Synopses & Reviews
`the fates ordained the founding of this great city and the beginning of the world's mightiest empire, second only to the power of the gods'
Romulus and Remus, the rape of Lucretia, Horatius at the bridge, the saga of Coriolanus, Cincinnatus called from his farm to save the state - these and many more are stories which, immortalized by Livy in his history of early Rome, have become part of our cultural heritage.
The historian's huge work, written between 20 BC and AD 17, ran to 12 books, beginning with Rome's founding in 753 BC and coming down to Livy's own lifetime (9 BC). Books 1-5 cover the period from Rome's beginnings to her first great foreign conquest, the capture of the Etruscan city of Veii and, a few years later, to her first major defeat, the sack of the city by the Gauls in 390 BC.
Synopsis
The first five books of Livy's history of early Rome recount the great stories and moments of Roman history. From Romulus and Remus, to the rape of Lucretia, to Horatius at the bridge, Livy's massive work immortalizes the events which both defined early Roman civilization and helped to shape our cultural heritage. This new annotated translation includes both maps and an index, making it the most complete and up-to-date edition available.
About the Author
T. J. Luce is Kennedy Professor of Latin Emeritus at Princeton University.