(Sources which are only quoted once or twice are introduced in the notes.) Agathangelos. Name given to the author of an Armenian historical work covering the years 226–330. See below pp..
Agathias. Greek historian, lawyer and poet. A native of Myrina in Asia Minor, he was the author of a continuation of the Procopius’ history, covering the years 552–68. Ed. R.Keydell, CFHB, 1967.
Ammianus Marcellinus. Latin historian but of Greek origin. A native of Antioch, he saw service on the eastern frontier on the staff of Ursicinus (Mag. Equ. 349–59 and Mag. Ped. 359–60). The surviving portion of his history which covers the years 353–78 is an essential source of eye-witness information on the later Persian wars of Constantius II and the expedition of Julian. Ed. W.Seyfarth, Berlin, 1968–71.
Artemii Passio. A fictionalized account of the life and martyrdom of Artemius (cf. PLRE, I, p. 112), a Christian official who was executed under Julian. The work was composed no earlier than the reign of Justinian. Its authorship is attributed in some manuscripts to a certain John of Rhodes and in others to John of Damascus (c. 675–c.749). Ed. B.Kotter, Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos, V, Berlin, 1988, pp..
Athanasius. (c. 296–373) Bishop of Alexandria and foremost opponent of Arianism. His historical-cum-polemical works (in Greek) yield occasional pieces of valuable information on the eastern frontier, especially on the role of Constantius II. Ed. W. Bright, St Athanasius’s Historical Writings, Oxford, 1881.
Aurelius Victor, Sextus. Latin historian. A native of Africa, he published (c. 361) a brief history of the Roman empire down to his own times. Ed. F.Pichlmayr, revised by R.Gruendel, Berlin, 1970.
Cassius Dio Cocceianus. Greek historian and statesman (consul suffectus c. 205 and consul with Severus Alexander in 229). His great history of Rome from the foundation of the city to his own time has only partially survived. The extant sections covering the reign of Severus Alexander are derived from the epitome of Xiphilinus (11th C). Ed. U.P.Boissevain, Berlin, 1895–1931.
Cedrenus, Georgius. Greek monk (?) and annalist. He compiled a chronicle which begins with the Creation and goes down to the year 1057. Ed. I.Bekker, CSHB, 1828.
Chronichon Paschale. Title given to an anonymous compilation of the early seventh century, covering the period from the Creation to AD 629. Ed. L.Dindorf, CSHB, 1832.
Codex Theodosianus. An official collection of imperial constitutions from AD 312 until 438 when the Code was published by Theodosius II. It is extremely valuable for reconstructing and dating imperial movements because the compilers had preserved the date and place of issue of most of the constitutions. Ed. T.Mommsen, Berlin, 1905.
Ephrem Syrus. Syrian poet and theologian. Born in or near Nisibis, he was compelled to leave his native city because of the treaty of 363 which surrendered it to the Persians. He later settled in Edessa where he distinguished himself both as a Christian poet and ascetic. His Carmina Nisibena and Hymni contra Julianum both include eye-witness material on the events they describe. Ed. E.Beck, CSCO, 1957 and 1961–3.
Epitome de Caesaribus. Title given to an anonymous epitome in Latin of the history of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Theodosius. The work is sometimes wrongly associated with Aurelius Victor. Ed. F.Pichlmayr, rev. R.Gruendel, Leipzig, 1970.
Evagrius. Greek lawyer and ecclesiastical historian. Native of Epiphaneia in Syria, he wrote an ecclesiastical history at the end of the sixth century covering the period 431–594. The work is noted for its attention to secular matters. Eds J.Bidez and L.Parmentier, London, 1898.
Eunapius. Greek sophist. Born near Sardis in Lydia c. 345, he wrote a continuation of the history of Dexippus from the pagan view point covering the period AD 270–404. It was the main source of the historian Zosimus for this period but the work has only survived in fragments. Ed. C.Müller, FHG IV, 1885, pp.. See also Blockley, 1983:2–126. Eunapius was also the author of a collection of lives of famous sophists of the fourth century which contains some important material on political history. Ed. C.Giangrande, Rome, 1956.
Eusebius. Greek ecclesiastical politician, historian and theologian (c. AD 260– 340). A native of Palestine; his Ecclesiastical History covering the period from the Apostolic Age to the reign of Constantine was the model for later church historians. Ed. E. Schwartz, GCS, 1903–9. His Life of Constantine is one of the principal sources on the history of the reign of the first Christian emperor despite its panegyrical tone. Ed. F.Winkelmann, GCS, 1975. Among his works is preserved a number of orations by Constantine. Ed. I.A.Heikel, GCS, 1902.
Eutropius. Latin historian. Probably a native of Bordeaux, he accompanied Julian on his expedition. His epitome of Roman history, published before 380, begins with Romulus and finishes with the reign of Jovian. Ed. C.Santini, Leipzig, 1979.
Eutychius (Sa’id b. al-Bitriq). Christian Arab universal historian. See below pp..
Faustus Buzandats'i. Armenian historian. See below pp..
Firdawsi (Abu ’l-Kasim). Persian epic poet. See below pp..
Festus. Latin historian. He was magister memoriae when he published his brief summary (Breviarium) of Roman history c. 369–70. The work pays considerable attention, unusual for an epitome, on the eastern campaigns of the emperors down to Jovian. Ed. J.W.Eadie, London, 1967.
Georgius Monachus. Greek monk and author of a widely read world chronicle which runs from Adam to AD 842. Ed. C.de Boor, rev. P. Wirth, Stuttgart, 1978.
Herodian(us). Greek historian. His history from the death of Marcus Aurelius (AD 180) to the accession of Gordian III (AD 238) is one of the most important sources for the history of the third century, especially for the period not covered by the surviving parts of the history of Cassius Dio. Ed. C.R.Whittaker, London, 1969–70.
Jerome (Eusebius Hieronymus). Biblical scholar and theologian (c. 342–420). Born near Aquileia, he is best known for his translation of the Christian Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. He also translated (into Latin) and continued Eusebius’s ‘Chronicle’. The work (published c. 380/1) is specially useful for the dating of particular events. Ed. R.Helm, GCS, 1956.
John of Antioch (Iohannes Antiochenus). Greek historian of whom nothing is known. His chronicle covers the period from the Creation to 610. Ed. C.Müller, FHG IV, 1885, pp. 535–622.
Jordanes. Latin historian who lived c. AD 550. He summarized the Gothic histories of Cassiodorus in his Getica to which he added a summary of Roman history (Romana), which he seems to have derived from the lost history of Aurelius Memmius Symmachus. Ed. T.Mommsen, MGH, 1882.
Julian(us Apostata). Roman emperor (AD 361–3) and Greek man of letters. His panegyrics in honour of his cousin, the emperor Constantius II (AD 324–61), are a valuable source on the Persian Wars of the early part of t he latter’s reign. Ed. J.Bidez, Paris, 1932.
Lactantius. Latin Christian apologist (c. 240–c. 320), his polemical treatise De mortibus persecutorum (On the Manner in which the Persecutors died) published c. 314–15, is one of the main sources on the reigns of Diocletian and his colleagues. Ed. J.Creed, Oxford, 1984.
Libanius. Greek sophist and rhetor of Antioch (314–c. 393). One of the most influential pagans of the fourth century; his speeches and letters composed during the reigns of Constantius, Julian and Jovian provide a wealth of information on events in the East and he knew personally a considerable number of those who took part in the campaigns. Ed. R.Förster, Leipzig, 1909–27.
Malalas, Ioannes. Greek advocate of Antioch who published sometime after 574 a world chronicle from the Creation to AD 563. It preserves much that is important as well as trivial on Antioch and the province of Syria. Ed. L.Dindorf, CSHB, 1831. See also Stauffenberg, 1931 (Bks IX–XII only).
Michael the Syrian. (1126–1199) Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch and compiler of an important chronicle in Syriac from the Creation to 1194/5. Ed. J.B.Chabot, Paris, 1899–1910.
(Ps.)Moses Khorenats'i. Name given to the author of a work of great importance on Armenian history. See below pp..
Notitia dignitatum. Title given to a catalogue of titles of administrative offices in the two halves of the Roman Empire. Ed. O.Seeck, 1876. See below pp. 340– 8.
Orosius. (fl. early fifth century) Spanish priest and controversialist. In 417, he undertook, at the invitation of Augustine, a Historia adversus Paganos—i.e. a history of Rome from the beginning to AD 417 as seen from the Christian viewpoint. The work is of importance to the study of the history of the third century through lack of other more reliable evidence. Ed. C.Zangemeister, Leipzig, 1889.
Panegyrici Latini. A collection of twelve Latin panegyrics given by various authors in honour of specific emperors. All but one (the one being that of Pliny the Younger) of the twelve were composed after the third century and some make occasional mention of imperial achievements in the East. Ed. E.Galletier, Paris, 1949–55.
Petrus Patricius. Greek diplomat and official under Justinian who composed various works on historical matters. These have come down to us only in excerpts but they yield some valuable information on Romano-Persian relations not found elsewhere. Ed. C.Müller, FHG IV, pp..
Philostorgius. (c. 368–c. 439) Greek ecclesiastical historian. His principal work, a history of the church from the Arian view point has come down to us mainly in an epitome by Photius and in the historical sections of the Artemii Passio (see above). Ed. J.Bidez, rev. F.Winkelmann, GCS, 1981.
Procopius. (fl. sixth century) Greek historian and chronicler of the reign of Justinian. A native of Caesarea, he was military secretary to Belisarius and saw service on the eastern frontier. His account of the Persian Wars of his time contains some useful pieces of information on those of the earlier periods. Ed. J.Haury, rev. P. Wirth, Leipzig, 1963–4.
Scriptores Historian Augustae. Collective title given by Casubon to the author (s) of a collection of Latin biographies of Roman emperors from Hadrian to Numerianus. The work claims to have been composed by six authors in the reign of Diocletian. Most modern scholars subscribe to single authorship and a post 360 date of composition. The biographies down to Opelius Macrinus contain much accurate information but the remaining ones combine reliable facts with outright forgeries and inventions. Ed. E.Hohl, Leipzig, 1927, tr. D.Magie, LCL, 1922–32.
Oracula Sibyllina. Collections of the prophetic utterances of the Sibyls had been in existence in Rome since the time of the Kings. The fourteen miscellaneous books of prophecies in verse which bear the title of the Sibylline Oracles are blatant Judaeo-Christian forgeries. Book 13, composed before the death of Odaenathus, is particularly informative on conditions in Syria during the invasions of Shapur I. Ed. J.Geffcken, GCS, 1902.
Socrates (Scholasticus). Greek lawyer and ecclesiastical historian. He was the author of a continuation of the Church History of Eusebius and extends from 305 to 439. Ed. R.Hussey, Oxford, 1853.
Sozomen(us). Greek ecclesiastical historian and another continuator of Eusebius. His work which covers the period 323–425 is heavily dependent on that of Socrates but contains valuable information on the history of Christianity in Armenia and the Sassanian Empire. Ed. J.Bidez, rev. G.C.Hansen, GCS, 1960. Suidas (or Suda). Name of a Greek encyclopaedic lexicon compiled about the end of the tenth century AD. Ed. A.Adler, Leipzig, 1929–38.
Syncellus, Georgius. Greek chronographer who lived in the latter part of the eighth and the early part of the ninth century. He intended to compile a chronicle down to his own time but the project was cut short by his death and the extant text goes only as far as the accession of Diocletian in 284. He made extensive use of the now lost Greek version of the chronicle of Eusebius. Ed. A.A. Mosshammer, Leipzig, 1984.
al-Tabari. Arab historian, whose principal work contains an important monograph on the history of the Sassanian dynasty in Persia. See below pp. 275– 95.
Themistius. (c. 317–c. 388) Greek philosopher and rhetor whose panegyrics found favour with every emperor from Constantius II to Theodosius. His speeches are also important as sources for the history of his time. Eds H.Schenkl, G.Downey and A.F.Norman, Leipzig, 1965 ff.
Theodoret(us). (c. 393–c. 466) Greek ecclesiastical politician and historian. A native of Antioch, he later became the Bishop of Cyrrhus and was embroiled in the Christological controversy between Nestorius and Cyril of Alexandria. His Ecclesiastical History continues that of Eusebius down to 425. Ed. L.Parmentier, rev. F.Scheidweiler, GCS, 1954. He also wrote a history of the monks of Syria and Mesopotamia (Historia Religiosa) which contains the life of Jacob of Nisibis. Eds P.Canivet and A. Leroy-Molinghen, Paris, 1977–9.
Theophanes (Confessor). A Byzantine monk who compiled a chronicle (in Greek) covering the years 284 to 814. Though a major source on the Arab Conquest and the Iconoclast Controversy, its coverage of the events of the third and fourth centuries is very sketchy. Ed. C.De Boor, Leipzig, 1883.
Zonaras, Ioannes. Byzantine historian and canonist of the twelfth century. He was the author of a universal history (in Greek) down to 1118 which is in essence an epitome of the standard histories. For the Severan period he used mainly Dio Cassius and for the period between Severus Alexander and Constantine, probably the lost portions of the histories of Petrus Patricius. Eds M.Pinder and T.Büttner-Wobst, CSHB, 1841–97.
Zosimus. Greek pagan historian and imperial bureaucrat, whose only surviving work, the Historia Nova, covers Roman history from 180–410, he is second only in importance to Ammianus as a source for the history of the fourth century. The work contains much material drawn from the now lost history of Eunapius (see above). Ed. F.Paschoud, Paris, 1971 ff.