Quintus Curtius: Books I-VHarvard University Press, 1946 Quintus Curtius was apparently a rhetorician who lived in the first century of the Roman empire and, early in the reign of Claudius (41-54 CE), wrote a history of Alexander the Great in 10 books in clear and picturesque style for Latin readers. The first two books have not survived--the narrative begins with events in 333 BCE--and there is material missing from books V, VI, and X. One of his main sources is Cleitarchus who, about 300 BCE, had made Alexander's career a matter of marvellous adventure. Curtius is not a critical historian; and in his desire to entertain and to stress the personality of Alexander, he elaborates effective scenes, omits much that is important for history, and does not worry about chronology. But he does not invent things, except speeches and letters inserted into the narrative by traditional habit. 'I copy more than I believe', he says. Three features of his story are narrative of exciting experiences, development of a hero's character, and a disposition to moralise. His history is one of the five extant works on which historians rely for the career of Alexander the Great. |
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Acidalius acie aciem added by Hedicke agmen Agriani Alex Alexander Alexander's Alexandri Amphoterus Amyntas animo ARISTOTLE arms army Arrian Artabazus Asia atque Bactra Bactriani barbarians battle Bessus castra cavalry Ceterum chariot Cilicia command Craterus Curtius Darei Dareo Dareus Darius deinde Diod eius enemy equitum erant erat ergo esset exercitus fear forces fortune Greeks haec haud Hindu Kush horsemen hostem hostis hostium Iamque Igitur illi inquit inter ipse ipsi ipsum Itaque iubet iussit king king's Lauer Livy Macedones Macedonians Macedonum magis manus Mazaeus milia milibus Modius modo Nabarzanes nunc Parmenion Perdiccas Persae Persarum Persians Pharnabazus Philip Philotas Phrygia Plut Plutarch posset procul quae quam quibus quidem quippe quod quoque regem regis river satrap sed etiam sent sibi soldiers stadia Strabo sunt tamen Thebans troops Tyrians urbem vero victory viii Vindelinus Vols xvii