Nicolaus of Damascus: The Life of Augustus and The Autobiography
Edited with Introduction, Translations and Historical Commentary

Text, translation and commentary for an ancient biographical work on the Emperor Augustus by his contemporary Nicolaus of Damascus.

Nicolaus of Damascus (Author), Mark Toher (Edited and translated by)

9781107075610, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 December 2016

498 pages
22.2 x 14.7 x 3 cm, 0.71 kg

Nicolaus of Damascus, the chief minister of Herod the Great, was an exact contemporary of the first Roman emperor Augustus; he spent considerable time in Roman society and knew Augustus. The extensive remains of his Bios Kaisaros contain the earliest and most detailed account of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar and his assassination. The Bios also presents the most extensive account of the boyhood and early development of Augustus. This edition presents the Greek text and translation of the Bios and Nicolaus' autobiography, along with a historical and historiographical commentary. The Introduction situates the text in relation to the considerable evidence for the life and career of Nicolaus preserved in the works of Josephus, addresses the problem of its date of composition, analyses the language and narrative technique of Nicolaus and discusses the Bios in relation to the evidence for Greek biographical encomium.

Introduction
Text and translation of The Life of Augustus
Commentary
Text and translation of The Autobiography
Commentary.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Middle Eastern history [HBJF1], European history [HBJD], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Autobiography: historical, political & military [BGHA], Biography: historical, political & military [BGH]