Memorable Deeds and Sayings: One Thousand Tales from Ancient Rome

by Valerius Maximus, Henry John Walker (Translator)

Overview

Popular in its day both as a sourcebook for writers and orators and as a guidebook for living a moral life, this remarkably rich document serves as an engaging introduction to the cultural and moral history of ancient Rome. Valerius' "thousand tales" are arranged thematically in ninety-one chapters that cover nearly every aspect of life in the ancient world, including such wide-ranging topics as military discipline, child rearing, and women lawyers. As a whole, the work gives the reader fascinating insights into what it felt like to be an ancient Roman, what the ancient Romans really believed, what their private world was like, how they related to one another, and what they did when nobody was watching.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780872206748
Publisher:	Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication date:	03/01/2004
Series:	Hackett Classics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Henry John Walker is Lecturer in Classical and Medieval Studies, Bates College.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	xi
	Introduction	xiii
	Note on the Translation	xxv
	Maps
	Greece	xxvi
	Italy	xxviii
	Roman Empire	xxx
Book 1
	Preface: [To the Emperor Tiberius]	1
Chapter 1.	Religion	2
Chapter 2.	False Religiosity	11
Chapter 3.	Superstitious Cults	13
Chapter 4.	The Auspices	14
Chapter 5.	Omens	17
Chapter 6.	Prodigies	20
Chapter 7.	Dreams	27
Chapter 8.	Miracles	33
Book 2
	Preface	43
Chapter 1.	Ancient Customs [of the Roman Family]	43
Chapter 2.	Ancient Customs [of the Roman Senate]	45
Chapter 3.	Ancient Customs [of the Roman Army]	50
Chapter 4.	Ancient Customs [of the Roman Theater]	51
Chapter 5.	Ancient Customs [of Roman Society]	55
Chapter 6.	Ancient Customs [of Foreign Countries]	56
Chapter 7.	Military Discipline	61
Chapter 8.	The Right to Triumph	69
Chapter 9.	The Disapproval of the Censors	72
Chapter 10.	Prestige	76
Book 3
Chapter 1.	Innate Characteristics	81
Chapter 2.	Courage	83
Chapter 3.	Endurance	95
Chapter 4.	People Who Were Born in Humble Circumstances but Ended Up Famous	99
Chapter 5.	People Who Had Famous Parents but Came Down in the World	101
Chapter 6.	Illustrious Men Who Humored Themselves in Their Dress or in the Rest of Their Lifestyle with Greater Freedom than the Customs of Our Ancestors Would Allow	103
Chapter 7.	Self-confidence	105
Chapter 8.	Determination	113
Book 4
Chapter 1.	Moderation	120
Chapter 2.	People Who Used to be Enemies but Came Together as Friends or In-laws	129
Chapter 3.	Self-denial and Self-control	131
Chapter 4.	Poverty	138
Chapter 5.	Modesty	142
Chapter 6.	Love in Marriage	144
Chapter 7.	Friendship	147
Chapter 8.	Generosity	153
Book 5
Chapter 1.	Kindness and Compassion	157
Chapter 2.	Gratitude	165
Chapter 3.	Ingratitude	170
Chapter 4.	Loyalty to Parents	177
Chapter 5.	Loyalty to Brothers	182
Chapter 6.	Loyalty to One's Country	184
Chapter 7.	The Love and Indulgence of Parents toward Their Children	189
Chapter 8.	Fathers Who Were Severe with Their Children	192
Chapter 9.	The Lenience of Parents toward Children Who Were under Suspicion	194
Chapter 10.	Parents Who Bravely Endured the Deaths of Their Children	195
Book 6
Chapter 1.	Chastity	198
Chapter 2.	Frank Statements and Actions	202
Chapter 3.	Severity	208
Chapter 4.	Dignified Statements and Actions	213
Chapter 5.	Justice	217
Chapter 6.	Public Trust	221
Chapter 7.	The Loyalty of Wives to Their Husbands	224
Chapter 8.	The Loyalty of Slaves	225
Chapter 9.	Changes in Character or Fortune	228
Book 7
Chapter 1.	Good Fortune	235
Chapter 2.	Wise Statements and Actions	236
Chapter 3.	Crafty Remarks or Actions	244
Chapter 4.	Strategems	251
Chapter 5.	Electoral Defeats	254
Chapter 6.	Necessity	257
Chapter 7.	Wills That Were Rescinded	260
Chapter 8.	Wills That Were Upheld Although There Were Grounds for Rescinding Them	263
Book 8
Chapter 1.	Why People Accused of Infamous Crimes Were Acquitted or Found Guilty	266
Chapter 2.	Famous Private Cases	273
Chapter 3.	Women Who Pleaded Cases before Magistrates on Behalf of Themselves or Other People	275
Chapter 4.	Interrogations	276
Chapter 5.	Witnesses	276
Chapter 6.	People Who Committed Offenses but Punished Others for Similar Offenses	278
Chapter 7.	Enthusiasm and Dedication	280
Chapter 8.	Leisure	287
Chapter 9.	How Great the Power of Eloquence Is	288
Chapter 10.	How Much Importance Lies in Proper Enunciation and Appropriate Physical Gestures	290
Chapter 11.	How Great the Results of the Liberal Arts Can Be	292
Chapter 12.	Each Person is the Best Practitioner and Teacher of His Own Profession	294
Chapter 13.	Old Age	295
Chapter 14.	The Desire for Glory	298
Chapter 15.	Marvelous Honors That Were Given to Certain People	302
Book 9
Chapter 1.	Self-indulgence and Sexual Indulgence	308
Chapter 2.	Cruelty	313
Chapter 3.	Anger and Hatred	319
Chapter 4.	Avarice	323
Chapter 5.	Haughty and Outrageous Behavior	324
Chapter 6.	Treachery	327
Chapter 7.	Violence and Rioting	329
Chapter 8.	Reckless Behavior	331
Chapter 9.	Mistakes	332
Chapter 10.	Revenge	334
Chapter 11.	Shameless Remarks and Evil Deeds	335
Chapter 12.	Unusual Deaths	339
Chapter 13.	The Craving to Survive	343
Chapter 14.	Physical Resemblance	346
Chapter 15.	People Who Were Born Very Low but Tried to Insinuate Themselves into Glorious Families by Lying	347
	Glossary	350
	Thematic Guide	355

Editorial Reviews

The publication of Henry John Walker's translation of Memorable Deeds and Sayings ensures a wider readership for Valerius' great compendium of Greco-Roman lore. Of the many merits of Walker's translation, I would cite especially its readability. Walker has produced a version of Valerius Maximus that reflects the original’s wide sweep, but in Walker's hands Valerius tells a seamless story in multiple parts. This translation will be easily used by students in the classroom and by scholars. It is a substantial accomplishment: a superior new translation that renders a monument of Latin literature accessible in every way to multiple audiences.—Joseph Pucci, Brown University

From the Publisher