece inlaid with pearls. The emperor Anastasios took it, saying
to him, "He you will not con", and banished him to Petra, where he died.
AD507 6. In the same year of his reign, during the third consulship
of the emperor Anastasios, a charioteer named Kalliopas, an
ex- from Constantinople, came out to Antioch the Great.
(396) He was given to the Green faction at Antioch while Basileios of
Edessa was comes. He took over the stable of the Green faction, which
was vacant, and was completely victorious, A short time later the usual
celebration of the Olympic festival was held in the customary way at
Antiochene Daphne. The Antiochene populace went up to Daphne, and those
who had been on the rampage set off with the charioteer Kalliopas and
attacked the Jewish synagogue which was in Daphne; they set fire to it,
plundered everything that was in the synagogue and massacred many
people. This was on 9th July of the 15th indiction.- They set up the AD507
holy cross there, and turned the place into a martyrium of St Leontios.
When these events were reported to the emperor Anastasios, he
appointed Prokopios of Antioch, the ex-CORM-M-1 arius, as comes Orientis:
The latter took out with him, in accordance with a sacred decree, a man
named Menas of Byzantion as praefectus vigilum. When a riot broke out,
caused by members of the Green faction, Menas wanted to arrest some of
the rioters. They heard about this and sought refuge at St John's
outside the city. When the preefectus vigilwn heard about this, he went
in the middle of the day to St John's with a force of Goths. He entered
the church unexpectedly and found there one of the troublemakers, named
Eleutherios, under the holy altar in the sanctuary. He stabbed him with
his sword there, dragged (397) his body from the sanctuary and cut off
his head, with the result that the holy sanctuary was drenched in blood.
Then, taking the head, he set off for the city of Antioch and when he
reached the bridge over the river Orontes, he threw the head into the
river. He then went to Prokopios, the comes Orientls, and told him of
these events. This was reported to the Greens during the afternoon and
they went out to St John's, where they found Eleutherios' headless
corpse. They took the body, put it on a litter and carried it back to
the city. But at the bath known as the Bath of Olbia, opposite what is
known as the basilica of Rufinus, they were met and joined battle with
the combined forces of the preefectus vigil um and the members of the
Blue faction in the street of the Thassalioi. The Green faction got the
better of the encounter, seized the basilica of Rufinus and that known
as the basilica of Zenodotos, and set fire to them. The entire basilica
of Rufinus was burned, including the two tetrapyla on each side of it,
and the praetorium of the comes e)rientis All these were destroyed by
the fire and collapsed. The comes Orientis fled to the Alexandria of
Cambyses. The members of the Green faction seized Menas, the praefectus
vi_gilum, slit him open and disembowelled him. Then after dragging
his corpse around, they hung it on the bronze statue known as
the Kolonisios, in the middle of the antiforum. (398) They then
removed his corpse and dragged it outside the city of Antioch and burned
it on a pyre of brushwood. On being informed of this, the emperor
Anastasios appointed Eirenaios Pentadiastes, an Antiochene, as comes
orient.rs This man brought vengeance and fear upon the city.
7. The emperor remitted by sacred decree the whole of the
recurrent tax known as the chrysargyron and in its place he provided
revenue for the Sacred Largesse from his own funds. This was a great
and tremendous example of his munificence.
8. The emperor built the basilica in Antioch known as that of
Rufinus, and also various buildings in every city of the Roman state.
9. During his reign Amida, the extremely strong metropolis of
Mesopotamia, and also Theodosioupolis were captured in a campaign by
loaded them with bands of Huns and Goths, fully armed. He then set out
to attack Constantinople, confident that, he would certainly capture it
and crush Marinus, who was coming to meet him, together with the force
under his command.
Marinus distributed the elemental sulphur, which the philosopher had
given to him, among all the fast ships, telling the soldiers and
sailors, "There is no need for weapons but throw some of this at the
ships that are coming against you and they will burn. And if we get to
the houses on the other side, where the enemies of the emperor are,
throw it there". Marinus told his men to throw it exactly as the
philosopher had told him, when he had said that the ships would be set
alight by the fire (405) and sunk with the men on board. So he set out
for the other side against Vitalian and his men, and Vitalian's ships
came to meet them. They drew very close to one another opposite St
Thekla's in Sykai at that part of the Bosphorus which is called
Bytharion. The sea battle took place there at the third hour of the
day. Suddenly all the ships of the rebel Vitalian caught fire and were
set ablaze and plunged to the bottom of the Bosphorus, taking with them
the Gothic, Hunnish and Scythian soldiers who had joined him. But when
Vitalian and those on the other ships saw what happened, that their own
ships had suddenly been set ablaze, they fled and returned to Anaplous.
The ex-prefect Marinus crossed over to Sykai and killed all Vitalian's
men whom he found in the suburbs and houses, pursuing them as far as St
Mamas. When evening fell, Marinus and his force stayed there,
defending those areas. Vitalian fled from Anaplous during the night
with his remaining men and travelled 60 miles that night. At daybreak
none of Vitalian's men could be found on the other side. Christ the
Saviour and the emperor's tyche.had won the victory.
The emperor Anastasios made a proce.s-qus to Sosthenion and gave
thanks in the church of the archangel Michael for many days. The
philosopher Proklos the Athenian (406) successfully sought permission
from the emperor to leave and refused to accept anything from the
emperor, who had in fact ordered that he should receive four centenaris.
The philosopher returned to his own city of Athens, where he immediately
died. There were some people in Constantinople who said that it was
from the heat of the sun that the elemental sulphur, as it was so fine,
caught fire, when it was thrown into the air, and that this was its
nature. Vitalian withdrew to Anchialos and stayed there quietly.
17. In the time of the emperor Anastasios the Sabir Huns, a very
warlike race, crossed the Caspian Gates and reached Cappadocia,
plundering it and all the Roman territory they passed through. They
killed a great many people, burned estates and then returned home with
much booty. Those who had been plundered of their possessions went to
the emperor, who provided generously for those who had been looted in
each city. He also built walls around the large towns in Cappadocia and
made the two Cappadocias secure. He granted that the taxes of all the
provinces that had been plundered be completely remitted for three
years.
18. During his reign the island of Rhodes suffered its third
calamity from the wrath of God, at night. The emperor gave generously
19. Bo 406.22--408.11;
CP 610.1-6 (AD507),
620.3-621.4, De insid 42 (170.4-17),
JN 89.58-68, cf Ev III GM
316.10-24 (119.4-19), PsD 44 (146.3-30), Ke 631.12-21,
818 (AD506/7); Slav: LG
run in, flee (407.8): Gleye, Ist 15.5-24, 9.18-20.
1896, 447 conjectures
ship', reading eLS Spdµovva 'flee in a fast
forcLa5pau6via.
in Perama (407.21): 'On the other side'
ending at 'the residence CP, which has a lacuna here,
of Juliana'. De insid summarizes
part of this passage, between the first
an introduction
Anastasios' arrival on the Trisaglnn and
in the Aathj'mq, as follows,
male and female anchorite' (see 'The populace killed
Mommsen, 1872, 375). a
is mentioned in Ba, CP (lacunose) No female victim
Slav or JN. However,
one male and one female the murders of
anchorite are described
latter having a version in Ke, LG and GM, the
closer to Ba than
all share some common the other two, though
elements with the
Comparisons translation printed
between versions at this here.
controversy suggest interesting climax of the
insights into textual monophysite
Gleye, 1896, 447-9 and Patzig, 1898, history (see
here, since it is 120-3); but they
uncertain whether the will not. be made
that of Malalas or of his source. textual history concerned
is
Book 16 229
facing your majesty, and from behind me a pig, as big as a wild boar,
came up and seized the edge of my cloak in its mouth, shook me and
pulled me to the ground and killed me by trampling on me and devouring
me". The emperor summoned Proklos the philosopher from Asia, the
interpreter of dreams who was a close associate of his, and told him his
dream, as did Amantios likewise. He explained to them the meaning of
the dream, which was that they would die some time later.
21. In addition to his original gifts the emperor Anastasios
again sent other gifts to all tax-.payers in his state, In every city of
the Roman state he carried out. a variety of building projects, including
walls and aqueducts; he dredged harbours, constructed public baths from
their foundations and provided much else in every city.
22. Shortly afterwards the emperor Anastasios became ill and was
confined to bed. There was a great, flash of lightning and a
thunderclap; he was terrified and breathed his last, at the age of 90
years and five months.
palace for having rebelled against the Romans and for having plundered
many cities and territories of the Roman state.
9. During his reign Ztathios, the emperor of the Laz, angrily
departed from Persian territory. This was while the Persians were
ruled by Koades, a friend of Ztathios, emperor of the Laz, who had
once been under the rule of Koades. Thus whenever an emperor of the Laz
happened to die, his successor, though from the race of the Laz, was
appointed and crowned by the emperor of the Persians. (413) The
emperor of the Laz had rejected the belief of the Hellenes and so as not
to be appointed by Koades, emperor of the Persians, and not to perform
sacrifices and all the other Persian customs, as soon as his father
Damnazes died, he immediately travelled to the emperor Justin in
Byzantion, put himself at his disposal and asked to be proclaimed
emperor of the Laz. He was received by the emperor, baptized, and,
having become a Christian, married a Roman wife named Valeriana, the
granddaughter of Nomos the patrician,. and he took her back with him
to his own country. He had been crowned by Justin, the emperor of the
Romans, and had put on a Roman imperial crown and a white cloak of pure
silk. Instead of the purple border it had the gold imperial border; in
its middle was a true purple portrait medallion with a likeness of the
emperor Justin. He also wore a whitetunic, a ,a9rc9gazeion, with gold
imperial embroideries, equally including the likeness of the emperor.
The shoes that he wore he had brought from his own country, and they
were studded with pearls in Persian fashion. Likewise his belt was
the city and the hippodrome, and paraded in celebration over nearly all
the city. Members of the factions joined together and dragged around
some of the riff-raff (reading napaxev @v for rzapaxevotia)v cf CP
622.20, but the meaning is uncertain) and threw them into the sea'.
Vitalian was put to death in the palace (412.13): 'Vitalian, the consul
and magister wnilitum, was put to death in the palace, as was Celerianus,
his treasurer' (reading oalEAtpLoc for xsX.dpLoc, 'cellarer'; other
possible readings are (3OUJCCAMPLo(; , 'bodyguard', or even, 'secretary)
De insid; see PLRE II, 278 and Vasiliev, 1950, 111.
Roman state (412.14): cf Th which adds 'at the time of his uprising
against Anastasios'.
9. Bo 412.16-414.16; CP 613.3-615.4 (AD522), Th 168.14-169.12(AD522/3),
JN 90.35-41, Ke 638.17-639.7; Slav: Ist 18.12-19.13.
During his reign (412.16): cf CP, which presents the material of the
first few sentences in a different order from Ba; neither is really
satisfactory.
Ztathios (412.6): written as 'Tzathios' CP, Th, cf Ke, JN; see Vasiliev,
1950, 259, note 1 and Rochow, 1983, 464-5.
crowned by the emperor of the Persians (412.21): CP adds 'of the time'.
Damnazes (413.5): cf 'Zamnaxes' CP.
Nomos (413.9) Th: written as 'Oninos' CP, cf Slav, JN.
the patrician (413.9): CP, Th, Slav add 'and ex- curatalates see
Patzig, 1890/1, 11.
He had been crowned (413.10-11): 'He had been appointed and crowned'
CP, Slav, cf Th; see Rochow, 1983, 465.
true purple portrait medallion (413.14): 'small purple portrait
medallion' CP, cf Slav.
shoes (413.17): 'red shoes' CP, Th, Slav; see Rochow, 1983, 465.
234
Book 17
enraged and, suspecting that Zilgibi had come to him treacherously, put
him to death and destroyed many of his horde at night. He despatched a
large force against the Huns, who were unaware that this force had been
sent against them by the Persian emperor but thought. that it was an
invasion from some other country against the Huns and their king. The
remaining Huns who survived fled. Then the emperor Koades resolved to
discuss terms for peace and informed the Roman emperor Justin of this
through the envoy Labroios.
11. In this year Paul, the patriarch of Antioch, died and (416)
Euphrasios of Jerusalem was appointed in his place. He carried out a
great persecution of those known as Orthodox, and put many to death.
12. At that time the Blue faction rioted in all the cities
and threw the cities into confusion with stone-throwing, violence and
murder. They even attacked the officials in each city, beginning
in Byzantion. These activities continued until the appointment in
Constantinople of the ex--cameo Orientlss Theodotos as city prefect. He
was appointed during the first indiction and restored order over the AD522/3
rioting among the Byzantines by punishing many of the rioters at
the emperor Justin's command. Among these he arrested a certain
Theodosios, nicknamed Ztikkas, who was very wealthy and held the rank of
illustris Theodotos, on his own authority, put him to death without
other holy place remained which had not been torn apart. Everything
had been utterly destroyed. The great church of Antioch, which had been
built by the emperor Constantine the Great, (420) stood for seven
days after this tremendous threat from God, when everything else had
collapsed to the ground during the wrath of God. Then it too was
overcome by fire and razed to the ground. Likewise other houses
which had not collapsed through the divine calamity were destroyed to
their foundations by fire. In this terror up to 250,000 people
perished. For this was the great festival of the Ascension of Christ
our God and a great throng of visitors had come to town. During the
wrath of God it became clear what a great number of citizens there
was. Many of those who had been buried by earth survived to be
brought up alive but then died. Some of the citizens who survived
gathered whatever of their possessions they could and fled. Peasants
attacked them, stole their goods and killed them. But God's benevolent
chastisement of man was revealed even in this, for all those robbers
died violently, some by putrefaction, some were blinded and others
died under the surgeon's knife, and after confessing their sins they
gave up their souls. One who plundered at that time was Thomas,
a SilentJar!us, who had escaped in flight from the wrath of God
and lived three miles out of the city at the place known as St
Julian's Gate, and, by means of his servants, stole everything from the
fugitives. He did this for four days, and as he was polluting
everything he suddenly died though he had been in good health, (421)
and everyone glorified God. His property was stolen and lost. He
was buried there, in the place where he died.
Other mysteries of God's love for man were also revealed. For
pregnant women who had been buried for 20 or even 30 days were brought
up from the rubble in good health. Many, who gave birth underground
beneath the rubble, were brought up unharmed with their babies and
survived together with the children to whom they had given birth.
stole their goods and killed them (420.13-14): 'and strangers robbed
them and stole from them. For there were robbers who entered the city
to plunder, and they killed many who refused to hand over their
property. When these strangers killed, they robbed their victims of the
only hope or possession left to them: their lives, The strangers
entered the city and pillaged the ruins. They found caskets of silver
plate, and gold coins and silver lying about. They found many women
adorned with much gold and with precious stones and beads' Slav.
even in this, for... violently (420,14-15): 'in the fate of these looters
and strangers, for all who took whatever it was that they had decided
upon died instantly, and not one of them remained alive' Slav.
plundered at that time (420.18): 'with his servants plundered a
lot' Slav.
Thomas (420.18): 'called Thomas the Hebrew' Slav.
in flight (420.19): 'unharmed' Slav.
three miles (420.20): 'two or three miles' Slav.
fugitives (420.21): 'from passers-by and from those fleeing the wrath of
God. There were also looters who took much gold from under the rubble'
Slav.
for four days (420.22): Slav adds 'and they took much gold and silver
and other possessions'.
in good health (420.23): Slav adds 'and strong, he collapsed and died
suddenly, before he had even compiled an inventory of all that he had
plundered'.
everyone glorified God (421.1): 'everyone who heard of this glorified
God, the righteous judge' Slav.
His property (421.1): Slav adds 'was dispersed by the elders, and some
of it'.
stolen and lost (421.1-2): Slav adds 'so that he had nothing left but
the robes he wore'.
where he died (421.2): Slav adds 'and in that robe, for fear of the
citizens who were clamouring against him'.
20 or even 30 days (421.4): '21 days' Slav.
Book 17 241
Equally other children were brought out alive after 30 days. Many
even more tremendous things occurred. On the third day after the
collapse the Holy Cross appeared in the sky in the clouds above the
northern district of the city, and all who saw it stayed weeping and
praying for an hour. After the collapse of the city many other
earthquakes occurred during the next 18 months. Buildings collapsed
too at Seleukeia and at Daphne over a distance of some 20 miles. The
emperor provided much money for the cities that had suffered. When he
had heard of God's benevolent chastisement of man, he was afflicted with
great sorrow; the games were not held in Byzantion and, when the
time of Holy Pentecost came, he entered the church without his crown,
weeping and wearing a purple cloak along with all the senators who also
were wearing purple.
17, (422) In that year the emperor sent out the comes Carinus
with five centenarla. With him he also sent Phokas the patrician
and Asterios, learned men, giving them much money for the reconstruction
of the city, its aqueducts and bridges over the river, since he knew the
city; for he had lived in it for some time when he had gone there with
the magi strs' milltuw during the Persian war. He wrote frequently to
these patricians to take care of the city.
18. After eight years and nine months of Justin's reign the
most sacred Justinian became co-emperor with him, together with the
Augusta Theodora, and was crowned by his most sacred uncle during
AD527 the consulship of Mavortius. The emperor Justinian gave generously to
the city of the Antiochenes. He established a secure, orderly condition
in every city of the Roman state and despatched sacred rescripts to
6. Bo 427.17-428.4; Th 174.27-175.5
(AD527/8), Ke 643.10-15
PsO 844 (AD532/3), MS 9.21 (192); Slav: JN 90,70,
Ist 26,14-27.1,
Grapes (427.19): written as 'Grates' Th, Ke, 'Grates'
MS; see Stein, 1949, 305, note 3. Slav, 'Agripas'
Byzantion (427.19): 'Constantinople'
Th, Slav.
7. Bo 428.5-7; Th 176.17-19 (AD527/8),
Ke 645.7--8; Slav: Ist 27,1_3,
away from them (428.1): Th adds, cf
Ke, 'and given to the
8. Bo 428.8-429.9; Slav: Ist 27.3-28.6, Orthodox
Soph 128.
559 (428.11): cf '6059' Slav.
from Adam to this indiction (428.11-12): 'from Adam the
to the imperial consulship of the first-created
and to the end of the indict.ion' Slav.
divine Justinian, to its termination
6497 (428.12; '4' is in rasura and
a later hand, see Bury,
cf '6407' ('6417' Soph) 1897, 229):
Slav. Slav continues
Antiochenes who live in the city by 'According to the
the Orontes this was
starting from Juliuus Caesar. the 577th year
According to the Alexandrians
Egyptians and live by the Nile, this was who are
the 245th year from Diocletian,
According to the so-called Syrian
Macedonians of Apamea,
40th (sic) year from Seleukos Nikator' this was the
Slav.
Clement, Theophilos and Timotheos, the
'Timotheos and Theophilos, the very
chroniclers (428.1,1-14):
learned chroniclers' of
agree among themselves (428.14): cf 'spoke Slav.
accurately' Slav,
6432 (428.17): cf 'b032' Slav.
Theophilos and Timotheos (428.17.-18): cf
sixth millennium had been passed Slav which adds
(428.19): cf 'and that'andtheclement'.
thousand is to come lura; after the seventh
corrupt passage; see Franklin, 19871, present seventh inx]iction' Slav (a
248 Book 18
Sittas enrolled indigenous (430) scriniarii and made them his own
military scriniarii in accord with an imperial rescript, having
requested the emperor to enrol natives since they knew the regions of
Armenia. The emperor granted him this and the rights of the Armenian
duces and comites, and also consulars who were formerly milites
for the former offices had been abolished. He also took
four numeri from the maglster milltuo jer Orientem and from that time he
became a great bulwark for the Romans. Sittas was a warlike man who
married the sister of the }Augusta Theodora, named Komito, whose wedding
took place in the palace of Antiochos near the hippodrome in
Constantinople.
11. In that year the emperor promulgated a sacred decree concerning
bishops, heads of orphanages, oikonomoi and wardens of hospices, that
each of those mentioned above should have power of bequest only
over those things held as property before entering office, and that
immediately upon appointment his wealth was to be declared.
12. In that year the district of Sykai with its theatre and walls
was reconstructed, and he renamed it Justinianoupolis.
13. In that year the queen of the Sabir Huns came over to the
Romans. She was a woman manly both in size and wisdom, named Boa, a
widow with two small sons and 100,000 people under her command. (431)
She ruled the lands of the Huns after the death of her husband Blach.
Having been won over by the emperor Justinian with many gifts of
imperial raiment and a variety of silver vessels and not a little money,
she took captive two other Hunnish kings whom Koades, the emperor of
the Persians, had persuaded into an alliance with him against the
Romans. Queen Boa captured them as they were passing into Persian
territory to Koades, emperor of the Persians, with a force of 20,000
men, the majority of whom were slain in the battle. She captured one of
the kings, named Tyranx, and she sent him as a prisoner to the emperor
Justinian in Constantinople, who had him executed at St Konon's on the
other side of the Golden Horn. Glom, the other king of the Huns, was
queen's warriors (431.15): Th, Ke add 'And in this way she became an
ally at peace with the emperor Justinian'. Slav adds '(Here) ends the
Hellenic chronicle'.
14. Bo 431.16-433.2; Th 175.24-176.17 (AD527/8), Ke 644.13-645.6, PsD
845 (AD533/4), MS 9.21 (192), JN 90.66-9.
Grod (431.17): written as 'Gordas' Th, Ke, 'Gourdios' MS.
to Constantinople (431.18): Th adds 'and became a Christian', cf Ke, JN.
to be on guard with them (432.3): Th adds 'against the Huns and to exact
the cattle tax', cf Ke.
trade (432.4): 'much trade' Th.
This king (432.5): Th adds 'of the Huns'.
his brother (432.6): Th, Ke add 'and told him of the emperor's love
and liberality and that he had become Christian', cf JN.
furious (432.10): Th adds 'and, united with his brother, went away',
cf Ke.
Mougel (432.12): written as 'Mouageris' Th, 'Mougeras' Ke.
Fearing the Romans... guarding the city (432.12-13): 'In fear that the
Romans might seek him out, they fell suddenly on the city of Bosphoros
and killed the tribune Dalmatius and his soldiers' Th, cf Ke.
the ex-consul John (432,16): Th adds 'the grandson of John the Scyth
and son of the patrician Rufinus', cf Ke.
force of Goths (432.17): 'large force of Scyths' Th, Ke, cf JN.
by land (432,20): Th, Ke add 'Godilas from Odyssopolis and'.
Book 18 251
a
He also recanstzvcted
the city's aqueduct
reconstructed this (436.2):
aqueduct which 'The emperor
emperor Hadian had been built
to CPwater
Previously by the
f mperorion ri
Bt Provide thlspeople of Byzantion before the
Byzantion had a water SPeuev6aL 'before
supply'); see Downey,
l937b,f205
Book 18 253
18. Inthat year some of the bishops from various provinces were
accused of living immorally in matters of the flesh and of homosexual
practices. Amongst. them was Isaiah, bishop of Rhodes, an ex-prapefectus
vigilun at Constantinople, and likewise the bishop from Diospolis in
Thrace, named Alexander. In accordance with a sacred ordinance they
were brought to Constantinople and were examined and condemned by Victor
the city prefect, who punished them: he tortured Isaiah severely and
exiled him and he amputated Alexander's genitals and paraded him
around on a litter. The emperor immediately decreed that those
detected in pederasty should have their genitals amputated. At that
time many homosexuals were arrested and died after having their genitals
amputated. From then on there was fear amongst those afflicted with
homosexual lust..
19. in that year Pompeioupolis in Mysia suffered from the wrath
of God. When the earthquake occurred, the ground suddenly split
open and half the city with its inhabitants was swallowed up. They
were beneath the ground and the sound of their voices was carried
to the survivors. The emperor made many benefactions for excavations
(437) to rescue those beneath the ground, and equally to those left
alive and to the city for its reconstruction.
22. Bo 438.21-439.7.
23. Bo 439.8-440.13; Ke 637.3-9.
24. Bo 440.14-441.7.
as though under a contract (440.18): a difficult phrase, cf Justinian,
Novel 14.
all such brothel-keepers (440.22; Bury, 1897, 229): 'all' om Bo.
256
Book 18
had been reconstructed after the former shocks collapsed, as did the
walls and some of the churches. (443) When the other cities heard what
had happened, they all held processions of prayer in mourning. Parts
of the area around the city suffered also. Up to 5,000 lives were lost
in this earthquake. The surviving citizens fled to the other cities,
but a number of them lived in the mountains. The patriarch Euphraimios
reported all these events to the emperor, and when the people at
Byzantion heard what had happened, they held processions of prayer for a
considerable number of days.
been reconstructed after their destruction all fell to the ground - the
walls and gates of the city, and above all the great church and the
other churches and martyrs' shrines, and the other houses which the
previous earthquake had spared all collapsed, with few exceptions' JE,
cf Th; Th adds 'All the magnificence with which the city had been
invested through acts of generosity by the emperor and through the
buildings erected by the citizens at their own expense was all
destroyed'.
Parts of the... suffered also (443.2): 'the surrounding villages, which
had earlier been rebuilt, were all destroyed for a distance of 10
miles. But the 6th earthquake did no damage to Seleukeia or Daphne,
cities situated at a distance of 20'miles from Antioch in different
directions, which in the 5th disaster had been destroyed and
overwhelmed, not by fire but only by the earthquake. They too had
struck terror into onlookers' at
up to 5,000 (443.3): '4870' Th, GM, cf '4770' MS.
in this earthquake (443.3): JE adds 'apart from the injured, of whom
some had broken limbs, others had suffered a variety of injuries. But
God's mercy and grace were made manifest in the fact that he did not
permit the city again to catch fire and be burned as in the last
disaster'.
The surviving citizens (443.4): 'The majority of the surviving citizens'
JE.
fled (443.4; Bury, 1897, 226): om Bo.
the other cities (443.4): JE adds 'leaving Antioch abandoned and in
ruins', c£ MS.
in the mountains (443.4): 'on the mountain facing the city, and made
themselves huts out of blankets, clothing and rugs, in which to spend
the bleak winter. For after the collapse and destruction of Antioch,
the earthquake was followed by a harsh winter, and snow fell to a depth
of three cubits. Those who had remained in the city itself spent their
time in lamentations and great grief. They went on processions of
prayer carrying olive branches, barefoot in the snow, and when they had
processed in a snow storm out of the city into the open plain as far as
the first milestone, they threw themselves headlong into the snow,
chanting the "Kyrie eleison". They were a sad and terrible sight as
they froze in the snow, very pale, crying out in great bodily and mental
pain, and they lay there, grim-faced, weeping, suffering, disfigured by
the extreme winter cold, But while they were praying, it was revealed
in a vision to a pious Christian that he should tell all the Antiochene
citizens who had survived to write on the lintels of the doors of the
houses and shops which had remained intact, "Christ is with you ('us'
Th, GM): stand". Therefore all the surviving inhabitants wrote this on
258
Book 18
,Ulentium and, having detained all the Manicheans with their bishop,
he gave orders to the armed force that was in attendance and they
put to the sword all the Manicheans, their bishop and his clergy.
They were all slaughtered before the eyes of the emperor and the
Christian bishop. Their property was confiscated, and the emperor gave
their churches to the Christians. He also sent out sacred rescripts
throughout the state governed by him, that any Manichean who was
discovered should be burnt to death, and he had all their books burnt.
This was related by the Persian carrier, who was baptized and renamed
Timot.heos.
31. In that year the Roman emperor renamed the fortress known as
Anasarthon Theodorias after the Augusta, having granted it the status of
a city. Likewise he renamed the fortress at Sousa Justinianoupolis.
32. (445) In that y ear Alamoundaros, the Persian Saracen, came
with a force of Persian s and Saracens and plundered First Syria as
far as the borders of Antioch, even burning some places within its
territory. On hearing these events, the Roman exarchs went out
against them. Once the Saracens became aware of this, they took all
their booty and escaped across the outer J.imes.
33. At that time the aqueduct of Alexandria the Great was
one of your brothers emperor so that their own teaching should prevail.
We are able, however, by our prayers to persuade your father to abdicate
from the kingdom and to assign it to you, so that you may strengthen the
teaching of the Manicheans everywhere". He agreed to do this if he
became emperor. Having been informed of it' Th.
The Persian emperor held a silentiaw (444.10): 'Kavades ordered a
conventus to be held' Th; Th adds 'for the alleged purpose of making his
son Phthasouarsan emperor'.
having detained all the Manicheans (444.10): 'He ordered all the
Manicheans to be present at the conventus'Th, cf MS.
with their bishop (444.10): Th adds 'their women and children, and
likewise the chief egos Glonazes and the ,c?goi and also the bishop of
the Christians Boazanes, who was loved by Kavades for being an excellent
physician. Having summoned the Manicheans he said, "I rejoice at your
teaching and, while I am still alive, I want to give my empire to my son
Phthasouarsan, who shares your beliefs. But set yourselves apart to
receive him". Encouraged by this they stood apart with confidence',
cf MS.
before the eyes of the emperor (444.13): 'before the eyes of the chief
gkagas ' Th.
31. Bo 444.20-23.
32. Bo 445.1-7; Th 178.7-15 (A0528/9).
In that year (445,1): 'On 21st. March of the 7th indiction' Th.
Alamoundaros, the Persian Saracen (445.1): 'Alamoundaros, son of Zekike,
kinglet of the Saracens' Th.
the borders of Antioch (445.3): Th adds 'at a place called Litargon
and the estates of Skapathai. He killed many people'.
its territory (445.4): 'the territory outside Chalkedon and the.Sermian
estate and the Kynegian country' Th.
booty (445.6): Th adds 'and prisoners'.
outer (445.6): 'inner' Th; see Rubin, 1960, 492-3, note 820.
33. Bo 445.8-9.
260
Book 18
34. Bo 445.10-19; Th
178.15-22 (AD528/9).
When (445.10): 'In the month
of April of the 7th indiction'
the Patrician Hypatios (445.15): Th.
Th adds 'the son of Sekoundinos'.
In that Year (445.17): 'On 12th May, Th.
Hermogenes, the ex-aagister-
Was sent (445.17): 'arrived
(445.17): 'Hermogenes the
/&gister' Th.
in Antioch'
to Persian territory (445.18): Th.
'sent as an envoy
Justinian to discuss peace by the emperor
with the emperor of
35. Bo 445.19-447.21; the Persians' Th.
De insid 44 (171.6-34),
Th 178.22-27 (AD528/9), CP 619.14-620.2 (AD529),
Ke 646.22-647.3, Eccl
MS 9.21 (191). Hist 110.12-15, JN 93.4-9,
named Julian (446.2): De insid
adds 'son of the
c£ JN which adds man known as Sabaron';
'And he seduced many
statement when he declared, of his people by his
"God bath sent lying
Samaritan kingdom"; just me to re-establish the
as Jeroboam the son of
after the wise Solomon Nebat who, reigning
the son of David, seduced
and made them serve idols'. the people of Israel
and they burnt estates and
churches and killed many
'The Samaritans attacked Christians (446.3):
the Christians
of them in this there and massacred
way. There was a custom many
land of Palestine and in which was common in the
the whole of the East
after the reading of the gospel, that on the Sabbath,
the children of the
leave the church and Christians would
go and play near the
and throw stones at their synagogues of the Samaritans,
houses. It was the custom
on this day to withdraw of the Samaritans
and keep to themselves.
could not bear to give way On that occasion
to the Christians, they
came out after the holy gospel and so when the children
and went to the Samaritan
started throwing stones, synagogues and
the Samaritans came out
with swords and killed against the children
many of them. Many
altar of St Basil's, which is children fled to the
there, and some of the holy
and slew them under the altar' Samaritans pursued
De insid.
Book 18 261
45. Bo 450.16-18.
46. Bo 450.19-451.15; Th 218.31-219.14
king's son (450.20): 'son (AD539/40), Ke 652.3-12.
his uncle (450.21): 'his of Giesmos' Th, Ke; Ke adds 'king of Sirmium'.
maternal uncle'
Moundos left Rome and when Th.
he reached (451.4-5):
Theoderic, journeying 'After the death of
to' Th.
subject of his empire (451.7):
Justinian accepted Houndos Th adds 'and he came
to Constantinople'.
many gifts on him and his and his men (451.7-8): 'The emperor bestowed
sons' Th.
Hums (451.11): 'Bulgarians'
and one of their kings Th, Ke.
(451.13): 'and from among the
their leader and others to captives he sent
Constantinople where
hippodrome' Th. they were paraded in
the
Peace (451.14): 'Deep Peace'
Th, Ke.
in Thrace (451,14): Th adds 'for the Huns no
the Danube (cf longer dared to cross
Ke). The emperor sent the
and Lazica, and had them enrolled Bulgar prisoners
in to Armenia
47. Bo 451.16-21; the ntemers
Vat Gr 163 26v, lines 25-27.
the laws (451.18): 'astrology' Vat ie datrpoyouLav
they were paraded around for vbuLua of Bo.
(451.21): reading TIEPLE(3Q4cyO Oav
cav cf Lampe, sv nEPriWu06w. for
Book 18 265
48. Bo 452.1-3.
49. Bo 452.4-12; MS 9.24 (206--7).
50. Bo 452.13-453.14; Th 180.21-181.11 (AD529/30).
during the consulship...Rufinus (452.13-15): 'in the month of March of
the 8th indiction in Antioch Hermogenes, the maaglsgter and ex-consul, and
Rufinus, the ex-magister milituan (see PLRE II 955) and patrician' Th.
sent a message to Koades, the emperor of the Persians (452,17): Th adds
'to receive them'.
at Nisibis (452.24): Th adds 'with a large Persian force, in the
month of June of the 8th indiction'.
Roman exarchs (453.3): Th adds 'with the m<agrgter, beginning a skilful
campaign'.
In the battle that followed (453.4): 'In a great battle and terrible
clash' Th.
Nisibis (453.7): Th adds 'so the Romans won a great victory'.
Rufinus (453.13): Th adds 'alone'.
on their embassy (453.14): Th adds 'in the month of August and, after
much discussion, they established the terms of peace and departed
peacefully'.
266
Book 18
51. Bo 453.15-454.4; Th
224.15-27 (AD543/4), Th d
Ke 657.4-14, GM 643.20-644.12, (de Boor II, 370-1),
LG 323.9-19(130.1-12).
travelling (453.16;xcwuo5pouwv
Chil):xoauobpouwv Ba;
showman (453.16): Th, see Bury, 1897, 230.
Ke add 'named Andreas'.
tawny-coloured dog (453.16):
Th, Ke, GM add 'blind'; Th d adds 'not
large in size, with its ears
and tail cut off'.
rings (453.20): 'gold, silver and iron rings' Th,
bronze'; Th d adds 'and Ke; GM adds 'and
coins of various emperors'.
hunt around (453.22): Th d adds 'and remove
large number (453.24): 'mixed the rings from the ground'.
up' Th, Ke.
The dog would also give
back,.. different emperors
everybody was amazed. (453.23-4): 'and
Then again he would say
coin of the emperor Leo". to the dog, "Give me the
The dog would hunt around,
his mouth and give it to him. take the coin in
And he would say, "Give me Zeno's
and the dog would bring it, coin",
and likewise for each emperor
would give him the coin with the he told him he
emperor's inscription' Th
picked them out correctly (454.3): d.
Th d adds 'and all pregnant women
whom the dog prophesied
would have male or female
accordingly. Thus everybody was astounded'. children gave birth
spirit of I>ytho (454.5): Th d adds
'for its eyes were transformed'.
52. Bo 454.5-10; Th 181.14-18
(AD530/1), GM 643.10-14,
During this reign (454.5): JE 227.17-24.
'In September of this year in the 9th
indiction' Th, cf 'In this
year in the evening'
star (454.5): Th, GM, cf JE, add JE.
'a comet',
in the western region (454.6):
JE adds 'like a spear
Firebrand (454.7): JE adds of fire'.
'all who saw it were struck
and there were droughts (454.9): with terror'.
'Afterwards many
for what would happen after who were waiting
that portent saw many
fear, hunger, drought' wars, the spread of
JE.
murders during riots (454.9): 'universal
riots and murders' Th
ill omen (454.10): cf JE which adds 'We are GM.
evils and record them as they were unable to describe these
reported on every side'.
Book 18 267
53. At the end of the month of September the Roman ambassadors who
had been sent to Persian territory returned, having made a treaty. The
emperor Justinian, on learning that he had won peace for the Romans, was
filled with joy. When he received the letter accompanying the treaty
and read it, he found that it was as follows:
"Our ambassadors who had been sent to your Clemency have
now returned and have announced to us the good intention
of your paternal disposition. We have rendered thanks
for all things to the Lord God in that an event
befitting his goodness has taken place and that peace
has been made with the help of God to the benefit of the
two states and the credit of us both. It is clear
that great glory and credit is due in all the earth
before God and men for the fact that peace has been
established between the two worlds (455) under the reign
of your Clemency and of us who truly love you. The
enemies of both our states will be destroyed when with
God's help this peace is established. Our ambassadors
then will arrive with all speed, for they must complete
what is necessary to secure the peace. We pray indeed
that your paternal disposition be preserved for many
years".
54. Rufinus was sent once more by the Romans, whence a second
letter was despatched to Persian territory; he found the Persian
emperor had withdrawn from the peace agreement they had made between
them. For news had come that the Samaritans in Roman territory,
incurring the anger of the emperor Justinian, as was described above,
had fled and gone over to Koades, the Persian emperor, from their own
territory of Palestine, and had promised to fight for him. They
numbered 50,000. They promised to hand over to the Persian emperor
their own land, all Palestine and the Holy Places, a city which
possessed donations from various emperors, both a large sum of gold and
an untold quantity of precious stones. When the Persian emperor heard
this and had been convinced by their statements, he withdrew from the
agreement to make the treaty. He made his excuse the question of the
gold-bearing area that had been discovered formerly in the time of
the emperor Anastasios and was under Roman jurisdiction; these mountains
had formerly been part of the Persian state. The gold-bearing mountains
lie on the border between Roman Armenia (456) and Persarmenia, as the
experts say. These mountains produce much gold, for when rain and
storms occur the soil of these mountains is washed away and pours out
flakes of gold. Previously certain people leased these mountains from
the Romans and Persians for 200 litrai of gold, but from the time the
mountains were taken over by the most sacred Anastasios only the
Romans
were in receipt of the revenue that had been decreed. This was what
upset negotiations over the treaty.
The Romans learnt of the Samaritan betrayal when certain of their
men of substance were captured on their return from Persian
territory,
and were recognized after their journey
to Koades, the emperor of the
Persians, and after their agreement
with him to betray their land as was
mentioned above. There were five Samaritans who were recognized. On
being captured, these were taken before the _gister ml]itcuw per
Orientem and were examined in his
presence. They confessed to the
treachery which they were planning.
The report on them was read to the
emperor Justinian.
55. In that year there were widespread
earthquakes and much time
was spent in prayer in each city.
56. At this time an ambassador was
sent by the Persian emperor
to the Roman emperor and, having
handed over the letter he was carrying,
he was sent away bearing gifts.
When the Roman emperor heard
from the patrician Rufinus (457) about
the transgression of the emperor of the Persians,
and despatched sacred commands Koades, he composed
to the emperor of the Axoumitai. When
this Indian emperor had joined
battle with the emperor of the
Indians, he defeated him completely, capturing Homerite
territory. his empire and his whole
In his place he made Anganes,
of from his own family, emperor
the Homerite Indians, so that the empire of
should also be subject the Amerite Indians
to him. The Roman ambassador set sail
Alexandria and reached
the Indian territory by way
for
Indian Sea. When he came into the presence
of the Nile and the
emperor of the Indians of the Indian emperor, the
was overcome with great
for many years wanted delight, because he had
to secure the friendship
Romans. In the ambassador's of the emperor of the
received by the account of the occasion when
Indian emperor, he was
imperial ceremonial: he described the form of the
the emperor was naked, Indian
his loins gold-threaded wearing from his belt to
linen clothing, and
stomach a tunic
decorated with pearls,
over his shoulders and
and gold bangles on and bracelets in groups
his arms. of five
linen turban with four Around his head was wound
cords on either side a gold-threaded
neck. and a gold collar around
He stood on top
of four elephants which his
discs, and upon them had a yoke and four
something like a tall
leaf, just as the carriage covered with gold
chariots of the provincial
in silver, The emperor of the governors are covered
Indians stood on (458)
high holding a small
gilt shield and two spears, also gilt, in his hands. His whole senate
stood likewise at arms, with flute-players providing music.
When the Roman ambassador was brought. in he knelt and made
obeisance, and the Indian emperor ordered me !",sic) to arise and approach
him. When he received the letter from the Roman emperor he kissed the
seal, and when he received the gifts the emperor sent him he was amazed.
Opening the letter and reading it, through an interpreter, he discovered
that its contents were that he should arm himself against Koades, the
emperor of the Persians, and destroy the territory bordering on his
own, and in future no longer engage in commerce with him but carry on
trade through the country of the Amerit.e Indians he had subjugated, by
way of the Nile to Alexandria in Egypt. Immediately Elesboas the
emperor of the Indians, in the sight of the Roman ambassador, declared
war on the Persians. He sent out ahead the Indian Saracens he
had under him and attacked Persian territory on behalf of the Romans,
advising the emperor of the Persians that he should expect the emperor
of the Indians to wage war against him and to plunder all the land ruled
by him. With everything thus under way the Indian emperor (459)
embraced the head of the Roman ambassador, gave him the kiss of peace
and dismissed him with much ceremony, for he sent a letter and gifts to
the Roman emperor through an Indian ambassador,
57. In that year a plea was sent from Hilderic, king of the
Africans, that his cousin had rebelled against him and the Moors had
made war on the Africans. They had captured much of his territory,
including the city known locally as Tripolis, Leptoma, Sabatha and
Byzakin, and taken prisoners over an area of a ten days' march.
Hilderic, the king of the Africans, began a campaign against them with a
large army, together with the general named Gelimer, who joined battle
with the Moors and completely overwhelmed them. And when he had united
in friendship with them, he took them into alliance and after rebelling
he entered Carthage in opposition to Hilderic, captured him and
imprisoned him in a house with his wife and children and killed the
senators. Gelimer sent gifts to the emperor Justinian through his
ambassador. When the Roman emperor was informed he was angry with them
because of the king of the Africans, for he had learnt about the
rebellion against Hilderic; and he dismissed them with much abuse.
He sent a inagr:strJ'anu-s to Rome (460) to ari
king At.hal c , grandson of
Valemeriacus, telling him not to receive ambassadors sent to him by
Gelimer, and not to acknowledge his title of king because he was a
rebel. When he had received the letter sent by the emperor, he complied
with it and did not. receive ambassadors from Gelimer the African.
58. In that year the emperor, wanting to fight against the Persians
both on land and on sea, sent out an army to keep the Roman state free
from disturbance,
seal (458.9) 'seal which bore the emperor's portrait bust'. Th.
destroy the territory (458.13): 'destroy Persian territory' Th.
Roman ambassador (459.1): 'Julian' Th.
57. Bo 459.4-460.6.
Hilderic (459.4, 10; corr Chil): 'Theuderich' Ba.
Valemeriacus (460.1; corr Dind): 'Alemeriacus' Ba.
58. Bo 460.7-9.
270
Book 18
59. Bo 460.10-461.7.
60. Bo 461.8-465.16,
Barbalissos (462.11; corn Dind):
'Barbaisissos' Ba.
Book 18 271
withdrew by night. When Belisarios and the Roman exarchs learnt this,
they pursued and overtook them. The Persians turned and stopped and,
drawing themselves up, they encamped on the Ilmes across the Euphrates
and made plans. Likewise the Roman exarchs drew up their army and took
a position opposite the Persians. They were arranged with the Euphrates
at their back, while Belisarios ordered that boats be stationed along
the river banks. Arethas was encamped on the southern section with
Dorotheos and Mamantios, the Isaurian exarchs, while Sounikas and
Simmas, with their army, were on the north. It was on 19th April, on
Holy Saturday, at Faster, that the battle took place. The Persians
attacked Sounikas and Simmas and, as the Romans resisted, the Persians
as a trick turned their backs and retreated to their own men. When the
Persians had come together they realized that the Romans had the
Euphrates at their back, so they attacked with their Saracens and joined
battle; many fell on both sides. Among those who fell on the Persian
side were Andrazes the tribune and Naaman, son of Alamoundaros; on the
side of the Roman Saracens the day named Abros was captured, while
Stephanakios was wounded and fell. In the general melee (464) Apskal
charged into the middle of the Persians and was killed there when his
horse trampled on a corpse. When the Phrygians saw their exarch fall
and his standard captured by the Persians, they turned in flight and the
Roman Saracens fled with them, but others continued with Arethas
fighting. Some supposed that a number of the Saracens fled because of
the treachery of the phylarchs. When the Isaurians who were stationed
nearby saw the Saracens fleeing, they threw themselves into the
Euphrates thinking they could get across. When Belisarios saw what. was
happening, he took his standard with him and got into a boat; he crossed
the Euphrates and came to Kallinikon. His army followed him. Some used
boats, others tried to swim with their horses, and they filled the river
with corpses. Sounikas and Simmas continued fighting the Persians and
these two exarchs, persevering with their surviving army, dismounted and
valiantly fought a battle on foot. By skilful deployment they destroyed
many of the Persians. They did not allow them to pursue the fugitives
but intercepted three of their exarchs. They killed two of them and
captured alive one named Amerdach, a warlike man whose right arm had
been cut. off at the elbow by Sounikas. (465) They continued fighting
with their army.
When evening fell the Roman exarchs and their army came to the city
of Kallinikon, after the Persians had been pursued for two miles. At
sunrise the next day they left the city of Kallinikon, crossed the
Euphrates with their army and the citizens and despoiled the Persian
corpses. When the inags:ater (Hermogenes) learnt all that had happened in
the battle, he informed the Roman emperor. Having read the letter, the
emperor Justinian ordered by letter the inaglster militcrm
Sittas, resident in Armenia, to journey to the East to give military
help. Sittas also captured Persian lands, He came to Samosata by
traversing the Armenian mountains. Constantiolus was also ordered to go
to the East to find out the truth about the battle. After reaching
Antioch he set out in the direction of the Roman exarchs, to learn the
complete truth.
Mamantios (463.12; corr Dind): 'Mama' Ba, first hand; see Bury,
1897, 230.
272 Book 18
61. At that time Julian the praetorian prefect was dismissed from
office and John the Cappadocian was appointed in his place.
The Romans learned that Persian exarchs with a Persian
force and
Saracens had moved against Osrhoene, and had encircled the fort known
as
Abgersaton, which had been built by Abgaros, the toparch of the
city of
Osrhoene. It had an old brick wall. The garrison inside (466) killed
1,000 of the Persians by shooting down with their arrows;
and when they
ran out of arrows they used slings and
killed many of them. As a result
the Persians were hard-pressed, and by use
of a variety of engines they
dug through the brick wall of the fortress
and started to make their way
in. But those on the wall became aware of the breach that
by the barbarians and came down
had been made
from the wall; they began to cut down
with their swords the Persians who were
entering. The Persians realized
this and, while the Roman soldiers
were occupied at the breach, they
took ladders and made their way
up to the wall at night. They forced
their way in, captured the fortress and killed everyone,
except for a
few who were able to escape and
brought news of what had happened. The
Persians set out from there
and returned to Persian territory.
When Constantiolus learned of the
rest events
of the exarchs, he set out for Byzantion from the nagrster and the
the emperor. and reported the events to
When he had heard a report
Constantiolos, he relieved Belisarios on the battle from
Moundos to the position of f#ag ster of his command and appointed
In the month of June, while the
militum ,tar Orlentem,
preparations against the
Roman m111ttan were making
Persians, Alamoundaros, the prince of the
Saracens, wrote to the
Romans for a deacon called
him so that he could Sergius to be sent to
convey peace terms
emperor.' Sergius was sent back
through him to the Roman
to the Roman emperor with the letter
(467) sent by Alamoundaros.
The emperor, having read
not stop his campaign the letter, did
against the Persians.
ambassador to Persia He sent Rufinus as an
with a letter for the
accept. friendship; king recommending that he
"for it is honourable
states to live in peace. and glorious to make the two
Persian land for myself". this,
If you do not do
I shall seize the
61. Bo 465.17-467.14.
62. Bo 467.15-18.
63. Bo 467.19-22,
Book 18 273
64. Bo 468.1-9.
65. Bo 468.10-469.3.
and expected (468.22; see Bury, 1897, 230): om Bo.
victorious (469.1; see Bury, 1897, 230): om Bo.
66. Bo 469.4-470.18.
274 Book 18
oppose the Persian schemes. He made a taller tower inside the walls
and, with the Persians fighting from the tower outside and the Romans
fighting back from the tower inside, the Romans used a machine to drop a
column which smashed everything to the ground and killed many Persians
at the some time. When the rest of the Persians saw what had happened,
since they were suffering losses and had also heard that Sittas, the
Roman maglster mllitum, was approaching to help those in the fortress,
they withdrew, frightened that they would be surrounded. When the
emperor Justinian heard this, he instructed his ambassadors
not to enter
Persia until he sent them a second letter, and so they remained on Roman
territory with the gifts,
67. The emperor sent to all the cities laws for litigants,
dealing with the expenses involved in obtaining judgements.
Likewise
with regard to the payment of swrtulae,
he decreed that no one was to
dare to take more than the amount prescribed
by him. (471) In the city
of the Antiochenes these were written in Greek letters on the
notice-boards. At the same time the theat re o f th e c t y receSved
11
financial support. /
.
Book 18
AD532
chariot-racing was being
call upon held on 13th
the January, both factions
22nd race and emperor to show mercy. They began to
they were not continued chanting until the
evil counsels granted an
in them and answer. Then the devil
merciful Blues and they chanted to one prompted
Greens!" After the another, "Long live the
having given races the crowds went off
as not to themselves a watch-word with the united,
be infiltrated word, "Conquer"
charged on. by soldiers so
Towards or excubitores, And so they
demanding an answer evening they went to the city
an answer, they about the prefect's praetorium,
set fire to fugitives at St Laurence. Not receiving
praetorium, the the praetorium.
Great Church and Chalke Gate of the palace as This fire destroyed the
the public far as the Scholae, the
on their
be held and disorderly way. At colonnade. The people continued to charge
after daybreak the emperor
members now set fire the customary flag had been ordered the races to
to the tiers of hoisted the faction
colonnade as far the hippodrome.
as the Zeuxippon Part of the public
Constantiolus and
command, Basilides went out (475) was burnt. Moundos,
intending to with a force at
chanting against silence the rioting the emperor's
John, nicknamed mob which by then was
and the city the
prefect Eudaimon. Cappadocian, the
The senators gtestor Tribonian
who had been
sent
the fugitives
at St
remove the soldiers Laurence (474.15-16): Th adds
on guard 'asking the prefect to
This fire there'.
destroyed the
'The porticoes praetorium
from the arch ... public colonnade
also the shops
of the
of the Forum
to the Chalke(474.17-19): cf Th
destroyed by fire. silversmiths and the were burned; and
They killed whole palace of
them. Then they unsparingly the
Lausos were
see Bury, broke into houses soldiers who attacked
1897a, 117, and began to loot
independence of who suggests their contents';
that Th is here
in a way which judgement in arranging the showing mistaken
either can be seemed to him more lists of burned
logical. It is
buildings
than one trusted for unlikely that Ba
catalogue of burnt this list, which probably
points out that buildings; see reflects more
Ba, CP and Th Gleye, 1896, 444,
different stages of give the
burning of St
who
the riot. CP Sophia at three
most detailed should be
account, free, trusted most since it
abbreviation. apparently, is the
was burnt at However since CP is from errors
in lacuna caused by
Chalke and St this point apart here, we do not know
Sophia probably from the
praetorium - except
what
the Zeuxippon was survived one or that the
burnt two more days
'(The emperor (see below).
sent to see (474.23-475.1):
what they were
CP adds,
after the lacuna,
a serious
emergency arises, chanting) "at
emperor said to then you do what random. But
them, "Go out and you have decided". when
Sotiriadis, 1888, discover why they The
46-8; 112-13; Bury, are
Cameron, 1976, 1897a, 98, note 3 rioting"'; see
of a later 324-5, The first and 99; Maas, 1912,
attempt to fill the words, bracketed
lacuna in CP. above, are part
Moundos...emperor's command
Maas, 1912, 48, note (475.1-2): 'The patrician
in 3), who was Basilides (see
deputising for the
the Constantinople, and Constantiolus
rioting mob outside went out of the
,
gister Hermogenes
them, asking, the palace palace.
"What do you want and silencing
them, they
Halting
John, nicknamed and why are addressed
the Cappadocian you rioting?"'
the Cappadocian' (475.4): CP.
CP. 'the praetorian
prefect, John
Book 18
277
out heard this chanting
from
Immediately John, Tribonian andthem and reported it to the
went out with a troop Eudaimon were emperor.
of Goths; dismissed.
faction members were cut there was fighting Belisarios
down. The mob
was incensed and many of the
and started fires
candfSthAquilinasastfar
Forum of Constantine
like
the crowd was eager to throw imperial robes for him out from the
palace. Hypatios had learnt that the emperor had left and, seating
himself in the he boldly came out in rebellion.
(476) When Moundos, Constantiolus, Belisarios, other senators and an
armed force had come up through the kathi.s.s from behind, Narses,
the cuhi and sa tharios, slipped out without being noticed and
beguiled some of the Blue faction by distributing money. Some of the
mob started a disturbance and chanted for Justinian as emperor for the
city. The mob was divided and set upon one another. The nhagistri
dexcubitere1landd
itary re, and beguiled
to the people'. scholerriat forsttheseetoo
h d defected
The alstrl allitur. ,-both entrances
own men they charged into (476.7-8): 'Coming
out with their
the the hi
son of Moundos through
door of the imperial the curved end, others
through the single
box into the
quarter of Antiochos arena, still others through
the
and what is known
cut down the people as the Dead Gate. They began to
at random' CP, cf
some with arrows, Th.
result that none
BOW with swords (476.9): CP
adds (cf Th) 'with the
of the citizens or
found in the foreigners ('Blues
hippodrome survived. or Greens' Th)
of Antioch-Theoupolis, Amongst these Antipatros,
was slain'. the virwex
Belisarios went off...Hypatios
those under Belisarios, and Poorpeius
to the nergiste ']! u,4openedlthe
the imperial Irathi'm?and
charged in with the dooseleading
Hypatios, together gretharii.
with Pompeius Arresting
They fell down (476.12): the patrician, his cousin' CP, cf
'When they were Th.
At an order ...Pu them in prison brought in, they
fell down' CP.
and scttharii (476.17-19): 'He
and the J rtgtus instructed his eunuchs
and lock them up". Eulalios and the
They took them down cam ilati, "Take them
Hypatios and Pompeius alone' into the palace and
locked up
CP.
35,000, more or less
(476.20): '35,000
who made the estimates citizens and foreigners,
say. No faction-member as those
and there was peace was to be seen
till the evening' anywhere,
On the next CP, cf Th,
day (476.21): CP adds 'which
Hypatios and Pompeius (476.21): was Monday 19th
Audynaios'.
Patricians'. Th adds 'his brother',
CP adds 'the
were put to death (476.21):
regalia and revolted, De insid adds 'one
the other as his as having worn imperial
thrown into the sea (476.22): accomplice'.
body was washed up on CP adds (cf Th and De insid)
in the middle of
the shore, and the
emperor ordered
'Hypatis'
the it to be buried
over the body, on other executed criminals, and a stone
which was inscribed, to be placed
Louppa". Some days later "Here lies the emperor
the emperor ordered of
his body and bury it. Hypatios' family
They took it and buried to take
Mauna. Pompeius' body it in the martyrium
never reappeared. of St
confiscated. The rest of the patricians All their Possessions
found with them were
fled, some to
Book 18 281
to all the cities (477) and he undertook to rebuild the places that had
been burnt.. He built a granary and reservoirs near the palace so as to
have supplies in times of crisis.
, \ l
Book 18 283
In those days...in each city (478.12-15): 'On the 20th of the month
Dios, of the 12th indiction, the emperor Justinian issued at
Constantinople his sacred edict, which he sent to the city of Rome, to
Jerusalem, to the great Theoupolis of the Antiochenes in Syria, to the
great city of the Alexandrians in Egypt, to Thessalonike the city of the
prefecture of Illyricum and to Ephesos the city of Asia. The contents
were as follows:
The emperor Caesar Justinian, Pious, Victorious, Triumphator,
Maximus, ever-revered, Augustus, to our citizens - We are desirous in
all things to worship the Saviour and Lord of all, Jesus Christ, our
True God, and to imitate his condescension as far as the human mind is
able to comprehend it. Finding some people infected by the sickness and
madness of Nestorios and Eutyches, the enemies of God and of the most
holy catholic and apostolic church, and refusing to name the holy and
glorious ever-virgin Mary as Theotokos rightly and in truth, we have
been eager that they should be instructed in the correct faith.
Incurable as they are and concealing their error they go around, as we
have learnt, disturbing and scandalizing the souls of the simple and
speaking in opposition to the teachings of the holy catholic and
apostolic church. Therefore we have thought it necessary to refute the
falsehoods of the heretics and to make plain to all the doctrine of
God's holy and apostolic church and the teaching of her most holy
priests, whom we follow in making clear what pertains to the hope that
is in us, not making inovations in the faith - heaven forbid - but
demonstrating the madness of those who favour the teaching of the
impious heretics, as we have already done in the preamble to our reign
and made obvious to all.
We believe in one God, the father omnipotent, and in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the son of God, and in the Holy Spirit, worshipping one essence
in three hynnstasel_s, one godhead, one power, the consubstantial
Trinity. In the last days we confess Jesus Christ, the only-begotten
son of God, son of the True God, begotten of the Father before all ages,
co-eval with the Father, from whom and through whom all things have
their being, who descended from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy
Spirit of the holy, glorious and ever-virgin Theotokos Mary and, being
made man, endured the cross for us under Pontius Pilate, and was buried
and rose again on the third day; and we know his miracles and the
suffering which he endured willingly in the flesh were of one and the
same Christ. For we know that God the Word and Christ are not separate;
the one and the same is consubstantial with us in humanity; and we
accept and confess the unity in hypostasis. For the Trinity remained a
Trinity even when one part of the Trinity, the Word of God, became
flesh. For the Holy Trinity does not allow of the addition of a fourth
person. Since this is so we anathematize every heresy, especially
Nestorios the man-worshipper and those who have agreed or now agree with
him, who divide our one Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, and our God
and who do not confess rightly and in truth the holy, glorious
ever-virgin, Mary to be Theotokos, that is, Mother of God, but who say
there are two sons; one being God the Word from the Father and the other
284
Book 18
79. Not long
afterwards a tremendous
AD533)
Great but it
caused no damage. earthquake occurred in
Antioch
80. In
that year the
1
consulship and emperor
recalled the distributed largesse for his
exile, granting patricians Olybrios and third
them all their Probus, then in
AD533/4 81, in the 12th property.
prisoner, with his indiction the king
of Africa (479) was
wife, by Belisarios taken
Constantinople. They were and they were
the brought in as brought to
chariot-races were being captives with the spoils
82. held. while
In that year
been placed in the statue of Julian
the Julian Harbour, the Apostate, which had
the middle of
a cross in
place of the fell down. They set up
After 83. statue.
After
AD535 Belisarios'
Constantinople by the consulship a
bishop of Rome, council was held at
the patriarch of Agapetos. He deposed
Constantinople. Anthemios,
born from
the ever-virgin
by grace
and connection Theotokos Mary and deny that he was
and relationship
himself; and who do not to God the Word begotten
God and our confess that our and God
God who was Lord Jesus Christ,
with the incarnate and made the son of
consubstantial Trinity. man and
and glorified For he alone it crucified, is one
together with the is who is
We Father and the Holy worshipped
anathematize also Spirit.
have agreed Eutyches, who is out
or now agree with of his mind,
the true him, who and those who
incarnation by the introduce delusions
and Saviour holy, and who deny
Jesus Christ, ever-virgin Theotokos Mary of our
that he is that is, our Lord
consubstantial with salvation, and who do
the Father in not confess
anathematize divinity.
Apollinarios the Likewise we
agreed or now agree destroyer of
with him, who souls and those who
of God and say that our have
our God is man Lord Jesus Christ
turbulence to the only; and those the son
who introduce
who have agreed incarnation of the confusion and
or do agree only-begotten Son of God,
All the with them. and all
bishops received a
displayed it in the copy of this
churches' CP. in their
79. Bo
478.16-17.
cities and
80. Bo
478.18-21.
81. Bo
478.22-479.3.
82. Bo
479.4-6.
83. Bo 479.7-12;
Th 217.1-12
After Belisarios' (AD536/7), Eccl Hist
'In this year consulship.. patriarch 112.29-31.
of Constantinople
Epiphanios, bishop of
the 15th (479.1-12):
indiction, having been Constantinople, died on 5th June of
Anthimos, a bishop for 16
heretic, bishop years and 3
Constantinople. of months,
In this year Trebizond was translated to
Constantinople and called a Agapetos, bishop
synod against of Rome,
of Halikarnassos the impious came to
and the other Severus and Julian
the bishop of Theopaschites. Among
Constantinople, who for these was Anthimos
deposed and driven being of one mind
out of the with them was
Menas, presbyter capital after
and steward of ten months as
stead by the Sampson bishop.
Agapetos, the pope hospice, was
while he was in of Rome. ordained in his
Byzantion, Agapetos, bishop of
lived for one year' In his place Rome, died
Th; cf Eccl Silverius was
Hist, whose ordained, who
briefer account, while
Book 18 285
confiscated (480.17): De
insid adds 'on the grounds
with the patrician Antonia that he had acted
(slc,), wife of Belisarios
against the emperor Justinian'. in p lotting
to Kyzikos (480.18): De insid adds
'to live there'.
was angry with John and
sent (480.21); De
patrician and consular insid adds 'certain men of
rank, Florus, the ex-consul
the Patrician Phokas and
the ex-prefect Thomas'.
Paul the Galatian,
At the emperor's command
(480.22): 'Since he was
the murder' De insid. found to blame for
Some time
... BYzantion (481.2): 'John
years until the death lived at Antinoe for a
of Theodora, when he number of
private person, not was recalled but remained
being appointed to office' a
90. Bo 481.3-21; Th De insid.
224.29-33 (AD544/5),
many cities had been GM 628.14-17, Ke
swallowed up (481.11): 657.15-19.
passage in Th, cf GM, Perhaps the following
probably from the
point, 'In this original Malalas, came
year the sea advanced at this
miles and covered on Thrace by four ('three'
it in the territories GM)
also Aphrodision. of Odyssos and Di onysopolis and
Many were drowned
the sea then retreated in the waters. By God's command
to its own place'.
91. Bo 482,1-3.
central hall (482.2): perhaps
'central courtyard';
see Guilland, 1969a,
92. Bo 482.4-11; Th 222.22-23 (AD541/2),
(AD544/5) MS 9.28 (235--8), JE 227.25-240.30,
GM 641.1-17. PsD 855
Book 18 287
installed in his see. He went off to the monastery of the Holy Apostles
in Periteichisma,
101. In that. year, while a comes nicknamed Dipundiaristes was
prLgetor, those who had been implicated in the murder of the bishop of
Kyzikos, Ardreas and John nicknamed Dandax, were tried in public. After
the trial the two had their right hands cut off.
102. In that. year continual earthquakes occurred.
103. In the month of June in that indiction there occurred the most AD547
tremendous thunder (484) and lightning, so that people were injured by
the lightning even in their sleep. During these terrors part of the
column on Xerolophos was stripped off.
104. On the 28th of this month of the 10th indiction the Augusta
Theodora died.
105. In the month of July, after fighting had occurred between
both factions, a fire broke out in the building known as the House of
Pardos. Many places were burnt. and many murders were committed.
106. In the 13th indiction an Indian ambassador was sent to AD549/50
Constantinople with an elephant.
107. In that year there was erased from the holy diptychs the
name of Menas, the archbishop, and the name of Vigilius, the pope of
Rome.
AD550 108. In the month of April a faction riot occurred in the hippodrome
when no races were being held. There were many deaths on both sides.
109. On 28th June in that indiction there occurred the dedication
of the Holy Apostles and the deposition of the precious relics of
Andrew, Luke and Timothy in Constantinople. The bishop Menas rode
with the holy remains, seated in an imperial carriage.
110. In that year Narses, the us was sent (485) to Rome
to fight against the Goths, because after Belisarios had taken Rome
it was retaken by the Goths,
111. On 26th June in that indiction the bishop of Rome, Vigilius,
was received by the emperor. He had incurred the emperor's anger and
AD551 113. (486) In the month of September of the 15th indiction there
occurred the dedication of St Eirene which is across the Golden Horn
in Justinianai. The holy relics left the Great Church with the
from the land. Some ships which were moored in the harbours settled on
the sea-bottom since at God's command they had been left high and dry as
the water flowed away. Therefore men, moved by that disaster and led to
grief and penitence by the brutal spectacle of wrath, would have felt
contempt not only for the impious world but also for their own lives,
had their hearts not been hardened like Pharaoh's - not by God as was
written about him but by the devil. For the inhabitants of the cities
and towns on the coast immediately rushed into the sea on a bold and
determined impulse, to steal with wicked avarice the huge overturned
treasures which were at the bottom of the sea - an impulse which cost
them their lives. Therefore when many thousands of people, rushing into
the depths of the sea on a deadly impulse, had begun to take the
treasures and remove them quickly and others, seeing them laden with
deadly wealth, had rushed up with great enthusiasm so as not to be
deprived of the hidden treasures which had suddenly been revealed by the
earthquake, when some of them had rushed down to the bottom others were
hastening above, others were trying their utmost in the middle, and all
were rushing around in confusion, then a tremendous surge of the sea,
rushing up unobserved to return to its original depth, overwhelmed and
consumed in the depths of its eddying waters all those wretched people
who had rushed to find wealth from the bottom of the sea and, like
Pharaoh, they went down to the depths and were drowned, as it is
written, like stones, and God rolled the waters of the sea over them, as
the flood burst forth and flowed back to its former abundance. Those
who had lingered on the edge of the shore in these places, and were now
hurrying to go down, those who were closest to the land, fled to the
shore when they saw the deep sea rushing back to its former position.
But after they had escaped, as if from hunters, a violent earthquake
took place which overturned houses in the cities, especially Beirut.
The houses as they fell crushed those who had escaped from the sea, and
so nobody survived. For with the sea rising up against them from behind
and the earthquake bringing down the city in front of them because of
their evil greed, they were caught between two disasters. This happened
to them in accordance with the priestly saying, "though saved from the
sea Justice would not let them live". Therefore those who had sought
wealth were delivered up to total destruction and lost their lives, and
their bodies were found floating on the waves like rubbish, Then in the
rubble of the destroyed city, at God's command, fire broke out and for
almost two months the flames burned and flared up among the ruins, till
even the stones were burnt and turned to lime. Then the Lord sent down
rain from heaven for three days and nights, and so the fire burning in
the city of Beirut was put out. Any who had been saved from the sea's
return and the collapse of the city, lay in the city wounded and injured
and consumed by thirst, since the city's aqueduct had been destroyed.
When this report was received the emperor Justinian sent gold through
several noblemen, who removed and carried out innumerable human bodies
and restored the city to some extent', cf MS.
113. Bo 486.1-7; Th 228.6-13 (AD551/2), Eccl Hist 113.15-19.
in Justinianai (486.2): 'at Sykai' Th, Eccl Hist.
Book 18 293
knees (486.6): Th adds 'They went as far as Perama, then crossed over
and the emperor met them. They then inaugurated the church of the holy
martyr Eirene'.
114. Bo 486.8-9; Th 228,13-14 (AD551/2).
near the palace of the Secundianai (486.9): cf 'of the Hebdomon' Th.
115. Bo 486.10-13; Th 228.14-18 (A055112), Eccl Hist 113.19-23.
While his body... patriarch (486.11-13): 'Eutychios, the apal-risiarias of
Amaseia, a monk and presbyter of the monastery at Amaseia, replaced him
on the same day, while Menas' body was still lying in the sanctuary' Th,
Eccl Hist.
116. Bo 486.14-18; Th 228.18-24 (AD551/2), Ke 659.15-17.
completely defeated him (486.16-17): Th adds 'and captured Rome', cf Ke.
His bloodstained clothes...Constantinople (486.17-18): 'He sent back to
Constantinople his bloodstained garments and jewelled cap. These were
thrown at the emperor's feet during the secre.tuw'Th.
117. Bo 486.19-22.
118. Bo 486.23-487.9; Th 222.25-30 (AD541/2) (=Th a), 229.5-10 (AD553/4)
(=Th b), 229.29-230.3 (AD554/5) (=Th c), Gr Chron 8, Eccl Hist 113.
25-30, GM 642.8-11, Schreiner I 10, JE 241.1-16, PsD 862 (AD550/1),
MS 9.29 (245-6). Th b certainly reflects Ba here; Th a has strong
similarities to Ba in the list of destroyed buildings and the fallen
spear and to Th b in the same list and in reference to the Golden Gate;
Stein, 1949, 828 suggests that the doublet. may derive from Malalas; we,
however, have consolidated all the references into one.
In the month of August of the 2nd indiction (486.23): 'On 15th August of
the 2nd indiction, in the middle of the night, as Sunday was dawning'
Th b, of JE; cf 'On 16th August of the 5th indiction' Th a, Eccl Hist.
tremendous earthquake (487.1): Th a, GM, Schreiner, Gr Chron, Eccl Hist
add 'at Constantinople'.
parts of the walls at Byzantion (487.2): 'the wall, especially the part
near the Golden Gate' Th a, Th b, JE, Schreiner, Gr Chron, Eccl Hist.
294
Book 18
Constantine and (489) the one built by Theodosius, and parts of churches
collapsed, especially those on the far side of Hebdomon. The column
which was in the Secundianai was brought down, together with its statue.
A very large part of the Rhegion collapsed. Many people were killed in
the falling buildings. Days later some of those who had been trapped
in the rubble were rescued alive. In this shock many places in outlying
cities also collapsed, This tremendous threat lasted for ten days.
For a time people were conscience-stricken and continued to offer
prayers and supplications in the church. The emperor Justinian did
not wear a diadem for 30 days.
125. In that year an outlandish tribe of Huns, known as the Avars,
came to Constantinople.
126. In those days the bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia died in
Byzantion. Theokritos became bishop in his place.
127. In the month of February of the 6th indiction deaths occurred
i in Constantinople from bubonic plague. During this terror the guilds
all made silver biers. This tremendous threat from God lasted for six
Hebdomon (489.2): Th, cf Eccl Hist, adds 'and St Samuel, the Holy Mother
of God at Petalas and St Vikentios (Eccl Hist adds 'in the Campus') and
many church altars and 1-Y' oaria from the Golden Gate as far as the
Rhesion. There was no place or suburban estate which did not suffer
damage from the terrible threat of the earthquake. Rhegion suffered
so badly that it was unrecognizable (= 489.3-4). The churches of
Saints Stratonikos and Kallinikos, both in Rhegion, collapsed to the
ground'.
The column... statue (489.3): cf Th, PsD, 'The porphyry column, which
stood in front of the palace of Jucundianai, with the statue on top of
it, collapsed and was driven eight feet into the ground'; Th acids 'The
statue of the emperor Arcadius, which stood to.the left of the arch of
the Forum Tauri, also fell'.
Days later (489.5): 'even two or three days after' Th.
cities also collapsed (489.6): Th adds 'No man on earth in that
generation could remember so great and terrible an earthquake'.
This tremendous threat ... days (489.7-8): 'The earth continued to shake
night and day through God's benevolence for ten days' Th, cf GM, PsD,
the church (489.9): Th adds 'But after experiencing God's benevolence
they lapsed again into worse habits'.
30 days (489.10): '40 days' Th and adds 'and even on holy Christmas Day
('and at the Theophany' adds Eccl Hist) processed to church without it.
As a result. he stopped the customary Banquet. of the Nineteen Couches
('of the Twelve Days' GM) and gave the expense set aside for this to
the poor'; cf Eccl Hist, GM.
125. Bo 489.11--12; Th 232.6-14 (AD557/8), Eccl Hist 114.10-13.
Constantinople (489.11): Th adds 'Everyone thronged to gaze at them as
they had never before seen such a people. They wore their hair very
long at the back, tied with ribbons and plaited. The rest of their
clothing was like that of the other Huns. They had come as fugitives
from their own country to Scythia and Moesia and sent envoys to
Justinian, asking to be admitted'; cf Eccl Hist.
126. Bo 489.13-14.
127. Bo 489.15-18; Th 232.13-16 (AD557/8), GM 642.22-643.3.
bubonic plague... silver biers (489.16-17): 'bubonic plague, particularly
Book 18 297
months.
128. In that year the dome of the Great Church was being restored,
for it had cracked in several places (490) because of the shocks that
had occurred through God's benevolence. As the Isaurians were working,
suddenly the eastern part of the supporting dome fell and crushed the
ki:bourion, together with the holy altar. The remaining part that had
stayed in place was also brought down, as was the vault itself. The
dome was rebuilt 20 feet higher.
129. In the month of March of the 7th indiction the Huns and the AD559
Slavs made an attack on Thrace. They killed many in battle and took
some captives, including the magister miJitaw Sergius, the son of
Bacchus, and Edermas, major domo of Kalopodios, making them prisoners.
They found parts of the wall of Constantinople had collapsed and,
entering there, they raided as far as St Stratonikos. Everyone fled
with their posessions into the city. On Ding informed of thl;s, the
emperor conscripted' many and sent them to the Long fiall. They engaged
the enemy there ally
arn' ft/any Ro .ans, es ec. scholarii, were. killed.
Then the emperor ordered that the silver kibouria and silver altar
tables that were outside the city be. removed while the scholae,
the protect ores, the numeri and the whale senate guarded all the gates
among the young, so that the living were too few to bury the dead' Th.
six months (489.18): 'from February to July' Th.
128. Bo 489.19-490.5; Th 232.27-233.3 (AD558/9), Eccl Hist 114.14-22, Gr
Chron 11.
In that year (489.19): 'In this year, on Tuesday 7th May, at. the fifth
hour' Th, cf Eccl.Hist.
supporting done (490.2): Th, Eccl Hist, cf Gr Chron, add 'of the holy
sanctuary'; see Mango, 1966, 364-65.
The remaining part...higher (490.3-5): 'The engineers were blamed
because, to avoid expense, they had not secured the suspension from
beneath but had bored through the piers that supported the dome, for
which reason these had not held. Realizing this, the most pious emperor
erected new piers to hold the dome, which was built in such a way that
it was raised twenty feet higher than the first building' Th, cf Eccl
Hist.
129. Bo 490.6-12 up to italics, thereafter Th 233.11-234.12 (AD558/9);
Th 233.4-11 (for passage with Bo base text), Ke 677.20-678,14, cf MS
9.33 (269). We have filled the lacuna in Ba to para 133 from Theophanes,
who at this point has been using Malalas as his main source. We do not
presume that Theophanes gives more than a rough approximation of
Malalas' wording and so have marked the change with italics.
the Huns and the Slavs (490.6-7): Th adds 'in great numbers'.
Bacchus (490.8): 'the elder Bacchus' Th (perhaps 'the presbyter
Bacchus').
Asjar dayw (490.9): c£ 'general' Th, Ke; see PLRE III, sv Edermas.
Kalopodios (490.9): Th adds 'the most glorious cubi cularius and
praeposi tuvcr '.
the wall of Constantinople (490.10): 'the Anastasian wall' Th, Ke.
had collapsed (490.11): Th adds 'from the earthquakes'.
as far as St Stratonikos (490.12): 'as far as Drypia, Nymphai and the
village of Chiton' Th; at this point Ba breaks off.
298
Book 18
of the Theodosian wall,
staying put, he ordered Men the emperor ,saw that the .lt n%
them with same the ,tkatriciaan rians were
Belisxarios to march out
horse, inciz.r/ding other members of
those of the the senate, Belisaat-os
against
establishments and from everyemperor, of the hippodrome, oftook every
his, troops arms led ordinary man who had a religious
them
entrenched camp and began out to the village of [hiton. horse. He armed
Next he ordered trees to capture same of the Be shade an
blew up a cloud of to be crrt and dragged .behindenemy and 14-/11 them.
the aril'. The wind
thinking that an ennxmousdust, which drifted over the
of St .Stratonikos farce was there, fled and barbarians, They,
greaat garrison forceat Detaton, aen they learnedwent to the district
the was at the
walls of from scouts that a
region of Tzouroulon,
renhained encamped there ArAadioupol.is and[:on_atantinople, they went to
the emperor Went until holy Easter. 5tAfterAie4rander of Zogvara and
the feast of .Easter,
him to rebuild the out to Selymbria and
Long everyone
Wail where the from the city went with
emperor remained there
about outside. until August. .txartharz4ans had entered. The
double prowed shthe city until August,Likewise the b rtkarianss wandered
z'Xq to be
.t&rtharians as they built to go toThen the emperor ordered
the Danube aand oppose
crossed
discovered this, they as6-Pd and make wor on them, the
Danzzt saafely. The
+ through an envoy to he When the .thartaariaane
conduct them. emperor sent 7ustin,
his nephew, allowed to cross the
1,?0.In this year the
the curoavlates, to
river After
S.Rngaarioe, emperor began to
build the .bridge over the
five imposing arches anddiverting the river into another
there had only been so made the river bed, he built
a crossa hle, where
121. In this ,year,wooden bridge., previously
a rumour arose in on Thursday,
4th September of the.
returned from ThraceConstantinople that the emperor had 9th 1nc7diction,
seized the .bread from but did not receive died. For he had
third hour no tread the bread shopsanyone, So the people suddenly
and bakeries,
downpour of rain thatcould be found in the whole city. and at about the
the ,palace was day. The shops There was also a
were
senator because he that the emperor had closed and the common talk at
not
he had died, Abouthad a headache. For this granted an audience to any
the prefect to the. ninth hour reason it was believed
have lights lit the senate called a meeting that
the emperor was
well. In this way throughout the city to and sent
Show that
disturbaance, After (235) the. city
accused Cvecrye, the the emperor had recovered, theAVE; rained aafter the
Curator of the curator of the rxalace exprefect Eugenios
son of Peter aglace of Antiochos, of 1'larina,
the irhagister, of having intended to aand Aitherioa,
prefect, was in accordd. emperor, with whom make rheadore,
diswrroved, When the nkatter cerontios, the city
Eugenlas came under had .been
confiscated, He. sought refuge displeaasure, investigated and
in the church and and his house was
was .siaved.
130. Th 234.15-18
100.18-19. (AD559/60); LG 323.20-22
(130,13-15),
Ke 678.15-18,
sangarias (234.16): Ke 5k
woolen bridge (234.18): adds 'that called the five-fold
'Be also built Ke, LG, cf bridge'.
Sk, add
the church of
131. Th the all holy (perhaps from another source)
234.20--235.15 (AD560/1); Mother of God at
Ke the Spring'.
678.19-679.4.
Book 18 299
sticks and the emperor was not reconciled to them (the Greens,) until
In F&brtA7rj, the emperor ordered that of the men of the seven
scholae, those who were stationed at Nikomedera, I:ios. Prnt,sa, Ayzikos,
Antyaio)7 and Iloryla9ion leavq and take tp quarters in Thraace., J. e. 1n
Heraakleia and the surrounding cities.
In i/arch, the scholae rose tp against their comes because of some
payments they used to receive which had been abolished; so they attacked
him. The adore h'nndncheres, the son of Peter the maagister, chant. ed to be
there and by a threatening speech mkanaged to appease them.
in the. same year Q.tkiisipolis was captured by the Huns. The
emperor sent out his nephew Alarcellus, the magister mill tim, with a
large. force to rescue both this city and Persi.G.
In April Anastasioupolis in Thrice was also captured K2,77) by the
same Huns.
133. Bo 490.12.
the orthodox faith (490.12): the last
words of a passage, the rest of
which falls within the lacuna;
it is impossible to suggest what
subject was. its
134. Bo 490.13-15; Th 237.1-4 (AD561/2).
In the month of May (490.13):
'On 3rd May' Th.
Placidiae (490.14): Th adds 'was
accused of making many
statements against the emperor terrible
by George, curator of the palace of
Marina, and by John the
ex-consul, both relatives of
Theodora and'; see Stein, 1949, the empress
799 and Rochow, 1983, 471.
135. Bo 490.16-491.17.
136. Bo 491.18-492.2; MS 9.33 (271).
Their books...gods (491.19-20): Details
of the arrest of pagan
in MS may derive from Malalas, but there priests
is little similarity
wording; for the dating of this of
and neighbouring events, see
1949, 799-800. Stein,
137. Bo 492.3-6.
Book 18 301
plot had been carried out. Ablabios had taken money from Markellos,
about 50 litr&i of gold, to join in
the attempt. However, through God's
good grace, one of those who
had devised the plot, Ablabios, son of
Meltiades, confided the plan to Eusebios, the
John,
comes fnederaatorum, and
son of Dometiolos; he said, "In the
evening we intend to attack
the pious emperor while he is seated
in the triclinium'; When the plot
had been revealed, Markellos the money
dealer was found, on the evening
on which he was going to carry out what the plotters had planned,
entering the palace carrying
a dagger. Likewise Ablabios, who had
disclosed the plot, was found
with a sword. The plot had been
discovered in advance; Markellos
was arrested and, having failed in
aim, he drew the dagger which he was wearing his
and inflicted three wounds
on himself, and so died. Sergius, the nephew of Aitherios,
sanctuary in Our Lady Mother (494) sought
of God at. Blachernal, Expelled from the
precincts on the grounds that
he had conspired against the emperor,
was questioned. He made a deposition that he
Isakios the money dealer,
from the household of the patrician Belisarios,
plot, also knew about the
as did Vitus the money dealer and Paulus,
Belisarios' subnptdo.
Both were arrested and turned
over to Prokopios, the city prefect.
Constantine, the gtkwestor, Julian, the chief
secretary, and Zenodoros,
the a secretes, who took down their answers,
sat with Prokopios and
named by them (494.11) De insid, Th: 'named' Bo; see Bury, 1897, 227.
the men's depositions (494.19) Th: c£ 'the depositions of all those
arrested because of the plot' De insid.
and Vitus (494.18): De insid adds 'the money dealer'.
were read out (494.18): De insid adds, cf Th, 'Belisarios was
implicated'.
in any way (494,21): 'but sent them all to the emperor' De insid.
and the sagrster- mllltur (495.5): 'and the patrician and 1&4gister
militum' De insid,
under imperial anger (495.5): De insid adds, cf Th, 'staying at his
house, neither suffering confiscation nor exile but remaining in his
house'; see Patzig, 1890/1, 16.
142. Bo 495.6-8; cf CP 635.9-684.15 (AD552).
In that month (495.6): This entry appears to be misplaced by Malalas; CP
gives the correct context in the Fifth Oecumenical Council held in
Constantinople in 553, as well as providing a full text; it is, however,
unlikely that so huge a document was derived from Malalas, especially in
view of this misdating.
143. Bo 495.9-16; CP 687.12-15 (AD563), Th 238.18-24(AD562/3), Eccl Hist
114.26-31.
In that indiction (495.9): Th, CP, Ecc1 Hist add 'on 24th December'.
Thirty feet...Glory shall come in etc" (495.11-16): 'The all-night vigil
before the dedication took place at St Plato's.
'
Eutychios, the
304 Book 18
AD563 144. In the month of January of the 11th indiction, when the
chariot--races were being held, the charioteer Julianikos was dragged
along in the hippodrome and died,
145. In that month parts of Africa were captured by the Moors.
Koutzines, the exarch of this tribe, was used to receiving a quantity of
gold from the Romans through each successive governor, since he
was the ruler of the tribe of Moors. (496) When John, nicknamed
Rogathinos, came out and gave him nothing, breaking the former custom,
and on the contrary, had him assassinated, Koutzines' sons revolted, to
avenge their father's blood. Attacking districts in Africa, they
captured some places, killing and plundering. The emperor Justinian
sent his nephew Markianos, the magister milittun, to the assistance of
Africa with an army to ziacify the ,doors, They went over to him and
Africa gained race.
116. In April Prokopi os was di,sw ssed from the. city prefecture
and replaced by Andreas, the e..r-logothete.. As he rceme out of the place
throcx7h the Chalke, seated in his carrThge on his way to the anietoriwn,
the Greens met his at the palace of Lauso_s, They began to insult him
and throw stones at him. This led to a .big dLsturA?nce of the two
factions in the Hess. They broke into the prisons and fighting went on
from the tenth hour. The emperor sent out his ns.,nhew L711stin, the
curotaelates, who chased them away. But they clashed again about the
twelfth hour, and they were arrested and ,caeraded publicly for many days.
Those who had fought with swords had their thumbs cut off,
11,? On 1.9th 7uly the a?tricsan Belisarr'ns was received 'gay q_1 Von
taeck all his honours, Peter the magister arrived from Persia after
securing a peace treaty for 17,years as regards Lazica ancr' the eastern
regions.
In the same month envoys arrived in Constantinople from Aske1, king
of the. Hernmi chiones, who dwell inland of the A?z- aerian nation near the
Ocean.
wer&
In August there was a shortage of water, so that the public
closed and miazlers occurred at the. fountains,
t the
149, In this year, in October of the 12th indiction, the emperor
.Tustinian, in fulfilment of a vow, vz:sited 1'lyrtc9ngeloi, known
as Gexmia, a city in Calatia,
tri
In No vemtaer, Arethas the pa clan and phylarch of the. araacens,
came to Byzaantion, since he was obliged to report to the emperor which
of his sans, after his death, would obtain his phylarchy, aril to discuss
the activities of Ainkros, son of Alamourxd'aros, in his territory.
In December a great fire brokie out, and the hospice of Saamzpson waas
completely gutted, as too were the buildings in front of the quarter of
Rufus am' also the central hall, near the Cyst. Church (the one called
Gaar.aonostasion) and the two monasteries near St h'irene., along with its
central hall and part of iis narthe.,r.
14.9. In March of this year, in the 13th indiction, Beli;%qrios the
rutriczan died in Byzantion, and his property accrued to the imperial
house of Marina.
On 12th April of the same 17th infliction, &itychias, Astriarch of
Constantinople was deposed and tarnished to Amrsseia by .7ustinian. He ,.as
replaced by Tohn, the. ex-scholasticu.S, an c9,nnrf risi ari ns of Antinch the
Creat and vresbvter of the same church,
150. In the reign of Justinian there was paraded a member of the
Green faction, who was due to be castrated for raping a girl. The girl
was the daughter of Akakios, the imperial curator. While he was being
paraded, just as he was being taken through the quarter of Pittakia,
members of the Blue faction attacked and seized him and took him into
the Great Church. There was much disturbance over him and turmoil in
the church. The emperor exercised clemency, announcing his instructions
to the people through a silentiarius, He paraded the members of the
Blue faction for two days.
151. While Zemarchos was city prefect a disturbance in the quarter
of Mazentiolos occurred in this way. When the prefect Zemarchos
sent some of the commentarienses to arrest a young man named Kaisarios,
the inhabitants of the quarter of Mazentiolos resisted them, and they
mutilated many soldiers as well as the commentarienses themselves. The
fighting lasted for two days, and the emperor Justinian sent even more
soldiers and e=uhitores. Many of the exctzhitoresand soldiers were
killed, and also many of the Green faction died. They continued
fighting as far as the Forum, the Tetraspylon and the praetorium of the
city prefect. The Blue faction did not engage with the Greens, but the
fighting was between them and the excubitores and soldiers. A clash
took place in the Strategion on the same day. The ex-prefect Zemarchos,
after twice discharging the office of prefect, was replaced, and in his
the ccrojalates.
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Indices
References are to the page numbers of Bo (the Bonn edition), which are
printed in bold thus (192) in the translation.
'app' after a page number means that the name or term is to be found
in the sub-text to that page of Bo. 'Book 18 App.I' and 'Book 18
App.II' refer to material given in the sub-text to Book 18, para 71.
Entries like '295 iv' refer to the lacuna in Book 12, at Bo 295, where
material in the sub-text is given in numbered sections in pare 25.
'490a' and '496a' refer to material supplied from Th and De insid to
fill the lacunas that occur on Bo 490 and 496.
individual empresses.
arqustalios prefect of Egypt; 224, 280,
401, 434.
Augustus title of reigning emperor;
see Name Index for individual
emperors.
.iasrbatus bearded,i.e. not a eunuch (eunuchs were not
certain posts); 476 app. eligible for
harzaipanstai Persian officers; 271.
basilica a large hall with columns (but
Malalas also uses the same Greek
word to refer to a covered colonnade;
see Downey, 1937, 194-211); 216,
287, 318-9, 321, 338-9, 360, 397-8,
422.
fuleuterion chamber where the city council
met; 205, 211, 234-5.
Caesar title given to a junior
emperor; 306, 325-6, 337, 379, 381-2.
calamity a natural disaster, usually
an earthquake but also fire or
flood; 237-8, 243, 265, 267-9,
275, 289, 299, 323, 363, 369,
418-20, 442-3. 385, 406
carxr'idatusmember of the imperial guard
327, 475 app, 476 app.
(with a white uniform); 295 app,
centeraaria hundred pounds weight
(of gold); 267, 279, 406, 417, 421 app,
422, 424, 443.
cbzysw on tax levied every four
or five years on commercial
transactions, payable in gold;
398.
codicils imperial letter confirming
an appointment; 384.
cues, cawites title of holder of a civil
or imperial office, literally
'companion'; the nearest equivalent
is perhaps 'councillor'; 182,
326, 330, 336, 350, 370-1, 373, 185,
388 app, 390, 396, 410, 422,
441, 453, 483, 484 app, 485 app. 429-30,
--dontesticorum commander of a unit of soldiers attached
household; 333, 352, 439. to the imperial
--excubitotw commander of the imperial bodyguard;
491, 495. 410, 449 app, 490a,
-- foederatoxw commander of
units of mainly barbarian soldiers;
493. 364,
--Ja-g-tionin official responsible
for mints and payments to
employees; 400, 441 app. state
--of the Straits of the Pontic sea
official stationed at the
end of the Bosphorus to examine northern
cargoes passing to the Black
-- Otlentis governor of the diocese Sea; 432.
(administrative district)
office abolished 535; 319, of Oriens;
389, 392-3, 396-8, 417, 423-5,
ex- cans (& ientis former governor of Ori ens ; 416.
468, 490a.
ccawitatus the emperor's household,
and thus the central administration;
'second caw tc tus'an alternative
administrative centre; 319.
comwntarienses assistants in a government
496a. department, 389 app, 493,
ex- co/i rciariw former tax-collector;
396.
Conch an apse with a vaulted roof;
287.
consuls chief magistrates, elected
in the Republic but later
by the emperor; 182, 187-8, 191, 208-10, nominated
214, 216, 218, 227, 268,
376, 378, 383, 386,
411-2. 364,
ex-consul former consul, honorary
consul; 227, 383, 400,
452 app, 481 app. 416, 449,
ex-consul orn'in.9rius former consul,
January and so gave his name to the yearone who took up office on
411 app, 475 app.
1st
pro-consul official with the powers of a consul; 487 app.
consulars with the rank of a consul;
360, 430, 476 app.
Glossary 315
consular governors governors with the rank of consul; 183, 244, 338.
consular largesse donations made during celebrations on taking up the
office of consul; 426.
consulship office of consul (referred to by Malalas primarily for dating
purposes); 214, 217, 224, 226, 230-2, 236, 241, 243, 246, 250, 256-60,
277, 291, 306, 318-9, 326, 334, 343, 346, 351, 363, 369, 373, 376,
378-9, 386, 392, 395, 410, 419, 422, 425, 428, 450-2, 478-9.
conventas meeting of the senate; 102, 184, 371, 444 app.
silentIw at conventus meeting of the senate and emperor's advisory
council together; 438.
council of Antioch; 233, 287, 295.
--of the Church 323, 346, 365, 367, 411-2, 479.
cubicularius, cubicularii eunuch attendant(s) of the sacred bedchamber
of the emperor and empress; 95, 246, 290, 326, 332, 343, 354, 361, 368,
387 app, 408, 410, 441, 469, 476, 480-1, 484, 486,
curator (divinse dawus) official in charge of the estates owned by the
emperor; 439-40, 490a, 493, 496a.
curator dowin,icae dcww Placidiae official in charge of the estates
owned by Placidia; 490.
curopslates (gloriosisshnss> rank created by Justinian to denote the
heir apparent 412 app, 490a, 491, 496a.
cugpos wooden fetters; 50.
delegator official assisting in the supplying and transport of troops;
319.
dictator magistrate in the Roman Republic with supreme powers, used by
Malalas only of Julius Caesar; 214-6, 287.
diptychs hinged writing tablet; 138, 155-6, 266.
--official ecclesiastical record on such a tablet; 411, 484.
dawk5sticus personal assistant to a state officer; 410.
drourx,Pos a body of infantry consisting of from 1000 to 3000 men; 437
app.
dux, daces commander of one of the regional armies (e.g. of Phoenice,
Euphratesia); 299, 308, 382, 426, 429-30, 434-5, 441, 445-7, 453, 461-3,
469.
ex-dux former diet; 373, 441.
alas epithet of unknown meaning, applied to a dancer; 386.
emperor every ruler, whether Agamemnon of Justinian, is considered to be
an 'emperor'; see also 'king', 'toparch'.
ex- e.g. ex-bishop, ex- commercarlus, etc; see relevant entry.
exarch, exarchs commander; 101, 109, 112, 121, 159, 314, 329, 337, 373,
393-4, 432, 438, 445, 452-3, 462-6, 468-9, 486, 495.
excubitares imperial body guard; 372, 387app, 394, 410, 474, 476 app,
483, 496a.
faction supporters of one of the chariot. teams racing in the hippodrome;
see also Blues, Greens in the Name Index; 175-6, 244, 257, 263, 282,
295, 298, 304, 351-2, 368, 379, 386, 393, 395-7, 416, 422, 425, 473-4,
476, 484, 487-8, 490-1.
ex-factionarius former senior charioteer; 395.
fiscus imperial treasury; 295 app.
focderati troops supplied by a federate state ; 371 app.
folks, folles small coin(s); 400, 412, 439.
forum public square, market place; see Antioch, Constantinople in the
Name Index.
Hellenes, Hellenic pagan; 55, 63-4, 252, 258, 277, 317, 327, 344, 355,
316
Glossary
214-6, 218-9, 224, 243, 263, 266-7, 281, 291-2, 330, 337, 340, 342, 344,
357, 367, 370-1, 375, 379, 383, 439, 457.
senator(s) member(s) of the senate, or deemed eligible for membership;
44-6, 62, 82, 87, 93, 133, 135, 164, 166, 181, 184-6, 205, 215, 217,
224, 226, 243, 245, 248, 267, 278, 281, 291-2, 295 app, 311, 327, 334-6,
339, 348, 350, 358, 360, 366-7, 371, 373, 386, 388, 411, 434, 442, 459,
475-6.
senaton meeting place for the senate (of Antioch); 339.
sigma-shaped curved, like a lunate 's' (sigma); 302.
silentiarius usher
in the silentium, an imperial administrative
official; 420, 434, 496a.
ex-silentiarius 390, 392.
silentitm imperial advisory council; 444,
silenticon et conventus see con vent us.
skevophylakion sacristy 475 app.
skyplicw meaning unclear, literally 'cup', possibly 'skull' or 'shield';
35, 37.
spstharii bodyguard; 246, 332, 343, 387 app, 476.
spntlmrius member of a bodyguard; 359, 389, 476.
srartulae fees, bribe; 470.
stades measure of distance (about 200 metres) 202.
stratopedarch military commander; 97.
sulwptio a junior officer, assistant; 494,
talents monetary unit: 113, 210, 248.
talisman(s) charm, usually a statue, to ward off ill-luck; 233, 264-6,
318.
tavla board game; 103.
tetrapylon, tetrapyla triumphal arch(es), structure(s) with four doors;
223, 233, 328, 363,491.397,
tetrarchy the territory of a subordinate ruler; 222-44.
tetrastoon hall with four rows of columns; see Constantinople in the
Name Index.
toparch(s) governor of a toparchy, region; 93-4, 97-8, 144, 168, 192,
206, 208-9, 221-4, 227, 229, 231, 235-7, 466.
tractator treasury official; 400.
tribune military officer; 247, 432, 435, 463.
ex-tribune 367.
tricliniaw dining room, hall in the Great Palace; 475 app, 493-4.
Trinymphon building dedicated to the Nymphs; see Antioch in the Name
Index.
fl i sagion Thrice Holy (theopaschite addition to the liturgy); 407.
triumph procession to celebrate a victory; 157, 183, 220-4, 260-1, 300,
311.
triuinphator one who celebrates a triumph (part of Octavian's title);
225.
triumvir(s) three men appointed to an office (here Antony, Octavian and
Lepidus to restore the Roman Republic); 214, 218, 221.
tropsrion chant in church service; 479 app.
tyche personified Fortune of a city, usually represented by a female
statue; 31, 36, 139, 184, 201, 203, 216, 267, 276, 320, 322, 405, 478
app.
vestitores keepers of the imperial wardrobe; 484 app.
vicarius deputy, here the second-in-command of a regiment; 332.
vinlex, vincces treasury official; 400, 476 app,
320
Glossar
225-6.
Agrippa, Prefect of Rome under Nero
254.
Agrippianon; see Antioch, baths.
Agrippitai, see Antioch, districts.
Ahab, ruler of the Jews 148.
Aiaia, Kirke's island 117.
Aias: Lokrian Aias 104, 108.
Aias Telamonios 99, 102, 107-9,
113-4, 122, 128-32.
Aiases, the two 126.
Aides, father of Persephone 62.
Aigai (mod. Ayes), in Cilicia
297, 369.
Aigeus, father of Theseus 87-8.
Aigialeia, wife of Diomedes 166.
Aigialeus, of Sikyon 68.
Aigisthos, of Mykenai 133-4.
Ailianos (PPO Orientis 484; PLRE
II 14) 388 app, 389 app.
Aimar, god of 147.
Aineiades, descendants of
Aineias 171.
Aineias, son of Anchises 106, 162-3,
167-70, 216.
.Aio.lian Islands 117,
Aiolos, of the Aiolian Islands 117,
119.
Aischines (orator, c.397-322 BC)
188.
Aischylos, ruler of Athens
72.
Aite.gia, written by Kal.limachos 175.
Aitham, god of 145.
Aitherion, father of Polymedon
Aitherios (curator divl'ra domes41.Antiochi
Aithra, relative of Menelaos 95. 560-5; PLRE III) 490a, 493-5.
Aitolia, land of 164-7.
.Aitolian 163.
Akakios, curator 496a,
Akrisios, father of Danae 34,
84.
Akrisios, ruler of the Hellenes 84.
Alamoundaros (al-Mundhir III, ruler
of the Lalchmids 505-54; PLRE II
40-3) 434-5, 445, 460-1, 463, 466-7,
496a.
Alaric (Visigothic leader, c.391-410;
PLRE II 43-8) 349-50.
Albania, city founded by Askanios
168-9.
Albania, daughter of Latinus
168.
Albanol, the 169.
Albas, son of Aslcanios 169-70.
Albinus, rebel senator under
Sept.imius Severus 291.
Albinus (Ceionius Rufinus Albinus, cos
335; PLRE I 37) 319.
Aleos, father of Auge 161.
Aletes, of Corinth 90.
Alexander; (Alexander III of Macedon,
356-323BC) 189-90,
192-6, 210, 234, 292, 399.
Alexander Nikator (Se.leukos III Soter 226-223
BC) 205.
Alexander (M. Aurelius Severus Alexander, Augustus 222-35)
Alexander, bishop of Diospolis 436. 295 iv.
son of Hierios (MUM vacans 528; PLRE
.Alexander.,
Alexander, see Paris. II 58) 442.
162.
Artaxerxes Mnemon (Artaxerxes
11, c.436-358 BC) 169, 189.
Artemis; see Antioch, Constantinople,
Daphne, temples.
Asabinos, Official in Antioch
290.
Asaph, father of Joah 144,
146.
Asia, province 25, 81, 94,
109, 197-8, 210, 221, 246, 281, 327,
366, 409, 478 app; i.e. Ephesos 331-3
108.
Asios, a wonder-worker 109.
Askalaphos, one of the Hellenes'
leaders 107, 126.
Askanios, son of Aineias
and Kreousa 169; Askanios
Askel, king of the Hermichiones Julius 168.
Asklepiades (diix P,9.1 st.irkse ?484;496a.
Asklepiodotos, executed as
PLRE II 159) 382.
a pagan (529) 445,
.Asklepion, executed by Domitian
(= Ascletarion?) 266.
Asklephos; see Antioch, temples.
Asklepios, addressee of Hermes
Trismegistos 26.
Askoum, a Hun (MUM per
Illyrlcum; PLRE III) 438.
Asouam, daughter of Adam
and Eve 6.
Aspar (F. Ardabur Aspar, MUM,
East, 431-471, cos 434; PLRE 11 164-9)
367, 371-2, 374.
Assalam, father of Dareios (Dareios
III) 191-3.
Assyria, land of 12-15.
'Assyrians, the 12, 14-16, 25, 35-7, 59, 63, 144-51, 158,
192-3. 160, 162, 190,
.Asterion, home ofEurypolos 107
Asterios (,ctrJclus 526; PLRE II app.
172-3) 422.
.Aster:ios; see Zeus
Astyages, ruler of Persia (c.584-550
BC) 152-3.
Astyanax, son of He.ktor
and Andromache 123,
Astynome, mother of Aphrodite
13.
Astynome Chryseis, wife
of Eetion 100-1.
At.a.lante, daughter of Schoineus
165, 189,
Athalaric (king of the Ostrogoths
526-534; PLRE II :175-6) 385,
Athena is; see Eudokia Athenais. 429, 460.
Athene, daughter of Zeus
92, 135; see also Antioch,
Athenian, Athenians 13, 70-2, temples.
85, 169, 201, 211,
Athenodoros (Isaurian 251, 353, 403, 405.
rebel 492-7; PLRE.II 178-9)
Athens 108, 235, 251, 353, 355, 393,
406, 448, 451.
Atlas, an astronomer 69-70.
Atlas, son of Plesione 96.
Atlas, father of Kirke and
Kalypso 117 app, 118.
Atreidai, the (Agamemnon and
Menlaos) 94, 97-98.
Atreus, of Argos 85, 94,
107, 124.
Attalesis, near Rhodes and
Cyprus 11.
Attalus, Roman senator 226.
Attalus (Priscus Attalus, usurper 409-10,
Attica, land of 62, 70-1. 414-5; PLRE II 180-1) 350.
Attila (king of the Huns c.435/443-453;
PLRE II 182-3) 358-9.
Auge, mother of Telephos
161-2.
.Augusta; Ariadne 388, 393;
Eudokia 355-7; Helena 321;
Verina 372; Theodora 422-3, 430, 440-1, Mariana 341;
444, 467, 484; see also
individuals. under
Augusteion, see Constant.inople,
Augustus (63 BC-14 AD; referred to as Octavian,
Octavian Caesar, Caesar
Index 329
496a.
Belos, Persian name for Ares
16.
Belos, son of Picus Zeus 13, 14.
Belos, son of Libye and Poseidon
28, 30.
Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar
151.
Beneventum, originally called
Argyrippe 122 app. 163, 167.
Benjamin, son of Jacob 60, 90.
Bernike, wife of Antiochos Seleukos
205.
Beronike, widow 340,
Beselathon (in Osrhoene)
462.
Bessoi, the 393.
Bessoi, land of 43.
Bethlehem 227, 230-1.
Bithynia, province of 193,
209-10, 221, 259, 281, 289, 299,
app, 343, 363, 365, 370, 385, 487 323-4, 327
app.
B.lach(Hun king, before 528; PLRE
111) 431.
Blachernai; see Constantinople.
Black Sea 100.
Blasses, emperor of the Persians
(Valas 484-488, in error for Vararanes
V Gororanes, 421-438; PLRE II
1136) 364.
Blemmyes (nomadic tribe in Nubia)
295 xvii.
Blues; see factions
Boa (Hun queen, 528; PLRE III)
430, 431.
Boazanes, bishop in Persia
444 app.
Bolotia, land of 39-40, 42,
44-6, 48-9, 53.
Boiotian, Boiotians 39-40, 42--3,
48-9.
Boon Phoros; see Bosporos.
Bosporos, city of 431-3;
also known as Boon Phoros 431.
Bostra (in Arabia; mod. Bosra)
223.
Bostros, a general 223.
Botrys (in Syria; mod. Batrun)
485.
Bottia, village near Antioch
200.
Bottios, unidentified chronicler
34, 193, 262.
Bottios; see Zeus.
Boubion, in desert 331.
Boundos, a schismatic Manichaean
309.
Bounimos, son of Paris and Helen
111.
Brennus, king of the Gauls
184-5, 187.
Brescia (in Italy) 492.
Br'r.ttania, built by Claudius
246.
Brigetion (in Pannonia) 341.
Briseis; see Hippodameia.
Br.ises, from Legopolis 100-2.
British Isles 11.
Brittane, wife of Antiochos Kyzikenos
208.
Bronton, father of Theoboos 45.
Brumalia; see Festivals.
Brunichius, unidentified author 187,
Brutides, daughters of Bru.utus 177,
295 app.
Brutus, who expelled Tarquinius
Superbus (L, Junius Brutus)
Brutus Of. Junius Brutus 85-42 BC) 181-2, 188,
217, 224.
Bulgarian, Bulgarians 437 app, 451
app.
Bulgars 97 (cf. Huns), 402 (cf
Myrmidons).
Byblos (in Phoenice; mod, Gebel)
212, 485.
Index 331
428.
Cleopatra, daughter of Dionysos (Cleopatra VII Philopator 69-30 BC) 197,
217-20, 222.
Cleopatra, daughter of Antiochos Dionikes 208.
Collatinus (L. Tarquinius Collatinus, cos 509 BC) 181-2, 188.
Commagene, province 261.
Commentarisios; see John.
Commodiuun; see Antioch, baths.
Commodus (L. Ceionius Commodus, cos 78) 260.
Commodus (M. Aurelius Commodus, Augustus 176-192) 283-4, 286, 289-90.
Conch; see Antioch.
Consilia; see Festivals.
Constans (Fl. Julius Constans, Augustus 337-350; PLRE 1220) 325.
Constans (Augustus 404/10-411; PLRE II 310) 350.
Constantia (in Osrhoene; mod. Viransehir) 442; formerly Maximianoupolis
323.
Constantia (in Cyprus; near mod. Farmagusta), formerly Saiamias 313.
Constantianus (MUM 563; PLRE III) 495.
Constantine the Great (Fl. Val. Constantinus, Augustus 306-337; PLRE I
223-4) 5, 79, 316-26, 361-2, 395, 400, 419.
Constantine the Younger (F1. Clauclius Constantinus, Augustus 337-340;
PLRE I 223) 324--5.
Constantine (?Comes rei
m1;lltat rev zn &wenja 502; PLRE II 513) 398.
Constantine (QSP 548/9-562; PLRE III)
494.
Constantinople 6, 263-4, 320, 322-6,.337, 342, 344-55, 357-8, 360-1,
363-6, 368, 370-5, 378-80, 383, 385-6, 388-90, 393-96, 399-404, 406-8,
41.6, 423-4, 427 app, 428, 429 app, 430-1, 435-6, 438, 441-2, 447, 476
app, 477, 478 app, 479, 481, 483-4, 486, 488-92, 496a; see also
Byzantion.
acropolis 345.
aqueducts, Hadrian's 436.
Augusteion 321, 475 app, 479,
482, Bk 18: App 1.
Basilike Bk 18: App I.
.basilicas: the Senaton 321; of the Furriers 475 app.
baths: Dagistheos' 435; Zeuxippon 291, 321-2, 370-1, 474.
Campus 487 app.
Chalke 474 app, Bk 18: App I.
churches: St. Anastasia 479 app; St. Aquilina 475 app; Biachernai, the
Virgin 490a 494; St Diomedes in Jerusalem 481, 492; St Eirene 475 app,
Bk. 18: App I; in Justinianai 486; of the Horos 487 app; Great Church
348 app, 475 app, 476 app, Bk 18: App I, 496a Sts Kosmas and Damian
423; St Konon 389 app; St Laurence 473-4;
St Mamas 382, 405; St. Maura 476 app; St Sergius 483 app, 485; St
Stratonikos 490, 490a; Holy Martyr Theodora 492; St. Theodoros 475 app.
courtyard, of Helios 345,
Dekimon 344, 382, 387.
Delphinx 387 app.
districts: Alexander 475 app; Antiochos 430, 476 app; Dagistheos 484
app; Euboulos 411, 475 app; Eleusia 484 app; Hormisdas 483 app 485;
Justinianai 486; Kaisarios 490a; Mazentiolos 496a; Moschianos 490;
Petrion 321app; Pittakia 492, 496a; Probus 490a; Rhabdos 321 app;
Sphorakios 475 app.
forum 474 app; of Constant.ine 475 app, 478 app; Forum Tauri 385, 401,
334
Index
482 490a,
gates: Dead 476 app: Golden 481; St
Aimilianos 321 app; Rhegion 475
app, 485 app, 489,
harbour: Julian 372 app, 475 app, 479, 490a.
Hebdomon 475 app, 484 app, 486 app, 489; Secundianai, palace at. 486,
489.
Hexahippion 395.
hippodrome 292, 320-2, 340, 344,
408, 475; Kochl.ias of, 320, 344, 382
app, 387 app, 476 app; Chalke of, 394.
hospice of Sampson 475 app, 479, Book 18;
App. I, 496a,
house of: Andreas 491; Appion 490, Barsymias
491, Lausus 474 app,
496a; Marina 496x; Pardos 404;
P.lacidia 490; P.lac.illianai 475 app;
Probus 475 app; Stoudios 369 app;
Symmachus 475 app.
.h7-wegion 491.
Libyrnus 475 app.
Magnaura 475 app.
Mese 372 app, 490a, 491, 496a.
Milion 479 app.
Neorion 372 app, 491.
Nikai, near the Kilikes 321
app.
Oktagon Book 18: App.II.
Omphakera 490a.
Perama 407, 486 app.
Peritei.chisma 483.
poulpita 476 app.
Regia J21-2, 475 app.
river Lykos 264.
senate 475 app.
statues: Hellos 291-2; Zeuxippos
291.
temples: Aphrodite 292, 324, 345;
Artemis 292, 324, 345; Helios 324,
345.
tetrapylon 491, 496a.
Theodosian Wall 490a.
Troadic colonnade 363.
tythe; Keroe 320; Anthousa 320,
322.
Xerolophos 349 app, 484, 487 app,
Xylokerkos 372 app,
Constantiolus (MUM 528: PLRE 1.11)
438, 465-6, 475-6.
Constantius Chiorus (Fl,
Val. Constantius, Augustus 305-6;
313, 316. PLRE 1227-8)
Constantius (.F.l. Jul. Constantius, Augustus 337-61;
Constantius 01. Constantius, Augustus 421; PLRE t 226) 325-6,
PLRE II 321-5) 350.
Constantius (roles Irientj's 494; PLRE II 320-1)
Constantius, surnamed T2ouroukkas
393,
(PUC 509; PLRE II 313) 394 app.
Corinth 261, 418.
Corinthian, Corinthians 90, 117,
120.
Corne.l.ius Callus (C. Cornelius Callus c,69-26
BC) 214.
Cretans 88, 201,
Crete 17, 30-1, 39, 85-8, 94-5, 107-8, 119, 121, 134 app, 250,
Cumaian; see Sibyl, 359,
Curius (unidentified consul) 208.
Cush, father of Nimrod 12.
Cyprus i1, 101, 122, 313,
Cyrenius (unidentified consul) 226.
Index 335
337
Domitius Ahenobarbus, governor
of Bithynia 40-34
Domn.inos, writer (?5th cent. Bc, 221 app
AD) 5 88
297, 310 142, 201, 219,
,
266, 273
Donatus (unidentified conrq.11) 287
226.
Dores, member of the Hellenes'
fleet 907 app,
Dorias, in Hellas 107 app,
Dorotheos (MUM
Dorylaion 490a, III) 463, 469, 472,
463,
D.rakon, Athenian .lawgiver (E1.
Drakon, river 38, 197-8, 621/20 8c) 72.
200, 234; see
Drosine, St 277. also tlrontea.
Dymas, father of Hekabe
96,
Dyrrachiurn (in Ep.i.rus: rood.
418.
Durres) 347, 392, 417-8; formerly
Epidemnos
Echion, husband of .Agave 41-2,
Ederion, of Achai.a 82.
Edermas (MUM per 559 PLRE IT I) 490.
Edessa (in 0srhoene, mod,
renamed ,7t.tst.inoupolis 419.
Urfa) 295 i 207,
396, 418-9 442,
Eetion, of Lyrnessos 467;
1001,
Eglom, the Zaboulorrite
79.
Egypt 11, 18, 24, 26-9, 58, 60-4,
66^7, 70-1, 81
206478 21app.2, 215, 217-22, 224, r..66, 95-6, 144 189
280, 293-4, 308 196-7,
310, 36, 41
414
Egyptian, Egyptians 18, 21, 23._7 , 417,
193, 196, 218, 221, 224,
J71 55-7, 63-6
252--3, 308-9, 70, 154-5 189-9Q
Egyptos, son of Belos 30, 57,
Eirenaios, writer (? bishop of Lyons,
(son of Pentadia, c. '177/8) 160 1900
C/1.4k .Fel 625-6)
app, 427, 446 app, 447, ;f.r: 9e 5:10; PLRE
111
Eirene, St; see 398, 418
Eirenoupolis (in Second c:'ilicia) churches
E.leazar, high priest of the Jews 34`i
Elektra, daughter of Agamemnon 134, 206,
Elektra, daughter of Plesione
137, 142.
96,
Elesboas (Kaleb Ella Ashcaha, ruler
458. OF Ethiopia e.519-c,531;
PLRE I1 388)
Eieutherios, rioter in Ant inch ,196--7,
Eli, the priest 86, 90.
Eliakim, the ruler 149.
Eliakim, the high priest 169,
Eliakim, the steward 144-6.
Elias, the patrician arid com3g
Elijah, the Tishhitp 143, 441 app,
Elissw see Dido.
Elpe, daughter of Polyphemoc.
Elphenor, of Euhoi,a 107. 114, 11-11,
Emesa (in Phoenice LibancJnc,rs;
mod. Horns) 2216,
Enathos (Septimi,.)s Odrienathii,., '145, 386, 426,
ruler.- of Palmyra
Enchilia,' see Thehes. (1, 266/7) 29I-;lfl0,
Endelechos, of Assyria `;9,
Endymion, of the trihe of
Enoch,
J;ippth 61.
son of Jareth 7.
338
Index
Factions: Blues 175, 244, 257, 298, 312, 51, 68, 386, 93, 397, 416,
425 473-4
, 476 ,488 490 a, 490-2
, , ,
Greens 175-6, 244, 246, 263, 282, 295, 298, 302, 304, 351-2, 363, 368,
379, 386, 389, 393, 395-7, 473-4, 475 app, 476 app, 484 app, 487 app,
490.
Greens-and-Blues Book 18: App I.I..
Reds 175-6, 386, 393.
Whites 175-6, 386.
Falco (Q. Pompeius Sosius Falco, cos 193) 291,
Faunus, son of Picus Zeus 16-17; also called Hermes 16-18, 21, 28, 34.
Faustinus, relative of Commodus 290.
Faustus, foster-father of Romus and Remus 180.
Februarius, Gallic senator and scapegoat 183-4, 186,
Felicianus (Fl. Felicianus, conies (2rientis 335, cos 337; PLRE I 330-1)
319,
Felix (M, Antonius Felix, procurator of Palestine c,53-60) 247.
Festianus (? 312/324; PLRE 1 333) 314.
festivals: Brumalia 179; Consilia 183; .Ayneg',Y 285: "Mars on the cam us"
173; Nemean 153; Olympic 90, 248-9, 284, 286-7, 289-90, 307, 310-12,
362, 396, 417; Sun 81; Maioumas 286, 362.
Festus (Porcius Festus, procurator of Palestine c.60-62) 247.
Firmus (patrician, in Italy, late 5th cent; PLRE II 472) 384.
Flaccus, (L, Pomponius Flaccus, cos 17) 236.
Flavian, patriarch of Antioch (498-512) 400.
Florentinus, father of Constantiolus (early 6th cent.) 438,
Florianus (M. Annius Florianus, Augustus 276; PLRE 1 367) 301-2.
Florus (F. Annius Florus, 2nd cent AD) author of the Epitome of Livy
211.
Florus, patrician (541) 480 app.
Fortunus, unidentifiable Roman chronicler 6.
Fortunus, Persian officer 271-2.
index
340
lakobos, also known as Psychristos ( comes and chief physician, mid 5th
cent.; PLRE ii 582-6) 370.
Ialmenos, brother of Askalaphos 107, 126.
Iamblichos (Neoplatonic philosopher, c.250-c.325) 312.
Iaphtha; see Arkeuthas.
Iarbas, king of Africa 162.
Iberians, the 429.
iconium (in Lykaonia; mod. Konya) 36; originally Amandra 36.
tyche, Persis 36.
Idaios, son of Paris and Helen 111..
Idaios, Priam's messenger 130.
Idomeneus, of Crete 102-3, 107-8, 121, 124, 126.
Ignatios, patriarch of Antioch (d. 116) 252, 276.
Ikaros, son of Daidalos 85-6; see also Tripolis, statues.
344
Index
Kyros (Fl. Taurus Seleucus Cyrus, cos 441 etc; PLRE II 336-9) 361-2.
Kyrrhestike, district of N. Syria 304-6, 328, 472.
Kyrrhos (in Euphratesia; mod. Khor.os) 328.
Kyzikenos; see Antiochos IX.
Kyzikos, metropolis of Helllespont (mod. Bal.k.iz-Kale) 77, 279, 382, 386,
449, 480, 482-3, 490a, 491.
Kyzikos, ruler of Hellespont 77.
Polemo, general under Nero (Polemo .II, king of Pontus 38-63) 257.
Poliorketes; see Antigonos.
Pol.lio (C. Asinus Pollio, cos 40 BC) 224.
Polybios (historian, c.200-c.120 BC)
157,
Polydamas, realer of the Phoenicians 127,
129.
Polydeukes, brother of Kastor and Helen
77, 83.
Polydoros, son of Priam 102-3.
Polymedon, son of Aitherion 41.
Polymestor, ruler of Thrace 102.
Polyneikes, son of Oidipous 52-3.
Polypetes, member of the Hellenes' fleet
108.
Polyphemos, son of Sikanos
114, 116-7, 164-5,
Polyphemos of Argos 122 app.
Polyxene, daughter of Priam
106, 111, 123-5, 130-1.
Pompeianus Quaestor (? Claudius
Pompeianus Quintianus; Downey, 1961,
230, note 144) 287.
Pompe0s (Patrician, nephew of Anastasios
d. 532; PLRE III) 442, 475
app, 476, Bk 18:App 11.
Pompeioupolis, in Moesia 436.
Pompeius Magnus (Gn.Pompeius Magnus
106-48 BC) 211-2, 214-5, 221.
Pontic region 301, Pontic Sea 11, 77
app, 78-9, 114, 136, 221, 432;
Straits of the Pontic Sea 432.
Pontius, with Lucullus defeated
Tigranes 223.
Pontius Pilate (prefect of Judaea,
26-36) 240, 242, 251, 254-7, 478 app.
Pontous (? Pontius; Downey, 1961, 1.91,
note 127) 244-5.
Pontus, province 257, 301, 345,
365, 380, 448; Polemoniacus 257.
Poros, emperor, of the Indians 194.
Porphyrios (philosopher, 234/301/4)
56.
Porphyrios (governor of First Palestine,
?484: PLRE II 900) 382.
Porphyrios; see Kailiopas.
Poseidon, husband of Libye 30; temple of 36; sacrifices to
of the sea 173-4; statue, see Antioch. 89; symbols
Poseidonios, father of Acheloos
164.
Priam, ruler of Troy 91-4, 96-7,
99-100, 102-3, 105, 108, 111-13,
127, 129-30. 123-5,
Primoarmeniaci, numerus of 332.
Princes' Islands (in the Sea
of Marmara) 78.
Priscus (historian; PLRE II 906)
359.
Priscus ( camel excubitortsn 529: PLRE III) 449.
Probes (Fl. Probes, cos 502; PLRE
II 912-3) 436, 439475 app, 478.
Probus (M. Aurelius Probus,
Augustus 276-282; PLRE 1'736) 302.
Procla, wife of Pontius Pilate
240.
Procl.ianus (dais' Phoen/ra..s, 528; PLRE
Proitos, ruler of the Hellenes 83-4. III) 441-2.
Proklos (Proclus, philosopher at Athens,
515; PLRE II 919) 403, 405.
Proklos (Proclus, philosopher
from proconsular Asia, early
PLRE .11 919) 409, 6th cent.;
Prokne, daughter of Pandion 189.
Prokopios (Procopius, Augustus,
365-366; PLRE 1742-3) 329.
Prokopios (Procopios, MUM per Orientem,
422-424;
Prokopios (Procopius, comes O.rient..rs, 507: PLRE IIPLRE II 920-1) 364.
921) 396-7.
Prokopios (PUC, 562; PLRE III)
494, 496a.
Prokopios, St; see Caesarea.
Prometheus, inventor of writing 69-70,
Index 361
Quintilian (N. Aur. Cla.ulius Qui.ntilius, Augustus 270; PLRE 1759) 299.
Quintus Marcianus (Q. Marcius Rex, proconsul of Cilicia 67) 225.
Quirinius (?P. Sulpicius Quirinius, cos 12 BC, governor of Syria 6/7 AD)
222, 227.
Index
Theokritos (Theocritus,
comes, East
Theokrit.os (bishop of 518; PLRE II
Caesarea in Cappadocia) 1065) 410, 411.
Theon,
philosopher (of 489.
Theophilos, chronicler Alexandria, fl. 364) 343.
app, 157, 195, (? bishop of Antioch,
220, 228, 252, 169) 5, 18, 29, 59,
Theophi.los (bishop of 428. 85, 143
Theophilos (cons,I Alexandria, 385-412)
r1S 81t../1ypni i 467; 349 app.
Theoupolis; see
Antioch. PLRE II
1109) 370.
Therai
Hadrianou, in Thrace
Therma; see 280.
Alexandria, baths.
Thermal; see
Thessalonike.
Thermos, builder
of the
Theseus, son of Therma in Alexandria
Aigeus 87-9. 293.
Thessalonike, in Macedonia
hippodrome 347, 187, 190, 347, 478 app;
Thessaly 77, 79, formerly Thermal 190.
87-8, 132, 190,
Thestia, mythical 209, 224.
city in Lakonia
Thestias, father 82.
of Leda 82.
Thetis, wife of
Peleus 97, 104.
Thaas, ruler of
Sc_ythia 107, 140.
Tholas, Israelite
leader 76-7,
Thomas 79.
Thomas (quaestor, East, 526),
called the
Thomas (PUC, 547; 528-529; PLRE III) 449, 475 Hebrew 420.
PLRE III) 480 app, 476 app.
Thoukydicles, app, 483.
historian (460/455--
Thoulis, ruler of c.400 BC) 169,
Egypt. 24.
Thrace, province
16, 72,
236, 262,
402, 403, 436, 280, 291, 320,
438, 451, 475 343, 372,
Thracian, Thracians app, 481 app, 379, 383,
102, 291, 359, 490, 490a.
Thraustila (king of the 402, 410,
425, 442.
Thyas, brother of Gepids, d. before
504) 450.
Thyestes, ruler of Hippodame.ia Briseis 101.
the
Thymbrios; see Peloponnesians 85, 133.
Apollo.
Tiberianus, governor
of First
Tiberias (in Palestine 273.
Palestine; mod.
Tiberias, in Thrace Tabariye) 235,
236. 2455.
Tiberius (Tiberius Julius
346. Caesar, Augustus 14-47)
Tigranes (Tigranes 232-4, 240-3,
I of Armenia, 246,
Tigris, river, in c.95-c.55 BC) 211-2,
Mesopotamia 11, 330, 223.
Timotheos, converted
Timotheos, chronicler Persian 444.
8, 76, 158-9,
Timothy, relics of 484. 228, 232, 428.
Timothy (bishop of
Caesarea, c.484)
T.ishbite; see 382.
Elijah.
Titan; see Sun.
Tithon, Indian
leader at Troy 127.
Titus (T. Flavius
Vespasienus, Augustus
Tlepolemos, one of 79-81) 259-62.
the Hellenes'
To.lpillianus, also known leaders 107 app,
as Trochelus 108, 126.
258. (P. Galerius
Totila (Totila Trachalus, cos
Baduila, king of the 68)
Trachon, also Goths, 541-552;
known as Iron PLRE III)
T.rac,hon.it.is, subject Mountain (mod. Gebel 486.
to Nero 236-7. Hauran) 447.
Index 369
Urbicius (PSC East, micl.5th-ear.l.y 6th cent.; PLRE .I.i 1188-90) 387 app.
Urbicius; see Antioch, baths.
Ursus (F.lavius Ursus, cos 338) 324.
Valamar (king of the Ostrogoths, c.447-c.465; PLRE II 1135--6) 383, 429,
460; see also Theoderic.
Valens (Fiav.ius Valens, Augustus 364-378; PLRE 1 930) 338, 342-3.
Valentia, later Rome 168, 171.
Forum Boar.ium 171.
Valentinian (Flav.ius Va.lent.inianus, August.Lls 364-375; PLRE 1 933-4)
337-43.
370 Index
i
371
Index