Politics, Philosophy and Empire in the Fourth Century: Themistius' Select Orations

by Liverpool University Press

Overview

Around the year 350, a young orator and philosopher called Themistius delivered a speech to the Emperor Constantius II in Ancyra (modern Ankara). Themistius found great favour with the Emperor, who catapulted him into the Constantinople Senate in 355. He was similarly favoured by subsequent emperors - Jovian (363-64), Valens (364-78) and Theodosius (379-95). This volume presents translations of a selection of the speeches of Themistius, grouped into chapters that deal either with a key period in the evolution of his career or with a sequence of events of particular historical significance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780853231066
Publisher:	Liverpool University Press
Publication date:	01/12/2001
Series:	Translated Texts for Historians LUP , #36
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

David Moncur is an independent scholar; his previous publications include (with Peter Heather)Politics, Philosophy and Empire: Select Orations of Themistius (Translated Texts for Historians, Liverpool University Press, 2001).

David Moncur is an independent scholar; his previous publications include (with Peter Heather)Politics, Philosophy and Empire: Select Orations of Themistius (Translated Texts for Historians, Liverpool University Press, 2001).

Table of Contents

Abbreviations
Preface

Chapter 1: Orator, Emperor, and Senate
Philosophy and Oratory
Philosophy and Politics
The Usefulness of Philosophy
Orator and Audience

Chapter 2: Themistius and Constantius
General Introduction
Oration 1 - On the Love of Mankind or Constantius
The Letter of Constantius to the Senate
Oration 3 - Embassy Speech for Constantinople Delivered in Rome

Chapter 3 - After Julian
General Introduction
Oration 5 - On the Consulship, to the Emperor Jovian
Oration 6 - On Brotherly Love, or On Philanthropia

Chapter 4: Theodosius, Gratian, and the Goths
General Introduction
Oration 14 - Embassy to the Emperor Theodosius
Oration 15 - To Theodosius or The Most Royal of the Virtues
Oration 16 - Speech of Thanksgiving to the Emperor for the Peace and the Consulship of the General Saturninus

Chapter 5: Philosopher Prefect
General Introduction
Oration 17 - On the Election to the Urban Prefecture
Oration 34 - In Reply to Those who Found Fault with Him for Accepting Public Office

Bibliography
Index