Historical Miscellany
by Claudius Aelianus
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Description
Aelian's Historical Miscellany is a pleasurable example of light reading for Romans of the early third century. Offering engaging anecdotes about historical figures, retellings of legendary events, and enjoyable descriptive pieces, Aelian's collection of nuggets and narratives appealed to a wide reading public. Here then are anecdotes about the famous Greek philosophers, poets, historians, and playwrights; myths instructively retold; moralizing tales about heroes and rulers, athletes and show more wise men; reports about food and drink, different styles in dress, lovers, gift giving, entertainments, religious beliefs, and death customs; and comments on Greek painting. Some of the information is not preserved in any other source. Underlying it all are Aelian's Stoic ideals as well as this Roman's great admiration for the culture of the Greeks (whose language he borrowed for his writings). show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I'm so glad Aelian VH finally joined the Loeb family. The only downside is that what was once a special possession—I've read it and you haven't!—is now so very accessible. I still have Arrian's Cynegetica—they'll never make a Loeb out out that!
I am quite fond of miscellania. Smile and chuckle at the foibles of old...!
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Lists
100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (That Are Older Than 200 Years)
415 works; 173 members
Author Information
28+ Works 339 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Loeb Classical Library (486)
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Historical Miscellany
- Original title
- Ποικίλη Ἱστορία; Poikile Historia
- Alternate titles
- Varia Historia; Various History
- Original publication date
- c. AD 200
- People/Characters
- Eurydice II of Macedonia
- First words
- Octopuses have remarkable stomachs and are unsurpassed in their ability to eat anything.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 90
- Popularity
- 354,722
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- 5 — English, German, Greek (Ancient), Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 1
