The Letters of Libanius from the Age of Theodosius: (82 Translated Texts for Historians)

Libanius of Antioch (AD 314-93), teacher, rhetorician and eloquent exponent of Greek paideia, was one of the most prolific letter writers of late antiquity with more than 1500 surviving letters from an even greater total. This volume contains the first English-language translation of all the letters written between 388 and 393, which provide insights both into his professional and personal circumstances and the changes taking place in the political, religious and social environment of the late fourth century. The letters while fulfilling many of the usual functions of late antique correspondence as vehicles in creating or maintaining friendship networks, promoting relationships with men in power, supporting rhetoric and Hellenic learning and seeking favours for friends, students and protégés, also reveal Libanius’ reaction to his circumstances at the end of his life – his waning influence as a teacher, the hostility directed towards him by factions in Antioch and in Constantinople, the loss of friends and loved ones, in particular his son, and his ill health and impending mortality.

About the Author :
Scott Bradbury is Professor Emeritus of Classical Languages and Literatures, Smith College, USA. His previous publications include Selected Letters of Libanius from the Age of Constantius and Julian (Translated Texts for Historians, Liverpool University Press 2004). David Moncur is an independent scholar; his previous publications include (with Peter Heather)Politics, Philosophy and Empire: Select Orations of Themistius (Translated Texts for Historians, Liverpool University Press, 2001).

Review :
‘...excellent performance. The volume is not only an extremely useful tool for bringing together a group of texts that is still far too seldom studied, but it also serves as a general model, which gives hope that in a not too distant future the complete letters of Libanios will be available in translation.’ Translated from German: ‘...vorzüglichen Leistung. Der Band ist nicht nur ein extrem nützliches Hilfsmittel für die Erfassung einer noch immer viel zu selten in den Blick genommenen Textgruppe, sondern hat auch allgemeinen Vorbildcharakter, der hoffen lässt, dass in nicht allzu ferner Zukunft sämtliche Libaniosbriefe in Übersetzung vorliegen werden.’ Raphael Brendel, **Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft ** ‘All in all, this book makes a double contribution to scholarship. To students and scholars of the fourth century, it opens up one of the most important sources by providing a translation with introduction and commentary. And to scholars of Libanius, it adds another, big question mark to some of the accepted truths that have been taken for granted throughout the twentieth century but that have rightly started to be questioned over the past years. Thanks to these two qualities, the book will be an essential tool for historians of the fourth century as well as a source of inspiration for future research on Libanius.’ Lieve Van Hoof, Ghent University ‘The introduction to each letter is helpful and the notes provided are extensive. Given the vast range of individuals mentioned in these letters the provision of a prosopographical index in the appendices, as well as a timeline of events and chronology of the letters is most appreciated. This volume will help to promote scholarship on Libanius himself as well as on Greek epistolography, and late Roman imperial and administrative history and society.’ Geoffrey D. Dunn, University of Pretoria