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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Thoukydidou peri tou Peloponnēsiakou Polemou Biblia Oktō''}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Thoukydidou peri tou Peloponnēsiakou Polemou Biblia Oktō = Thucydidis de Bello Peloponnesiaco Libri Octo''}}
 
===by Thucydides===
 
===by Thucydides===
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
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{{BookPageInfoBox
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|imagename=ThucydidesBelloPeloponnesiaco1731.jpg
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|link=https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991021554259703196
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|shorttitle=History of the Peloponnesian War
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|author=[[:Category:Thucydides|Thucydides]]
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|editor=Henricus Stephanus
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|lang=[[:Category:Greek|Ancient Greek]]
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|publoc=[[:Category:Amsterdam|Amstelædami]]
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|publisher=Apud R. & J. Wetstenios & Gul. Smith.
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|year=1731
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|pages=[38], 728, 48, 123, [1]
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|desc=[[:Category:Folios|Folio (40 cm.)]]
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|shelf=N-5
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}}[[File:ThucydidesThoukydidouPeriTouPeloponnesiakou1731Illustration.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<center>Illustration.</center>]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thucydides Thucydides] (c. 460 BCE–c. 395 BCE) has gone down in history as one of the great ancient historians, despite the fact that (possibly because) he wrote only one book: ''History of the Peloponnesian War''.<ref>John Roberts, ed., "[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192801463.001.0001/acref-9780192801463-e-2194 Thucydidēs]" in ''Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).</ref> The ''History'' consists of eight books, roughly divided into five parts or themes that cover [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peloponnesian_War the war between Athens and Sparta] (431-404 BCE) until the winter of 411/410 BCE. Continuations by other historians to complete Thucydides’ history of the war are now lost, and the original portions of the eight books are also not complete.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
  
==Bibliographic Information==
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Thucydides intended his history to be used as instructive and accurate record of what he viewed as the most important war in Greek history. In 424 BCE, as a general or ''strategos'', Thucydides failed to save the valuable Athenian colony of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphipolis Amphipolis] from Spartan attack. As a result, he was exiled and did not return to Athens until 404 BCE.  His absence for most of the Peloponnesian War inspired him “to gain first-hand information from both sides and to have a clearer perspective.”<ref>M.C. Howatson, ed., "[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199548545.001.0001/acref-9780199548545-e-2939 Thūcy'didēs] in ''The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).</ref> Though Thucydides strived for “exactness,” he also used a great many speeches in his history, and admitted that it was near impossible to have fully accurate speeches. In these situations, Thucydides allowed himself to trust his “historical imagination” in order to dramatically demonstrate “the workings of men’s minds and the impact of circumstance.” <ref>Roberts, "Thucydidēs."</ref> His focus on accuracy is seen through the lack of divine explanations for any events, but his impartiality has been questioned, especially in reference to his favorable view of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles Pericles] and unjustifiably negative depiction of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleon Cleon]. Overall, the serious nature of the writing illuminates Thucydides’ focus on historical fact and analysis.<ref>Howatson, "Thūcy'didēs.”</ref>
'''Author:''' Thucydides
 
  
'''Title:'''  Thoukydidou peri tou Peloponnēsiakou Polemou Biblia Oktō = Thucydidis de Bello Peloponnesiaco Libri Octo
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==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
  
'''Publication Info:''' Amstelædami : Apud R. & J. Wetstenios & Gul. Smith., 1731.
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Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "[Th]ucydides Gr. Lat. notis variorum. Dukeri fol." This was one of the titles kept by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and later sold to the Library of Congress in 1815. Both [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 November 19, 2013.</ref> on LibraryThing and 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> list the 1731 edition published in Amsterdam. This is also the edition Millicent Sowerby's included in ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'',<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'', (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 1:8 [http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015033648091;view=1up;seq=38 [no.15]].</ref> but, Jefferson's copy no longer exists. The Wolf Law Library chose to add the edition suggested by Sowerby, Brown, and LibraryThing.
 +
[[File:ThucydidesThoukydidouPeriTouPeloponnesiakou1731Inscription.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<center>Inscriptions, front free endpaper.</center>]]
  
'''Edition:'''
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==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
  
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
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Bound in contemporary blind-stamped Dutch vellum with spine lettered in ink.  Includes signature of "John D. Spicer, 1958" and the inscription "James Reed ex bono E.C.(?) Woodcock, 1789." Purchased from Blackwell's Rare Books.
 +
 
 +
Images of the library's copy of this book are [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolflawlibrary/sets/72157659136879598 available on Flickr.] View the record for this book in [https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991021554259703196 William & Mary's online catalog.]
 +
 
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==See also==
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<div style="overflow: hidden;">
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*[[George Wythe Room]]
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*''[[History of the Peloponnesian War|The History of the Peloponnesian War]]''
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*[[Jefferson Inventory]]
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*[[Wythe's Library]]
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</div>
  
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
+
==References==
Bound in contemporary blind-stamped Dutch vellum with spine lettered in ink. Engraved frontispiece and 2 folded plates with title-page in red and black. Contains ownership inscriptions to the front flyleaf. Purchased from Blackwell's Rare Books ABA.
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<div style="overflow: hidden;">
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<references/>
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</div>
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
[http://books.google.com/books?id=m2hZAAAAYAAJ&dq=Thoukydidou+peri+tou+Peloponn%C4%93siakou+Polemou+Biblia+Okt%C5%8D&source=gbs_navlinks_s Google Books]
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Read this book in [http://books.google.com/books?id=m2hZAAAAYAAJ&dq=Thoukydidou+peri+tou+Peloponn%C4%93siakou+Polemou+Biblia+Okt%C5%8D&source=gbs_navlinks_s Google Books].
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[[Category:Ancient History]]
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[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
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[[Category:Jefferson's Books]]
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[[Category:Thucydides]]
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[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]
  
===References===
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[[Category:Amsterdam]]
<references/>
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[[Category:Folios]]
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[[Category:Greek]]

Latest revision as of 10:35, 23 June 2023

by Thucydides

History of the Peloponnesian War
ThucydidesBelloPeloponnesiaco1731.jpg

Title page from History of the Peloponnesian War, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary.

Author Thucydides
Editor Henricus Stephanus
Translator {{{trans}}}
Published Amstelædami: Apud R. & J. Wetstenios & Gul. Smith.
Date 1731
Edition {{{edition}}}
Language Ancient Greek
Volumes {{{set}}} volume set
Pages [38], 728, 48, 123, [1]
Desc. Folio (40 cm.)
Location Shelf N-5
  [[Shelf {{{shelf2}}}]]
Illustration.
Thucydides (c. 460 BCE–c. 395 BCE) has gone down in history as one of the great ancient historians, despite the fact that (possibly because) he wrote only one book: History of the Peloponnesian War.[1] The History consists of eight books, roughly divided into five parts or themes that cover the war between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BCE) until the winter of 411/410 BCE. Continuations by other historians to complete Thucydides’ history of the war are now lost, and the original portions of the eight books are also not complete.[2]

Thucydides intended his history to be used as instructive and accurate record of what he viewed as the most important war in Greek history. In 424 BCE, as a general or strategos, Thucydides failed to save the valuable Athenian colony of Amphipolis from Spartan attack. As a result, he was exiled and did not return to Athens until 404 BCE. His absence for most of the Peloponnesian War inspired him “to gain first-hand information from both sides and to have a clearer perspective.”[3] Though Thucydides strived for “exactness,” he also used a great many speeches in his history, and admitted that it was near impossible to have fully accurate speeches. In these situations, Thucydides allowed himself to trust his “historical imagination” in order to dramatically demonstrate “the workings of men’s minds and the impact of circumstance.” [4] His focus on accuracy is seen through the lack of divine explanations for any events, but his impartiality has been questioned, especially in reference to his favorable view of Pericles and unjustifiably negative depiction of Cleon. Overall, the serious nature of the writing illuminates Thucydides’ focus on historical fact and analysis.[5]

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "[Th]ucydides Gr. Lat. notis variorum. Dukeri fol." This was one of the titles kept by Thomas Jefferson and later sold to the Library of Congress in 1815. Both George Wythe's Library[6] on LibraryThing and the Brown Bibliography[7] list the 1731 edition published in Amsterdam. This is also the edition Millicent Sowerby's included in Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson,[8] but, Jefferson's copy no longer exists. The Wolf Law Library chose to add the edition suggested by Sowerby, Brown, and LibraryThing.

Inscriptions, front free endpaper.

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

Bound in contemporary blind-stamped Dutch vellum with spine lettered in ink. Includes signature of "John D. Spicer, 1958" and the inscription "James Reed ex bono E.C.(?) Woodcock, 1789." Purchased from Blackwell's Rare Books.

Images of the library's copy of this book are available on Flickr. View the record for this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

See also

References

  1. John Roberts, ed., "Thucydidēs" in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).
  2. Ibid.
  3. M.C. Howatson, ed., "Thūcy'didēs in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).
  4. Roberts, "Thucydidēs."
  5. Howatson, "Thūcy'didēs.”
  6. LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on November 19, 2013.
  7. 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.
  8. E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 1:8 [no.15].

External Links

Read this book in Google Books.