The Historia Augusta HA Scriptores Historia Augusta SHA

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The Historia Augusta (HA) (Scriptores Historia Augusta) (SHA)

The Historia Augusta (HA) (Scriptores Historia Augusta) (SHA)

Dessau, Hermes 1889 • written in the AD 390 s. (Many arguments, but two

Dessau, Hermes 1889 • written in the AD 390 s. (Many arguments, but two texts written by Aurelius Victor and Eutropius, who published in the 360 s). • ONE author parading as six – same technique, style, same tendency to pun on names • A ‘fake’ he concluded. Perhaps to arouse interest through a ‘Mystifikation’ • Analysis since has suggested one author (unique style and word use, computer analysis) • AD 395 -405

OK. So…. . • Baynes: propoganda for Julius, AD 360 s? • Syme: a

OK. So…. . • Baynes: propoganda for Julius, AD 360 s? • Syme: a piece of literature, undertaken by a “rogue scholar” for the amusement of himself and his friends • Rohrbacher – literary amusement, a literary game of allusion. A fiction and should be studied as a piece of literature, not from the viewpoint of a historian. Written for a particular circle of readers. (AD 409)

A historical approach: Quellenforschung • Uses Herodian (sometimes called ‘Arrianus’). But not simply taken

A historical approach: Quellenforschung • Uses Herodian (sometimes called ‘Arrianus’). But not simply taken as fact. • Marius Maximus: Domitian to Elagabalus

Severus Alexander and the ‘ideal’ emperor • A code? Elagabalus and Severus Alexander as

Severus Alexander and the ‘ideal’ emperor • A code? Elagabalus and Severus Alexander as Constantine and Julian? • The two lives are easily the longest

A literary approach: Amusement • Names are often families prominent in fourth century Rome

A literary approach: Amusement • Names are often families prominent in fourth century Rome • E. g. Nicomachus Flavianus (334 -394). Praetorian prefect, consul, friend of Symmachus.

Allusion • Characteristic of literature in late antiquity • The educated and lesser educated

Allusion • Characteristic of literature in late antiquity • The educated and lesser educated reader

Trebellius Pollio • Valerian, Gallienus, Tyranni Triginta (Thirty Tyrants) and Claudius. • Trebellius in

Trebellius Pollio • Valerian, Gallienus, Tyranni Triginta (Thirty Tyrants) and Claudius. • Trebellius in a letter to Cicero from D. Brutus (Fam. 11. 13). Trebellius a supporter of Mark Antony • Juvenal Satires – oak – victory in the Capitoline games • OR Pollio succeeds Julius Capitolinus, the author of the previous sequence of lives • OR a reference to Trebellius in the Philippics OR something else.

Genre of Biography • ‘biography’ not ‘history’ – Plutarch Alexander 1. 1. 2 -3

Genre of Biography • ‘biography’ not ‘history’ – Plutarch Alexander 1. 1. 2 -3 • Clear references and allusions to Suetonius Nero 31. 3 - dining room with ivory ceiling that would open up and shower guests with flowers HA Elagabalus 21. 5: so many flowers fell down upon the dining room that several were smothered to death.