An English Translation of Claudius Aelianus' Varia Historia

by Aelian, Diane Ostrom Johnson (Introduction)

Claudius Aelianus (c. AD 175- c. 235), a Roman of Prenestewh ochose to write in the archaizing Greek of the autors of the Second Sophistic, earned the epithet "honey tongue" because of the sweetness of his style. "Varia Historia", originally written in Greek in the 3rd century AD, contains a miscellany of anecdotes, lists, apophthegms, biographical sketches and descriptions of natural wonders. The volume presents Aelian in such a way that his programme for selection and compilation of information becomes apprent. Considering the range of data, and the voices in which he writes, Aelian's moral focus becomes clear, as does his agenda.

179 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2003

About the author

Claudius Aelianus, 3rd cent.