Description
Towards the end of the fifth century BC Ctesias of Cnidus wrote his 23 book History of Persia. Ctesias is a remarkable figure: he lived and worked in the Persian court and, as a doctor, tended to the world’s most powerful kings and queens. His position gave him special insight into the workings of Persian court life and access to the gossip and scandal surrounding Persian history and court politics, past and present. His History of Persia was completed at a time when the Greeks were fascinated by Persia and seems very much to cater to contemporary interest in Persian wealth and opulence, powerful Persian women, the institution of the harem, kings and queens, eunuchs and secret plots.
Presented here in English translation for the first time with commentaries, Ctesias offers a fascinating insight into Persia in the fifth century BC.
Table of Contents
Part 1 Introduction; Chapter 01 Outline of the History of Persia; Part 02 Ctesias’ History of Persia; Chapter 02 Translator’s Preface; Chapter 03 Key to the Conventions used in this Edition; Part 03 Testimonia on the Life and Work of Ctesias; Part 04 Fragments of Ctesias’ History of Persia; Chapter 04 Books 1–3 Assyrian History; Chapter 05 Books 4–6 Median History; Chapter 06 Books 7–11 Persian History; Chapter 07 Books 12–13 Persian History; Chapter 08 Books 16–17 Persian History; Chapter 09 Book 18 Persian History; Chapter 10 Books 19–20 Persian History; Chapter 11 Books 21–23 Persian History; Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Comments on the Persian Empire;
