Ctesias' 'History of Persia': Tales of the Orient (Routledge Classical Translations)

Towards the end of the fifth century BC Ctesias of Cnidus wrote his 23 book History of Persia. Ctesias is a remarkable figure: he lived and worked in the Persian court and, as a doctor, tended to the world’s most powerful kings and queens. His position gave him special insight into the workings of Persian court life and access to the gossip and scandal surrounding Persian history and court politics, past and present. His History of Persia was completed at a time when the Greeks were fascinated by Persia and seems very much to cater to contemporary interest in Persian wealth and opulence, powerful Persian women, the institution of the harem, kings and queens, eunuchs and secret plots. Presented here in English translation for the first time with commentaries, Ctesias offers a fascinating insight into Persia in the fifth century BC. Cover......Page 1 Ctesias’ History of Persia: tales of the Orient......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Preface......Page 9 List of illustrations......Page 11 Introduction......Page 12 Outline of the History of Persia......Page 99 Ctesias’ History of Persia......Page 102 Translator’s Preface......Page 103 Key to conventions used in this edition......Page 104 Testimonia on the life and work of Ctesias......Page 106 Fragments of Ctesias’ History of Persia......Page 122 Books 1–3 Assyrian History......Page 124 Books 4–6 Median History......Page 160 Books 7–11 Persian History: Reign of Cyrus II......Page 170 Books 12–13 Persian History: Reigns of Cambyses II (530–522 BCE), The Magus (522 BCE), Darius I (522–486 BCE), and Xerxes I (486–465 BCE)......Page 188 Books 16–17 Persian History: Reign of Artaxerxes I......Page 198 Book 18 Persian History: Reigns of Xerxes II (424 BCE), Secyndianus (424 BCE), and Darius II (Ochus) (424–404 BCE)......Page 203 Books 19–20 Persian History: Early reign of Artaxerxes II......Page 208 Books 21–23 Persian History: Later reign of Artaxerxes II (404–359/8 BCE); List of distances; List of kings......Page 220 Miscellaneous comments on the Persian Empire......Page 227 Glossary of authors......Page 231 Genealogy of the Persian royal family......Page 238 Map: The Persian Empire......Page 241 Bibliography......Page 243 Index......Page 252 Routledge Cover 1 Ctesias’ History of Persia: tales of the Orient 4 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 Preface 9 List of illustrations 11 Introduction 12 Outline of the History of Persia 99 Ctesias’ History of Persia 102 Translator’s Preface 103 Key to conventions used in this edition 104 Testimonia on the life and work of Ctesias 106 Fragments of Ctesias’ History of Persia 122 Books 1–3 Assyrian History 124 Books 4–6 Median History 160 Books 7–11 Persian History: Reign of Cyrus II 170 Books 12–13 Persian History: Reigns of Cambyses II (530–522 BCE), The Magus (522 BCE), Darius I (522–486 BCE), and Xerxes I (486–465 BCE) 188 Books 16–17 Persian History: Reign of Artaxerxes I 198 Book 18 Persian History: Reigns of Xerxes II (424 BCE), Secyndianus (424 BCE), and Darius II (Ochus) (424–404 BCE) 203 Books 19–20 Persian History: Early reign of Artaxerxes II 208 Books 21–23 Persian History: Later reign of Artaxerxes II (404–359/8 BCE); List of distances; List of kings 220 Miscellaneous comments on the Persian Empire 227 Glossary of authors 231 Genealogy of the Persian royal family 238 Map: The Persian Empire 241 Bibliography 243 Index 252 9780415364119 Towards the end of the fifth century BCE, Ctesias of Cnidus wrote his twenty-three book History of Persia. Ctesias is a remarkable figure. He lived and worked in the Persian court of the Achaemenid monarchs and, as a doctor, tended to the world's most powerful kings and queens. His position gave him special insight into the workings of Persian court life and court politics. His History of Persia was completed at a time when the Greeks were fascinated by Persia and seems, on one level, to cater to contemporary interest in Persian wealth and opulence, powerful Persian women, the institution of the harem, kings and queens, eunuchs and secret plots. Presented here in an unabridged English translation for the first time with an extensive introduction, Ctesiass History of Persia: Tales of the Orient offers a fascinating insight into Persia in the fifth century BCE and re-evaluates Ctesias' legacy as a historian of the ancient Near East. - Back cover. Ctesias of Cnidus wrote his twenty-three book History of Persia in the fifth century BC. Presented here in English translation for the first time with commentaries and illustrations, Ctesias' History of Persia: Tales of the Orient offers a fascinating insight into Persia in the fifth century BC and into a remarkable figure.