Folio Archives 470: The Secret History by Procopius 1990
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The Secret History by Procopius 1990
Originally written in about 550 AD, and eventually found in manuscript form in the Vatican Library, The Secret History shows an author who had become very disillusioned with Emperor Justinian, his wife Theodora, the general Belisarius and his wife Antonina. Procopius claims to expose the secrets of their public actions, as well as the private lives of the emperor and his entourage. Justinian is portrayed as cruel, venal, prodigal, and incompetent.
Similarly, Theodora is vulgar with insatiable self-interest, shrewishness and envy. She was libidinous, had numerous affairs and bore a child to one of her lovers. All these traits are discussed in the book, with quite shocking examples of her behaviour.
Furthermore, The Secret History portrays Belisarius as a weak man completely emasculated by his wife, Antonina, who is portrayed in very similar terms to Theodora. They are both said to be former actresses and close friends. Procopius claimed Antonina worked as an agent for Theodora against Belisarius, and had an ongoing affair with Belisarius' godson, Theodosius.
The whole book is scandalous gossip from 1500 years ago and was the forerunner of many similar “Secret History” books written in the 17th. and 18th. centuries about everyone from the Popes to Elizabeth I.
At the back of the book are two line-drawn maps, a chronology, genealogical table and index.
The book is translated by G. A. Williamson and introduced by Philip Ziegler. It has twelve pages of reproductions of contemporary tessellated pavements and murals and runs to 154 pages. It is bound in white cloth with a tessellated pavement design in red and green by Jonathan Hitchen on both covers and spine. The endleaves are grey-green and the off-white slipcase measures 22.8x16 cm.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Originally written in about 550 AD, and eventually found in manuscript form in the Vatican Library, The Secret History shows an author who had become very disillusioned with Emperor Justinian, his wife Theodora, the general Belisarius and his wife Antonina. Procopius claims to expose the secrets of their public actions, as well as the private lives of the emperor and his entourage. Justinian is portrayed as cruel, venal, prodigal, and incompetent.
Similarly, Theodora is vulgar with insatiable self-interest, shrewishness and envy. She was libidinous, had numerous affairs and bore a child to one of her lovers. All these traits are discussed in the book, with quite shocking examples of her behaviour.
Furthermore, The Secret History portrays Belisarius as a weak man completely emasculated by his wife, Antonina, who is portrayed in very similar terms to Theodora. They are both said to be former actresses and close friends. Procopius claimed Antonina worked as an agent for Theodora against Belisarius, and had an ongoing affair with Belisarius' godson, Theodosius.
The whole book is scandalous gossip from 1500 years ago and was the forerunner of many similar “Secret History” books written in the 17th. and 18th. centuries about everyone from the Popes to Elizabeth I.
At the back of the book are two line-drawn maps, a chronology, genealogical table and index.
The book is translated by G. A. Williamson and introduced by Philip Ziegler. It has twelve pages of reproductions of contemporary tessellated pavements and murals and runs to 154 pages. It is bound in white cloth with a tessellated pavement design in red and green by Jonathan Hitchen on both covers and spine. The endleaves are grey-green and the off-white slipcase measures 22.8x16 cm.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
