The secret history : with related texts /
Procopius.
Kaldellis, Anthony.
Indianapolis : Hackett Pub. Co.,
c2010.
By exposing the perversion, repression, corruption, and injustice at the heart of Justinian's regime, Prokopios' The Secret History destroyed forever that emperor's reputation as the great and benevolent ruler of a vast Byzantine state. Faithfully rendered here in blunt and idiomatic English, Prokopios' tell-all is as shocking today as it was in the sixth century. Kaldellis' substantial Introduction addresses, among other topics, the historical background to The Secret History; Prokopios' literary style and major themes; and the relationships between Prokopios, Justinian, and Empress Theodora. Maps, genealogies, a glossary, and a selection of related texts enhance and support the reading.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
A note on the translation and the spelling of names -- Acknowledgments -- Timeline -- Glossary of offices and administrative terms -- Genealogy of the family of Justinian -- Genealogy of the family of Theodora -- Map of the eastern Mediterranean in the reign of Justinian -- Map of the environs of Constantinople in the reign of Justinian -- Map of Constantinople -- A guide to the main sources -- A guide to scholarship in English -- The secret history -- Related texts. A law for the marriage of Justinian and Theodora (Justin in Codex Iustinianus 5.4.23); The Nika riots (Wars 1.24); Theodora helps Monophysite saints (Yuhannan of Amida [John of Ephesos], Lives of the saints); The convent of repentance: a different view by Prokopios (Buildings 1.9.1-10); An attempt to curb corruption in the provinces (Justinian, Novella 8, preface); A contemporary philosopher's view of Justinian's tyranny (Simplikios, Commentary on Epiktetos 14.19-32); The downfall of Ioannes the Kappadokian (Wars 1.25 and 2.30.49-54); The Justinianic plague (Wars 2.22-23); Porphyrios the whale and other natural disasters (Wars 7.29.4-20); A plot to kill Justinian (Wars 7.31-32); Silkworms are smuggled into the Roman empire (Wars 8.17.1-8).
By exposing the perversion, repression, corruption, and injustice at the heart of Justinian's regime, Prokopios' The Secret History destroyed forever that emperor's reputation as the great and benevolent ruler of a vast Byzantine state. Faithfully rendered here in blunt and idiomatic English, Prokopios' tell-all is as shocking today as it was in the sixth century. Kaldellis' substantial Introduction addresses, among other topics, the historical background to The Secret History; Prokopios' literary style and major themes; and the relationships between Prokopios, Justinian, and Empress Theodora. Maps, genealogies, a glossary, and a selection of related texts enhance and support the reading.