The Breviary of Festus

Written in the late 4th Century A.D., the Breviary of Festus was intended as a kind of summary and manual of Roman history from the city's founding, in 753 B.C., to the reign of the emperors Valens and Valentinian-a span of over 1,100 years. Much of the book's focus is on the military achievements of the Romans, especially their ceaseless warfare in the East, with the Arsacid Parthians and their successors the Sassanid Persians. This edition is designed for students who are new to the...
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Written in the late 4th Century A.D., the Breviary of Festus was intended as a kind of summary and manual of Roman history from the city's founding, in 753 B.C., to the reign of the emperors Valens and Valentinian-a span of over 1,100 years. Much of the book's focus is on the military achievements of the Romans, especially their ceaseless warfare in the East, with the Arsacid Parthians and their successors the Sassanid Persians. This edition is designed for students who are new to the business of reading and translating an original Latin text; the language of Festus is fairly straightforward, his grammar relatively uncomplicated, and so his Breviary is eminently suited for use as an elementary Latin textbook. Though not a critical edition, the Latin text has been specially edited for use by the beginning Latin student, complete with macrons; included also is a generous section of explanatory notes, both grammatical and historical, and a full vocabulary. A new English translation, intended as an aid and reference for the language student, has also been prepared for this edition; quite apart from its use to the Latin novice, it may be of some interest to the military historian or student of 4th Century Perso-Roman warfare.