View source for Kl. Ailianou Sophistou Poikilē Historia

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Kl. Ailianou Sophistou Poikilē Historia''}}
<big>''Kl. Ailianou Sophistou Poikilē Historia = Cl. Aeliani Sophistae Varia Historia: ad Mstos Codices Nuc Primum Recognita & Castigata: cum Versione Justi Vulteji, Sed Innumeris in Locis ad Graecum Auctoris Contextum Emendata et Perpetuo Commentario Jacobi Perizonii: Accedunt Indices & Plures & Superioribus Longe Locupletiores''</big>
===by Aelian===
__NOTOC__
{{BookPageInfoBox
|imagename=Aelian1701.jpg
|link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3669677
|shorttitle=Kl. Ailianou Sophistou Poikilē Historia 
|author=Aelian
|editor=
|lang=Latin
|publoc=Lugduni in Batavis
|publisher=Apud Johannem du Vivie, Isaacum Severinum
|year=1701
|set=1
|desc=8vo (21 cm.)
}}[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius_Aelianus Aelian] lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE (roughly 165-230 CE). He was a freedman born in a hillside town near Rome who learned Greek from a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophist sophist].  <ref>[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192801463.001.0001/acref-9780192801463-e-35 "Aelian"] in ''Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World'', ed. by John Roberts (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).</ref> Aelian became a sophist himself – a title which originally indicated that a person had a particular skill and therefore wisdom, but came to refer to a personal teacher who traveled from town to town preparing men from wealthy families for public success. <ref>[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199548545.001.0001/acref-9780199548545-e-2770  "Sophist”] in ''The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature'', ed. by M.C. Howatson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).</ref> <br />
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Aelian’s ''Varia Historia'', or ''Miscellaneous Historical'', is a collection of various stories and anecdotes.  <ref>Mervin R. Dilts. “The Manuscript Tradition of Aelian’s Varia Historia and Heraclides’ Politiae,” ''Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association'' 96, (1965): 57.</ref>  Even in modern times, Aelian’s work and details are viewed with skepticism.  One classicist even went so far as to say “Aelian’s aim is to supply well-turned exempla, and he seems to have relied uncritically upon whatever summary he found.” <ref>Edwin Carawan. “Pericles the Younger and the Citizenship Law,” ''The Classical Journal'' 103, no. 4 (Apr., - May, 2008): 383-406.</ref>  Despite reservations about his choice of content, Aelian was widely respected throughout the centuries for his simple, clear writing and use of pure [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attic_Greek Attic language]. <ref>[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192801463.001.0001/acref-9780192801463-e-35 "Aelian"] in ''Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World''</ref>

==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Aelianus Perizonii 2.v. 8vo." This was one of the titles kept by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and may have been sold to the Library of Congress in 1815. Jefferson did sell a copy of the 1701 Leiden edition of ''Kl. Ailianou Sophistou Poikilē Historia'' to the Library of Congress and that copy still exists today. However, the set has no definitive markings linking it to Wythe.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'', 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 1:48-49 [no.103-104].</ref> [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe "Member: George Wythe"] accessed on March 5, 2014.</ref> on LibraryThing includes the copy at the Library of Congress. The [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> discusses the Library of Congress copy, noting "it does correspond to the description in Wythe's inventory better than other possible editions owned by Jefferson."  The Wolf Law Library followed the recommendations of Brown and LibraryThing and purchased the 1701 Leiden edition.

==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
Bound in late eighteenth century full calf with raised bands. Spine in six panels and morocco title label to second panel, contrasting morocco volume label to third, remaining panels with gilt central lozenge and volute corner pieces. Has gilt rolled border to covers with all edges marbled and blue paste endpapers. Contains previous owner's name to title and first page  of text of volumes two and three. Additional engraved title, title of main work in red and black. Purchased from Temple Rare Books. 

View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3669677 William & Mary's online catalog.]
==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Ancient History]]
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
[[Category:Possible Surviving Wythe Volumes]]
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]