Understanding the mystery behind the historians of the ancient world
This edition tackles the long-standing questions about who wrote the biographies in the Historia Augusta and why the texts resemble one another so closely.
The introduction surveys classic scholarly debates, from the idea of a single forger to a plural authorship with a later editor. It traces the arguments of Dessau, Seeck, Klebs, and Wolfflin, showing how scholars have explained inconsistencies, forgeries, and stylistic similarities. The result is a careful, contested history of the book’s origins and its complex transmission.
- Learn how scholars weigh evidence for multiple authors versus a single author operating under various names.
- See how textual features, style, vocabulary, and cited sources shape theories of dating and composition.
- Understand the importance of context, sources, and later editorial hands in shaping the biographies.
- Explore how conclusions evolved as new comparisons and methods emerged in the study of late antique literature.
Ideal for readers of classical history and textual criticism, this edition helps you grasp the stakes, methods, and key players in the debate over authorship and dating.