The Colloquia of the Hermeneumata Pseudodositheana

New edition and first ever translation of three ancient depictions of daily life in the Roman Empire.

Eleanor Dickey (Edited by)

9781107065390, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 February 2015

356 pages, 11 b/w illus. 20 tables
28.7 x 21.9 x 2.1 cm, 1.19 kg

The Colloquia are manuals written to help ancient Greeks and Romans get around in each other's languages; they contain examples of how to conduct activities like shopping, banking, visiting friends, hosting parties, taking oaths, winning lawsuits, using the public baths, having fights, making excuses and going to school. They thus offer a unique glimpse of daily life in the early Roman Empire and are an important resource for understanding ancient culture. They have, however, been unjustly neglected because until now there were no modern editions of the texts, no translations into any modern language, and little understanding of what the Colloquia are and where they come from. This book completes the task begun by Volume 1 of making the Colloquia accessible for the first time, presenting a new edition, translation and commentary of the remaining surviving texts. It is clearly written and will interest students, non-specialists and professional scholars alike.

Part I. Colloquium Harleianum: Introduction to the Colloquium Harleianum
Text, translation, and critical apparatus
Commentary
Part II. Colloquium Montepessulanum: Introduction to the Colloquium Montepessulanum
Text, translation, and critical apparatus
Commentary
Part III. Colloquium Celtis: Introduction to the Colloquium Celtis
Text, translation, and critical apparatus
Commentary
Part IV. Related Texts
Indices to Volumes I and II.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB], Language: history & general works [CBX]