Analysis Of The Histories By Kenneth Wellesley

This review analyzes Kenneth Wellesley's 1964 translation of the The Histories by Tacitus. The Histories is an account of Rome during the infamous A.D. 69, in which Rome held four emperors, and the surrounding months. In it, Tacitus described the reigns of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius and Vespasian's rise to power, as well as the battles, executions, and other events that shook Rome at the time. Actually, The Histories is believed to have covered a much longer time period, approximately from the death of Nero to the end{of} Domitian's reign, but the other portions of Tacitus's work have been lost, leaving primarily that one significant year. The work is split into multiple "books," which are closer to chapters by modern standards. Book One provides

Book Three covers the Flavian campaign till Vitellius's death. Book Four covers the beginning of Vespasian's reign, Civilis's revolt, and the start of A.D. 70. Book Five includes a brief, inaccurate description of the Jewish people and their history and the end of Civilis's revolt. Tacitus's viewpoint is the most important part of this work; he was a Roman senator, consul, and governor who was only fourteen during the year A.D. 69. He had first and second-hand knowledge of Rome lost on modern historians. This is why the book is written as though readers are intimately aware of certain aspects of Roman culture, such as religious festivals or execution styles. However, the nearness of events also biased Tacitus's viewpoint. Tacitus had strong social opinions relevant to the times and people he wrote about, including the Batavians and Jews. Also, Tacitus could not help but show some sense of shame and personal interest when writing about tragedies that struck his own nation just a few decades ago, shown in lines like "This (the burning of the Capitol) was the most lamentable and appalling disaster in the whole history of the Roman

He does credit one story to Vipstanus Messalla, and references the histories written by Gaius Plinius (Elder Pliny). (160;162) However, rarely did Tacitus document his sources. Fortunately, the translator, Kenneth Wellesley, provides some suggestions as to Tacitus's sources. As a Roman senator, Tacitus had access to official documents such as the Roman Hansard and the Transactions of the Senate. There was a wealth of literature, including Elder Pliny's work, about that time period even in Tacitus's days for him to call upon, which seems evidenced by his references to "others have recorded" or similar statements when providing multiple accounts of an incident. Also, he had many witnesses and survivors such as his father-in-law Agricola or probable friend Vestricius Spurinna still alive at that time to supply secondhand accounts. Of course as a lad of fourteen at the time these events took place, Tacitus likely called upon a great deal of his own knowledge. Wellesley suggests all these formed the backbone of The