Politics, Philosophy and Empire in the Fourth Century: Themistius' Select Orations (Liverpool University Press - Translated Texts for Historians)

around The Year 350, A Young Orator And Philosopher Called Themistius Delivered A Speech To The Emperor Constantius Ii In Ancyra (modern Ankara). Themistius Found Great Favor With The Emperor, Who Catapulted Him Into The Constantinople Senate In 355. He Was Similarly Favored By Subsequent Emperors - Jovian (363-64), Valens (364-78) And Theodosius (379-95). This Volume Presents Translations Of A Selection Of The Speeches Of Themistius, Grouped Into Chapters That Deal Either With A Key Period In The Evolution Of His Career Or With A Sequence Of Events Of Particular Historical Significance. Title Page 4 Table of Contents 6 Abbreviations 9 Preface 10 Chapter 1: Orator, Emperor, and Senate 20 Philosophy and Oratory 20 Philosophy and Politics 31 The Usefulness of Philosophy 38 Orator and Audience 48 Chapter 2: Themistius and Constantius 62 General Introduction 62 Honours and Offices 62 The Religious Policies of Constantius 67 Emperor and Philosopher 76 Oration 1 - On the Love of Mankind or Constantius 88 Introduction 88 Translation 97 The Letter of Constantius to the Senate 116 Introduction 116 Translation 127 Oration 3 - Embassy Speech for Constantinople Delivered in Rome 133 Introduction 133 Translation 144 Chapter 3: After Julian 156 General Introduction 156 Themistius and Julian 157 Jovian and Valens 161 Building Consensus 164 Oration 5 - On the Consulship, to the Emperor Jovian 168 Introduction 168 Translation 178 Oration 6 - On Brotherly Love, or On Philanthropia 192 Introduction 192 Translation 199 Chapter 4: Theodosius, Gratian, and the Goths 218 General Introduction 218 Valens, Themistius and the Goths (c. 376-8) 218 The Gothic War Part 2: Orations 14-16 in Context 224 Themistius, Theodosius and the East 227 The Evolution of Imperial Policy 230 Gratian and Theodosius 232 Themistius and the Goths 235 Oration 14 - Embassy to the Emperor Theodosius 237 Introduction 237 Translation 244 Oration 15 - To Theodosius or The Most Royal of the Virtues 249 Introduction 249 Translation 255 Oration 16 - Speech of Thanksgiving to the Emperor for the Peace and the Consulship of the General Saturninus 274 Introduction 274 Translation 284 Chapter 5: Philosopher Prefect 304 General Introduction 304 Controversy 305 Themistius' Defence 308 The Perquisites of Office 314 Oration 17 - On the Election to the Urban Prefecture 317 Introduction 317 Translation 318 Oration 34 - In Reply to Those who Found Fault with Him for Accepting Public Office 323 Introduction 323 Translation 329 Bibliography 354 Index 1 368 Index 2 376 Title Page......Page 4 Table of Contents......Page 6 Abbreviations......Page 9 Preface......Page 10 Philosophy and Oratory......Page 20 Philosophy and Politics......Page 31 The Usefulness of Philosophy......Page 38 Orator and Audience......Page 48 Honours and Offices......Page 62 The Religious Policies of Constantius......Page 67 Emperor and Philosopher......Page 76 Introduction......Page 88 Translation......Page 97 Introduction......Page 116 Translation......Page 127 Introduction......Page 133 Translation......Page 144 General Introduction......Page 156 Themistius and Julian......Page 157 Jovian and Valens......Page 161 Building Consensus......Page 164 Introduction......Page 168 Translation......Page 178 Introduction......Page 192 Translation......Page 199 Valens, Themistius and the Goths (c. 376-8)......Page 218 The Gothic War Part 2: Orations 14-16 in Context......Page 224 Themistius, Theodosius and the East......Page 227 The Evolution of Imperial Policy......Page 230 Gratian and Theodosius......Page 232 Themistius and the Goths......Page 235 Introduction......Page 237 Translation......Page 244 Introduction......Page 249 Translation......Page 255 Introduction......Page 274 Translation......Page 284 General Introduction......Page 304 Controversy......Page 305 Themistius' Defence......Page 308 The Perquisites of Office......Page 314 Introduction......Page 317 Translation......Page 318 Introduction......Page 323 Translation......Page 329 Bibliography......Page 354 Index 1 ......Page 368 Index 2 ......Page 376 Around the year 350, a young orator and philosopher called Themistius delivered a speech to the Emperor Constantius II in Ancyra (modern Ankara). Themistius found great favour with the Emperor, who catapulted him into the Constantinople Senate in 355. He was similarly favoured by subsequent emperors - Jovian (363-64), Valens (364-78) and Theodosius (379-95). This volume presents translations of a selection of the speeches of Themistius, grouped into chapters that deal either with a key period in the evolution of his career or with a sequence of events of particular historical significance. -- Amazon.com