Dionysius of Halicarnassus
Dionysius of Halicarnassus arrived in Rome after the civil wars ended, settling there during the reign of Emperor Augustus. He spent twenty-two years studying Latin and literature before composing his history. During this long period of preparation, he taught rhetoric to students and moved within circles of distinguished men. The date of his death remains unknown, though records show he was active after 7 BC. In the nineteenth century, scholars once believed he was the ancestor of Aelius Dionysius of Halicarnassus, a theory now largely discarded.
His major work Roman Antiquities spans twenty books covering Roman history from mythic times to the First Punic War in 264 BC. Only the first nine books survive intact while the remaining eleven exist only as fragments found in excerpts by Roman emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. Angelo Mai discovered an epitome of these lost books in a Milan manuscript during the nineteenth century. Book I begins with mythic early history around 1300 BC and ends with Remus's death. Books II through IX cover the monarchy, republic, and conflicts up to 462 BC. Book XI survives mostly complete at about fifty pages while other fragmentary books contain only twelve to fourteen pages each.
Dionysius wrote several rhetorical treatises including On Imitation which outlines how authors should emulate earlier masters. His method called Dionysian imitatio involved adapting and enriching source texts rather than merely copying them. This approach differed sharply from Aristotle's concept of mimesis which focused on imitation of nature alone. Latin orators adopted his technique and abandoned Aristotelian ideas. He also produced Commentaries on the Attic Orators covering Lysias Isaeus Isocrates and Dinarchus alongside works on Demosthenes and Thucydides. These writings show he thoroughly studied best Attic models before applying their lessons to his own historical narrative.
In Book I chapter seventy-three Dionysius describes twins Romulus and Remus born to vestal Ilia Silvia descended from Aeneas of Troy. The most common tale has them tossed into the Tiber river left near ficus Ruminalis rescued by a she-wolf nursing them in Lupercal lair then adopted by Faustulus. An alternate version claims Numitor switched the infants with two others delivered to Faustulus and wife Laurentia former prostitute. Plutarch later suggested lupa meant common term for prostitutes creating the wolf legend. The brothers received education in Gabii before fighting over whether Rome would rise on Palatine Hill or Aventine Hill. They deferred decision to gods using birds as omens claiming whichever saw more favorable vultures should rule. When Remus saw nine vultures first he claimed divine choice while Romulus argued greater number mattered. Their followers fought resulting in Remus death buried at site now called Remoria. Romulus made sacrifices receiving good omens before ordering fortifications housing construction. He asked populace choosing monarchy democracy or oligarchy constitution after extolling bravery abroad moderation at home. People decided remaining kingdom asking him stay king. Before accepting he prayed witnessing auspicious lightning bolt declaring no king shall take throne without god approval.
Dionysius carefully consulted best authorities available during his time selecting among them to preserve details like Servian Census. His success came at expense of concealing primitive Roman actuality revealed later by archaeology. Alongside Livy his work remains one of only connected detailed accounts of early Roman history surviving today. Several ancient historians including Appian Plutarch and Livy used Dionysius as source material for their own narratives about early Rome. Modern scholars note that while he aimed to reconcile Greeks to Roman rule focusing on conquerors' good qualities, his reliance on ancient sources sometimes obscured archaeological reality. Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews shows influence from Dionysius though recent scholarship contests this view.
Friedrich Sylburg edited collected works published parallel Greek Latin in Frankfurt 1586 available through Google Books. Johann Jakob Reiske produced complete edition between 1774 and 1777. A Kiessling released four volumes plus supplementum between 1860 and 1870 alongside V Prou C Jacoby editions spanning 1885 to 1925. Hermann Usener Ludwig Radermacher compiled Opuscula in Teubner series 1899-1929 containing Commentaries on Attic Orators letters to Ammaeus On Admirable Style Demosthenes On Character Thucydides Arrangement Words On Imitation Art Rhetoric fragments. Edward Spelman translated entire work into English 1758 available online. Harvard University Press Loeb Classical Library issued translations by Earnest Cary volumes one through seven published 1937 to 1950. Stephen Usher edited critical essays volumes one two published 1974 and 1985 respectively. These editions preserved his legacy across centuries ensuring continued study of his historical and rhetorical contributions.
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Common questions
When did Dionysius of Halicarnassus arrive in Rome and how long did he study before writing his history?
Dionysius of Halicarnassus arrived in Rome after the civil wars ended during the reign of Emperor Augustus. He spent twenty-two years studying Latin and literature before composing his history.
What is the date range covered by Roman Antiquities written by Dionysius of Halicarnassus?
Roman Antiquities spans twenty books covering Roman history from mythic times around 1300 BC to the First Punic War in 264 BC. Book I begins with mythic early history and ends with Remus's death while Books II through IX cover the monarchy republic and conflicts up to 462 BC.
How many books of Roman Antiquities by Dionysius of Halicarnassus survive intact today?
Only the first nine books of Roman Antiquities survive intact while the remaining eleven exist only as fragments found in excerpts by Roman emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. Angelo Mai discovered an epitome of these lost books in a Milan manuscript during the nineteenth century.
Who were the Attic Orators analyzed in Commentaries on the Attic Orators by Dionysius of Halicarnassus?
Commentaries on the Attic Orators covers Lysias Isaeus Isocrates and Dinarchus alongside works on Demosthenes and Thucydides. These writings show he thoroughly studied best Attic models before applying their lessons to his own historical narrative.
What happened to Romulus and Remus according to the account by Dionysius of Halicarnassus?
Romulus and Remus were born to vestal Ilia Silvia descended from Aeneas of Troy and tossed into the Tiber river where they were rescued by a she-wolf nursing them in Lupercal lair then adopted by Faustulus. Their followers fought resulting in Remus death buried at site now called Remoria after which Romulus made sacrifices receiving good omens before ordering fortifications housing construction.
All sources
7 references cited across the entry
- 1bookEncyclopedia of Ancient GreeceT. Hidber — Routledge — 31 Oct 2013
- 2bookA Dictionary of Classical AntiquitiesJ. E. Sandys — 1894
- 3bookDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and MythologyLeonhard Schmitz — 1867
- 4bookThe Roman Antiquities of Dionysius of HalicarnassusUniversity of Chicago — March 29, 2018
- 5bookDionysius and the History of Archaic RomeE. Gabba — 1991
- 6bookThe Historians of Greece and RomeS. Usher — 1969