Roman Antiquities

Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Dionysii Halicarnasei Antiquitatum Romanarum, Vols. 1-4. Jacoby, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1885-1905.

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This work is a detailed historical narrative by the Greek historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus, exploring the origins and early history of Rome. The author aims to demonstrate that Rome has noble Greek roots and did not arise from barbarian origins. The narrative begins with the legendary arrival of Aeneas in Italy, the founding of Rome by Romulus, and the establishment of institutions under the kings, leading to the expulsion of the tyrant Tarquinius and the birth of the Republic. It then vividly depicts the domestic struggles between the patricians and plebeians, including the secession of the plebs and the creation of the tribunes, alongside constant external wars against neighboring tribes. In the latter half, the work recounts how Rome overcame severe crises like the Gallic sack under Camillus's leadership, and established hegemony over southern Italy through the Samnite and Pyrrhic Wars. Through this narrative, the work illustrates how Rome's exceptional political wisdom, military virtue, and inclusive policies propelled its rise to a world power.