As it was a venomous pamphlet of dubious merit, the secret history is hardly a reliable historical source. The text was written in the 32nd year of justinian, which various. It is a vehement invective against these sovereigns, with attacks on belisarius and his wife. Secret history, translated by richard atwater, new york. Procopius of caesarea was a prominent late antique byzantine greek. In any case the opening sentences do not form a proper introduction to what follows. The loeb classical library edition of procopius is in seven volumes. The secret history purports to be a supplement to the wars, containing explanations and additions that the author could not insert into the latter work for fear of justinian and theodora. Harvard university press, 1935, vol vi of the seven volume loeb translation, which includes the buildings and the wars in parallel greek.
Procopius, the anecdota or secret history loeb classical library. Church considers justinian a saint, so youll either love or hate this book. The original title of this work was anecdota, which means as far as i can tell things not given over, withheld. The anecdota or secret history history of the wars. Secret history 6 by procopius 1935, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The secret history of procopius is a strange companion for the.
The anecdota or secret history loeb classical library, no. In this case book 5 and part of book 6 of the work called the wars. Other works by procopius are the anecdota or secret history vehement attacks on justinian, theodora, and others. In secret history, the byzantine historian procopius late fifth century to after 558 ce attacks the sixth century ce emperor justinian and empress theodora and alleges their ruinous effect on the roman empire. The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius free ebook project gutenberg. The secret history by procopius 2007, paperback, revised. Yet all the while the dutiful scribe was working on a very different and dangerous history to be published only once its author was safely in his grave. The main characters described by procopius are the emperor justinian, the emperess theodora, the general belisarius, and his wife antonia. Accompanying the general belisarius in the wars of the emperor justinian i. Harvard university press, 1935, vol vi of the seven volume loeb translation, which includes the buildings and the wars in parallel greek and english texts. The secret history of procopius is a strange companion for the histories and the buildings by the same author. His history of the wars of the emperor justinian and his general belisarius is our primary source and often our only source for events during the middle. The anecdota, or secret history, is undoubtedly the most colourful contemporary source of byzantine history.
It was proving to be more gruesome than game of thrones we already had a man flayed and his skin turned into a bag which was hung of a tree with chaff inside. Etermining when procopius of caesarea wrote his various works, the two installments of the. A wikipedia article about this author is available procopius. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Procopius s pen is particularly sharp in portraying theodoras lewdness. Of course, the eastern orthodox church considers justinian a saint, so youll either love or hate this book. Procopius, byzantine historian whose works are an indispensable source for his period and contain much geographical information. The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius.
Was this book simply a several thousand word apology and excuse. Other works by procopius are the anecdota or secret history. Like thucydides and athens, the name of procopius is inextricably linked with constantinople. Confusing doesnt describe the book but the fact it is not listed as volume 3 of the loeb translation of the works of procopius. Procopiuss history of the wars in 8 books recounts the persian wars of emperors justinus and justinian down to 550 2 books. A trusted member of the byzantine establishment, procopius was the empires official chronicler, and his history of the wars of justinian proclaimed the strength and wisdom of the emperors reign.
The anecdota or secret history procopius harvard university. His book anecdota gives a crushing verdict to the reign. People tend not to appreciate procopius as much as i think they should. Procopius was the author of a history in eight books on the wars prosecuted by justinian, a panegyric on the emperors public works projects throughout the empire, and a book known as the secret history that claims to report the scandals that procopius could not include in his officially sanctioned history for fear of angering the emperor, his. In this case the section is about the start of the gothic war. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. A trusted member of the byzantine establishment, procopius was the empires official chronicler, and his history of the wars of justinian proclaimed the.
In secret history, the byzantine historian procopius late fifth century to after 558 ce. I have the opportunity to tour istanbul this fall, so i read procopius secret history as a start toward getting grounded in the history of the area. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. Other works by procopius are the history of the wars in 8 books here. The secret history was written by procopius, and emperor. Lacuscurtius the anecdota of procopius introduction.
Gordon for a long time procopius anecdota or secret history so offended the moral susceptibilities of scholars, and particularly those who revered justinian for his judicial publications, that attempts were made to deny that it could be the work of procopius or of any other. The secret history quotes showing 12 of 2 for the miserable find comfort in the philosophy that not on them alone has evil fallen. This site transcribes the english translation of procopius work by henry bronson dewing as printed in vol. The story of the three wars against the persians, the vandals and the goths had almost been completed when the author, in seeming disgust, decided to regale a safely removed future age with the backstage gossip that had been current while justinian and theodora. Parts are so vitriolic, not to say pornographic, that for some time. As somebody who is fascinated by history one of my great dreams is to come across a previously undiscovered text that sheds new light on ancient periods or fills in the massive.
He also left a secret history anecdota which was a massive attack on the character of justinian and his wife theodora. Includes indexes accessrestricteditem true addeddate. The secret history of the court of justinian by procopius free ebook. Procopius of caesarea was a prominent byzantine scholar from palestine. The original title of this work was anecdota, which means as far as i can tell things not. He wrote a number of official histories, including the buildings and on the wars. Procopius s pen is particularly sharp in portraying theodoras lewdness, duplicity, cruelty, spite, vanity and pride. He is just to the empires enemies and boldly criticises emperor justinian. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Procopius, the anecdota or secret history loeb classical. Vol 3 of the haurywirth version contains the secret history. This fascinating document of imperialism is brutal in its honesty, often portraying its subjects in an unflattering light. The secret history was written by procopius, but not published in the west until about a millennium after it was written. For a long time procopius anecdota or secret history so. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages. For me, by far the most interesting thing about the anecdota or secret history is that it exists at all. Secret history internet history sourcebooks fordham university. Procopius, born at caesarea in palestine late in th. Procopius was an ancient byzantine writer, contemporaneous with the emperor couple.
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