Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the caesars, suetonius life. Buy the twelve caesars by suetonius with free delivery. Julius caesar, the divine 1, lost his father 2 when he was in the sixteenth year of his age 3. The work was written in 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, while suetonius was hadrians personal secretary. Jan 21, 2008 an essential primary source on roman history, suetonius the twelve caesars is a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. Refer also to a minor compilation of readings of suetonius nero 16. Suetonius on chrestus and the expulsion of the jews. Help us and translate this definition into another language. Suetonius the twelve caesars 1126 words 123 help me. Suetonius mentions that caesar commonly referred to them as comrades. Suetonius lives of the twelve caesars is a little hard to read at first if youve been out of the loop for almost two millennia for he essentially wrote a tabloid on the rulers of his time and if youre not familiar with the names of the minor players from other sources, you will miss a lot of context. This book, though old, is still very interesting and informative today. For amusing antecdotes that read more like a tabloid, the twelve caesars is worth checking out.
The lives of the twelve caesars series by suetonius. Drusus the elder, claudius caesars father, who was first named decimus and later nero, was born in 38bc to livia, less than three months after she wedded augustus. He chronicled the extraordinary careers of julius, augustus, tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, vespasian and domitian and the rest in technicolour terms. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first.
About the life of the caesars, commonly known as the twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of. English entry page to the complete latin text and an english translation of the work. I found the two shown below at barnes and nobles and upon flipping to the reading, realized they are translated slightly different. Nov 10, 2004 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Her pregnancy at the time of the marriage led to suspicions that drusus was the result of his stepfathers adultery with her. An able biographer, suetonius demonstrates his literary competence by authoring a text that both casual readers will find entertaining or students will find enlightening. The biographies are not wholly flattering nor are events told in chronological sequence but they reveal some candid details of romes first citizens. The work, probably written around 121ad in the reign of hadrian, therefore covers the crucial and highly eventful period of. The lives of the twelve caesars at lacuscurtius latin original, english translation suetonius works at latin library latin works by suetonius at project gutenberg.
An english translation, augmented with the biographies of contemporary statesmen, orators, poets, and other associates. The main characters of this history, classics story are nero, caligula. The twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus. From the founding of the empire under julius caesar and augustus to its decline under nero, as well as the recovery carried out by successors. Suetonius describes caesars gift at winning the loyalty and admiration of his soldiers. Oct 25, 2007 buy the twelve caesars penguin classics rev. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius. About the life of the caesars commonly known as the twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus. And again, as he was taking the auspices in his first consulship, twelve vultures were seen, the same sign that appeared to romulus, and the livers of the sacrificial victims were doubled inwards at the lower end, an omen that the soothsayers skilled in such things unanimously proclaimed as the sign of a. Confer pages 355376 of studium biblicum franciscanum liber annuus 61, jerusalem 2012, inpulsore cherestro.
Books by suetonius sorted by popularity project gutenberg. Nero doted on poppeia, whom he married twelve days after divorcing octavia, yet he caused her death by kicking her when she was pregnant and ill, because she complained of his coming home late from the races. The lives of the twelve caesars by gaius suetonius. To which are added, his lives of the grammarians, rhetoricians, and poets. All the lives of the caesars by suetonius are now online at the internet history sourcebooks project. Part of a large site containing many greek and latin texts.
Rolfes loeb classical library translation of suetonius has stood the test of time well. This guide refers to catharine edwardss translation from oxford university press, which was published under the title the lives of the caesars. Get free shipping on the twelve caesars by suetonius, from. Gaius suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the twelve caesarsvirtual entertainment, 20series. Free download or read online the twelve caesars pdf epub book. Little is known about his life except that he was briefly the private secretary of emperor hadrian. Below is a selection of extracts from suetonius twelve caesars. The lives of the twelve caesars at lacuscurtius latin and translation from loeb classical library 1914 by john carew rolfe suetonius works at latin library in latin works by suetonius at project gutenberg. His translation, however, was very diffuse, and retained most of the. However, writers in the ancient world were often at pains to stress that they had undertaken research and that their portrait of the past was supported by evidence. Historic classic booksde vita caesarum latin, literal translation. The following night, it is said, seneca dreamed that his young charge was really caligula, and nero soon proved the dream prophetic by seizing the first opportunity to reveal his cruel disposition. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us.
They presented some high and low times at the heart of the roman empire. The lives of the twelve caesars at project gutenberg english translation of alexander thomson, m. Suetonius born in 69 ad, gaius suetonius tranquillus, was a roman aristocrate who is famous for his work lives of the twelve caesars, where he provides detailed biographies of the caesars from julius to. Gaius suetonius tranquillus was probably born in ad69the famous year of the four emperors. Suetonius wrote his lives of the twelve caesars in the reign of vespasian around a. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the twelve caesars. Dec 31, 2002 as private secretary to the emperor hadrian, suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them along with carefully gathered eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. On the life of the caesars commonly known as the twelve caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire written by gaius suetonius tranquillus.
Suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. Historic classic booksde vita caesarum latin, literal. This is partly because suetonius clearly has a bias as a member of the roman aristocracy. The patrician branch of the claudians there being a plebeian branch too, no less influential and distinguished was originally from regillum, a sabine town. Suetonius, who lived through a period of stable but despotic imperial rule, wanted to explore the nature of imperial power and how a. Xxxviii his gifts to the soldiers and people book one. This penguin classics edition is translated from the latin by robert graves, author of i, claudius, revised with an introduction and notes by james b. The plan adopted by suetonius in his lives of the twelve. Written in 121 ce by suetonius, the twelve caesars gives an account of the public careers and private lives of the men who reigned with absolute power in rome. The work, written in ad 121 during the reign of the emperor hadrian, was the most popular work of suetonius, at that time hadrians personal secretary, and is the largest among his surviving. An english translation, augmented with the biographies of contemporary statesmen, orators, poets, and other. As private secretary to the emperor hadrian, the scholar suetonius had access to the imperial archives and used them along with eyewitness accounts to produce one of the most colourful biographical works in history. The twelve caesars for android free download and software. The lives of the twelve caesars by suetonius, translated by j.
Suetonius goes to great lengths to reveal the way these men really were, as human beings. Gaius suetonius tranquillus,the lives of the twelve caesarsvirtual entertainment, 20series. The translation of the lives of the caesars is based upon the text of maximillan ihm. Translated into english by philemon holland, anno 1606.
Ad 122 mentions early christians and may refer to jesus christ in his work lives of the twelve caesars one passage in the biography of the emperor claudius divus claudius 25, refers to agitations in the roman jewish community and the expulsion of jews from rome by claudius during his reign ad 41 to ad 54, which may be the expulsion mentioned. The work was considered highly significant in antiquity and remains a primary source on roman history. My paternal aunt julia was descended on her mothers side from royalty, since the marcii reges were founded by the roman king ancus marcius. The twelve caesars kindle edition by tranquillus, gaius suetonius, alexander thomson. The twelve caesars remains among the best sources of information about roman society and its leaders. Suetonius, lives of the caesars, volume i loeb classical. It is important to note however, that the writing style of suetonius day was. Aug 28, 20 suetonius twelve caesars is a key narrative source for the period it covers and, unlike tacitus, it has survived entire and is uninterrupted. The plan adopted by suetonius in his lives of the twelve caesars, led him to be more.
I wanted the penguin graves translation, which is marvelous and was left on a train. Gaius suetonius tranquillus c75 c160 ad the twelve caesars is a set of twelve biographies of julius caesar and the first 11 emperors of the roman empire. The lives of the twelve caesars wikisource, the free online library. Suetonius s access to the imperial archives and his acquaintances at court, many of whom were eyewitnesses to the historical events he described, contributed to the depth and vividness of his historical writings. An english translation, augmented with the biographies of contemporary statesmen. The lives of the twelve caesars by suetonius audio book. Suetonius the twelve caesars followed an established convention of the short biographical essay, which lent itself to convivial sharing before an audience but could also be used to explore important themes. The twelve caesars by suetonius, approximately 69approximately 122. How long he survived this disgrace, which appears to have befallen him in the year 121, we are not informed. If youre reading purely for historical quality, i suggest livy or tacitus. An essential primary source on roman history and a fascinating achievement of scholarship covering a critical period in the empire. Book iii tiberius a new freely downloadable translation. Pdf the twelve caesars book by suetonius free download 363. Suetonius the twelve caesars if a friend asked me to tell him if it is worth it to read suetonius book the twelve caesars, i would say it is.
I was wondering if there was a preferred translation of the works of suetonius pertaining to the caesars. That leaves us with two other roman historians who spoke of christ andor the early church, they are suetonius and pliny the younger. Not only is this a most engaging translation by robert graves, author of i claudius, but there is a short forward by classics scholar, michael grant. The practice of giving precise references to source material did not come into common use until the nineteenth century. Beginning with caesar himself, in the mid first century bc, it ends in ad 96 with domitian and covers the reigns of such emperors as tiberius, caligula. Donna hurley has done a sterling job in providing us with both an introduction to suetonius and a translation of the caesars that we can confidently recommend to students. Suetonius tranquillus, the lives of the caesars, suetonius. Publication date 19570630 publisher penguin classics. This penguin classic of the twelve caesars by suetonius is the perfect place to start for anybody interested in ancient grecoroman history and culture. Historians still debate how reliable the twelve caesars is.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The biography the life and works of suetonius by j. The first edition of the novel was published in 119, and was written by suetonius. From the letters of suetonius close friend pliny the younger we learn that he practiced briefly at the bar, avoided political life, and became chief secretary to the emperor hadrian ad11738. I accidentally bought the preposterous edition with 12 photos on the cover. Each emperor is dissected, and his actions beyond politics and professionalism revealed. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 363 pages and is available in paperback format. The twelve caesars the twelve caesars dual latin and english text lives of famous men augustan history. The lives of the twelve caesars, complete by suetonius free. There was no family relationship which nero did not brutally violate. In the eulogy for his aunt he spoke the following words concerning her ancestry and that of the caesars. In 19 when the translation first appeared rolfe hoped to equip his readers with a version of the lives of the caesars and the lives of illustrious men that would give a nearer approach to the manner of their author than anything otherwise then available. The family moved to rome, with a large throng of dependants, either shortly after the foundation of the city in 753bc, at the instigation of titus tatius, who ruled jointly with. At the age of twelve or so sometime in ad50, he was adopted by claudius, who appointed annaeus seneca, already a member of the senate, as his tutor.
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