Plutarch and the Persica - (Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia) by Eran Almagor (Paperback)

About the Book

This book addresses two historical mysteries. The first is the content and character of the fourth century BCE Greek works called the Persica. The second is the method of work of the second century CE biographer Plutarch of Chaeronea who used these works to compose his biographies.

Book Synopsis

Bridges the gap between Plutarch Studies and Achaemenid Studies through analysis of key texts
This book addresses two historical mysteries. The first is the content and character of the fourth century BCE Greek works on the Persian Achaemenid Empire treatises called the Persica. The second is the method of work of the second century CE biographer Plutarch of Chaeronea (CE 45-120) who used these works to compose his biographies, in particular the Life of the Persian king Artaxerxes.
By dealing with both issues simultaneously, Almagor proposes a new way of approaching the two entangled problems, and offers a better understanding of both the portrayal of ancient Persia in the lost Persica works and the manner of their reception and adaptation nearly five hundred years later. Intended for both scholars and students of the Achaemenid Empire and Greek imperial literature, this book bridges the two worlds and two important branches of scholarship.

From the Back Cover

'Almagor provides a sophisticated examination of Plutarch's Artaxerxes and the biographer's adaption of earlier writers of Persica, like Ctesias and Deinon, for his own literary and biographical ends, thereby enhancing our understanding and appreciation of the character and historical value of these lost works and Plutarch's own compositional method.' Craig Cooper, University of Lethbridge A bridge between Plutarch studies and Achaemenid studies, using the Persica works as a link Eran Almagor addresses two historical mysteries. The first is the content and character of the fourth century BC Greek works on the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the Persica. The second is the method of work of the biographer Plutarch of Chaeronea (45-120 AD) who used these works to compose his biographies, in particular the Life of the Persian king Artaxerxes. By dealing with both issues simultaneously, Almagor proposes a new way of approaching the two entangled problems, and offers a better understanding of both the portrayal of ancient Persia in the lost Persica works and the manner of their reception and adaptation nearly 500 years later. Intended for both scholars and students of the Achaemenid Empire and Greek imperial literature, this book bridges the two worlds and two important branches of scholarship. Eran Almagor is the author of several articles on the history of the Achaemenid Empire, its image in Greek literature and on Greek imperial writers. Cover image: Apadana (Darius the Great's Palace) in Susa, Pavillon Sully at the Louvre museum, Paris, France, March 2010 (c) Mosquito on Flickr Cover design: Barrie [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-0-7486-4555-8 Barcode

Review Quotes

The author is essentially successful in completing the two tasks he set out for himself at the inception. He manages to reveal several unknown features of the three lost Persica, as well as Plutarch's methods of dealing with them.--Takuji Abe, Kyoto Prefectural University "Bryn Mawr Classical Review"

Almagor provides a sophisticated examination of Plutarch's Artaxerxes and the biographer's adaption of earlier writers of Persica, like Ctesias and Deinon, for his own literary and biographical ends, thereby enhancing our understanding and appreciation of the character and historical value of these lost works and Plutarch's own compositional method.--Craig Cooper, University of Lethbridge

About the Author

Eran Almagor is the author of papers and chapters on the history of the Achaemenid Empire, its image in Greek literature (Ctesias in particular), and on Greek Imperial writers, particularly Strabo and Josephus. Among his major interests are the writings of Plutarch, especially the Lives and the reception of antiquity in modern popular culture.