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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 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).
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 220
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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August 30, 2017Una colección de hechos "curiosos" sobre el mundo clásico, es muy divertido, hay algunas cosas que por lo menos yo no sabía, como la participación de Socrates en la guerra, o la personalidad de Aristoteles, disfrute leyendo cada una de estas anecdotas, muy ligero y fácil de leer, me parece puede see un buen acercamiento a los libros clásicos.
May 29, 2020
Before wikipedia and listicles there were books like this, collections of facts, trivia and assorted did-you-knows. Were they accurate? Occasionally were they entertaining and attention grabbing? Absolutely.
This book is diet Herodotus, with any semblance of narrative or connection between the facts dispensed with. It's easy and attention holding reading, though it doesnt offer much more than that.
Below are some of my most memorable sections.
1.9 When a lion is ill, no other remedy helps it, but a cure for the illness is to eat a monkey
3.19 The first difference between Aristotle and Plato is said to have arisen the following way. Plato did not like the way he lived or his physical appearance. Aristotle wore elaborate clothes and shoes; he also had his hair cut in a style that displeased Plato; he wore many rings and prided himself upon this. There was a look of mockery on his face and an inappropriate garrulity as he talked created an unfavourable impression of his character. Obviously all these traits are alien to a philosopher....[the rest is a story about Aristotle bullying Plato with questions until Plato was refused to go walking outside of his own home]
9:20 Aristippus [A prominent philosopher] became very alarmed when a storm blew up during a voyage. One of the other passengers say to Aristippus, are you frightened just like most of us?" He replied "Yes, of course. Your concern in the face of the present danger affects your miserable existence, but for me it is a question of true happiness at stake."
9:29 One day Socrates came home from dinner at a late hour of the night. Some badly behaved youths learned of his movements in advance and lay in wait for him. They carried lighted torches and wore mask of the Furies, it being their habit to misuse their leisure by playing tricks on other people. Socrates was not frightened when he saw them; he stoped and began asking them questions....
10:10 When the art of painting was in its early stages, as one might say not yet weaned or out of infants clothing, animals were so crudely represented that the painters would write an inscription, "this an ox, that is a horse, this is a tree."
This book is diet Herodotus, with any semblance of narrative or connection between the facts dispensed with. It's easy and attention holding reading, though it doesnt offer much more than that.
Below are some of my most memorable sections.
1.9 When a lion is ill, no other remedy helps it, but a cure for the illness is to eat a monkey
3.19 The first difference between Aristotle and Plato is said to have arisen the following way. Plato did not like the way he lived or his physical appearance. Aristotle wore elaborate clothes and shoes; he also had his hair cut in a style that displeased Plato; he wore many rings and prided himself upon this. There was a look of mockery on his face and an inappropriate garrulity as he talked created an unfavourable impression of his character. Obviously all these traits are alien to a philosopher....[the rest is a story about Aristotle bullying Plato with questions until Plato was refused to go walking outside of his own home]
9:20 Aristippus [A prominent philosopher] became very alarmed when a storm blew up during a voyage. One of the other passengers say to Aristippus, are you frightened just like most of us?" He replied "Yes, of course. Your concern in the face of the present danger affects your miserable existence, but for me it is a question of true happiness at stake."
9:29 One day Socrates came home from dinner at a late hour of the night. Some badly behaved youths learned of his movements in advance and lay in wait for him. They carried lighted torches and wore mask of the Furies, it being their habit to misuse their leisure by playing tricks on other people. Socrates was not frightened when he saw them; he stoped and began asking them questions....
10:10 When the art of painting was in its early stages, as one might say not yet weaned or out of infants clothing, animals were so crudely represented that the painters would write an inscription, "this an ox, that is a horse, this is a tree."
May 11, 2024
This is essentially a collection of mostly paragraph long anecdotes and [dubious] factoids about the ancient world. You'll find many urban legends from the ancient world collected here: bees feeding honey to a baby Plato, Homer giving the Cypria as his daughter's dowry, Semiramis executing her husband the king, etc.
I primarily read this a few anecdotes at a time while focusing more on other texts. It was quite enjoyable in these small doses, but I don't think I could have set and read it for 2-3 hours straight.
The LOEB translation contains many helpful notes to help clarify potential sources for Aelian and to distinguish between multiple similarly or same-named historical figures referenced in the text.
I primarily read this a few anecdotes at a time while focusing more on other texts. It was quite enjoyable in these small doses, but I don't think I could have set and read it for 2-3 hours straight.
The LOEB translation contains many helpful notes to help clarify potential sources for Aelian and to distinguish between multiple similarly or same-named historical figures referenced in the text.
December 18, 2020
An entertaining collection of tidbits, kind of like spending a few evenings clicking through Wikipedia and gossip sites.
November 19, 2014
Чудесно четиво е Елиан. Който е чел Авъл Гелий, ще оцени "Шарени истории". Краткостта на повечето от тях, чудните неща, които се съобщават и лекия начин, по който са поднесени, лесно предразполага към по-голям интерес към древните. Разбира се, ако някой се е хванал да чете "Шарени истории", то вече се вълнува от тези най-големи от предците.
April 5, 2017
Some very quirky stuff. Good reference material.
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August 4, 2011As the librarian of the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of Alcalá has commented when he saw it: "This is the "HOLA" of the ancient Greeks!"
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March 28, 2024Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews