Histories of Alexander the Great (8 vols.)

by Quintus Curtius Rufus; Arrian

Publisher:

Harvard University Press

, 1946

Overview

Alexander studied under Aristotle, Plato’s most famous student. In spite of this academic heritage Alexander rejected the life of philosopher king, choosing instead the life of a warrior king. Accordingly, histories like Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander set a precedent in Western historiography that places conflict and military exploits on history’s center stage. To this day, past years are remembered by what wars were fought and which borders were redrawn.

The Histories of Alexander the Great collection contains the most reliable surviving accounts of the character and campaigns of Alexander the Great. His record on the battlefield is untarnished—he never lost a battle. By age 30, he had created one of the largest empires in the ancient world. He conquered the Persian Empire and carried Greek culture from Asia Minor to Egypt and modern-day India. Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander draws on primary sources lost to us in order to detail the deeds of Alexander. It is a complete account of Alexander’s expeditions. On the other hand, Quintus Curtius Rufus, not a military man himself, focuses more on the person than the deeds of Alexander, as well as the politics surrounding him. This collection provides a complete profile of the man who set the mark for military greatness for centuries to come.

This collection contains the complete texts in their Loeb Classical Library editions. Each volume is included in its original Greek or Latin, with an English translation for easy side-by-side comparison. Logos’ language tools help you to go deeper into the Greek and Latin text and explore both Quintus’ fluid prose and Arrian’s Attic Greek. Use the dictionary lookup tool to examine difficult Greek words and find every appearance of the same word in your library. There’s never been a better way for students of history, culture, and literature to absorb these works.

As Seen on Faithlife Today

Key Features

• Two of the most reliable histories of Alexander the Great, documenting his character and campaigns
• Fluid Latin and classical Attic Greek prose
• Loeb Classical Library editions

Product Details

• Title: Histories of Alexander the Great (8 vols.)
• Series: Loeb Classical Library
• Volumes: 8
• Pages: 2,194

About the Authors

Arrian (AD 86–160) was an ethnically Greek historian, politician, and military commander of the Roman Empire. The Anabasis of Alexander is his best known work, which draws on sources no longer available to us, including the biography of Ptolemy, a leading general and childhood friend of Alexander. Arrian’s work revolves around military events, and he is one of the founders of a military-based focus in Western history.

Quintus Curtius Rufus was a Roman historian in the first century AD. His History of Alexander is his only surviving work. His work focuses on the character and cultural context of his subjects, leaving out traditionally significant historical events.