Justin (historian)

Marcus Iunianus Justin, also referred to as Justinus or Justin, was a Roman historian. When he lived is not known exactly. Usually the 2nd or 3rd century is assumed, although some researchers also consider the period around 390 covered ( such as Ronald Syme ).

Life

From his history nothing is known, except ( as from the preface of his work can be seen ) that he did not himself came from Rome, but was staying there for some time. He is the author of a historical work in Latin ( Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV), which includes 44 books and according to his statement in the preface is a collection of the most important passages of the extensive Historiae Philippicae of Pompeius Trogus from the time of Emperor Augustus.

The work of Trogus is lost, but the prologi or summaries of the text by Pliny the Elder and others have been preserved. The main theme in Trogus is the rise and fall of various empires. In research is a core question of how far Justin in his " anthology " deviated from the original material and einfügte own positions. Certainly, however, he shortened the presentation of Trogus and passed several passages together. The work of Justin, which is only about one-tenth to one-sixth as large as the work of Trogus, probably aimed at an audience which also had interest in non -Roman history. It should obviously a similar purpose as the meet Livy Epitome of Florus, namely, an extensive body of work ( like that of Trogus ) help readers make more accessible and to give them an insight into the subject.

Although Justin from today's perspective, often factual errors can determine (due to, among other things chronological errors and strong selection procedures ) and he was less than a historian rather rhetorically interested author, his work certainly contains more valuable information. The language style is mostly clear and easy to understand, sometimes at the expense of the representation of more complex relationships. Linguistically oriented to Justin probably partly to Livy.

The plant was used in the Middle Ages much when the author was sometimes confused with Justin Martyr.

Translations

• Otto Seel ( translator's ): Pompeius Trogus. World history from the beginnings to Augustus. Zurich in 1972.
• John C. Yardley, Waldemar Heckel: Justin: Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus. Vol I, Books 11-12: Alexander the Great. Oxford 1997.