Biographies of 2nd century emperors

Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Printable Version

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Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Epictetus - 05-03-2010

Are there any modern biographies out there for Antoninus Pius, Lucius Verus or Commodus?

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Virilis - 05-03-2010

Hi David!

This book / summary you probably know already?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Antonines-Roman ... 470&sr=1-4

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Epictetus - 05-03-2010

Terve!

I haven't read that, but I did find it when I was doing some internet searches. That seems to be the only thing I could find. I have some other stuff from Michael Grant which I enjoyed, so I'll have to get that one.

I am a bit surprised that there is nothing out there for Antoninus Pius. Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius seem to be popular, so why nothing for him? Maybe it is because his reign was less eventful. I would also love to see something about Verus. To me he seems under-rated. Birley covers him a bit in his Marcus biography, though.

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Jona Lendering - 05-03-2010

Quote:Are there any modern biographies out there for Antoninus Pius, Lucius Verus or Commodus?

For Commodus, there's Olivier Hekster's book. It is not bad, but not methodologically groundbreaking either. I was surprised that it was accepted as a Ph.D. thesis.

http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2003/2003-07-11.html

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - D B Campbell - 05-03-2010

Quote:
Virilis:a282waua Wrote:This book / summary you probably know already?: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Antonines-Roman ... 470&sr=1-4
I haven't read that, ... I have some other stuff from Michael Grant which I enjoyed, so I'll have to get that one.

Michael Grant has written some great books in the past. But this isn't one of them. It's very short and very superficial.

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Epictetus - 05-04-2010

Thanks, Duncan. That's a shame: that book was on the top of my list.

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - D B Campbell - 05-04-2010

Quote:That's a shame: that book was on the top of my list.

By all means read it, David -- it won't take long. One reviewer called it "a condensed and rich overview" (Hist. Zeitschr. 264, 1997), which may be just what you want.

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Virilis - 05-04-2010

Michael Grant is one of the best populizers of history to my knowledge. He has made many good overviews on roman and greek worlds. Btw, is he still working?

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - D B Campbell - 05-04-2010

Quote:Btw, is he still working?

Died in 2004: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/25/obituaries/

Re: Biographies of 2nd century emperors - Virilis - 05-04-2010

Quote:
Virilis:1vn3rjyw Wrote:Btw, is he still working?
Died in 2004: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/25/obituaries/