Difference between revisions of "Hērodotou Halikarnēssēos Historiōn Logoi 9 Epigraphomenoi Mousai"
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| − | }}<blockquote> "This is the celebrated and magnificent edition of Herodotus, which contains the notes of Valckenaer and Wesseling: it is justly called the editio optima, in reference to any edition of Herodotus previously published. 'Of all the editions of Herodotus which have been published,' says Dalzel, 'this of Wesseling is the most excellent.' This splendid and truly desirable edition has now become scarce, and a good copy cannot be obtained under a considerable sum." <ref> Dibdin, Classics, 1827; Vol. 2, pp. 23-24 </ref> </blockquote | + | }}<blockquote> "This is the celebrated and magnificent edition of Herodotus, which contains the notes of Valckenaer and Wesseling: it is justly called the editio optima, in reference to any edition of Herodotus previously published. 'Of all the editions of Herodotus which have been published,' says Dalzel, 'this of Wesseling is the most excellent.' This splendid and truly desirable edition has now become scarce, and a good copy cannot be obtained under a considerable sum." <ref> Dibdin, Classics, 1827; Vol. 2, pp. 23-24 </ref> </blockquote> |
| − | + | Herodotus was the first Greek historian, and perhaps the first true historian (who committed history to writing) in the world. Born in Halicarnassus (an Ancient Greek city in present-day Turkey on the Aegean Sea), Herodotus wrote during the third quarter of the fifth century BCE. He, and Thucydides following him shortly after, embraced the systematic approach of true ''historia'', meaning inquiry, observation and research of events and people. Though his methods were still in the early, untested stages which would be greatly improved upon by more modern historians, Herodotus began a crucial intellectual endeavor for which Ancient Greece became known. <ref>De Ste. Croix, G.E.M. “Herodotus,” ''Greece & Rome'', Second Series 24, no. 2 (Oct. 1977): 130-31.</ref></br> | |
</br>Now considered one of the foundational books of history, Herodotus’s ''Histories'', or ''The History'', was originally criticized and discounted by his peers. His anthropological approach to history was much less desired than more strictly political works. Analyzing the importance of culture in key historical events, Herodotus’s work fell to the wayside behind the “sharper but narrower political historiography of [his contemporary] Thucydides.” <ref>Carl E. Schorske “History and the Study of Culture,” ''New Literary History'' 21, no. 2 (Winter 1990): 409.</ref> | </br>Now considered one of the foundational books of history, Herodotus’s ''Histories'', or ''The History'', was originally criticized and discounted by his peers. His anthropological approach to history was much less desired than more strictly political works. Analyzing the importance of culture in key historical events, Herodotus’s work fell to the wayside behind the “sharper but narrower political historiography of [his contemporary] Thucydides.” <ref>Carl E. Schorske “History and the Study of Culture,” ''New Literary History'' 21, no. 2 (Winter 1990): 409.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 15:24, 16 January 2014
by Herodotus
| Hērodotou Halikarnēssēos Historiōn Logoi 9 Epigraphomenoi Mousai = Herodoti Halicarnassei Historiarum Libri IX Musarum Nominibus Inscripti | |
 Title page from Hērodotou Halikarnēssēos Historiōn Logoi 9 Epigraphomenoi Mousai = Herodoti Halicarnassei Historiarum Libri IX Musarum Nominibus Inscripti, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Herodotus |
| Published | Amstelodami: Sumptibus Petri Schoutenii |
| Date | 1763 |
| Language | Greek |
"This is the celebrated and magnificent edition of Herodotus, which contains the notes of Valckenaer and Wesseling: it is justly called the editio optima, in reference to any edition of Herodotus previously published. 'Of all the editions of Herodotus which have been published,' says Dalzel, 'this of Wesseling is the most excellent.' This splendid and truly desirable edition has now become scarce, and a good copy cannot be obtained under a considerable sum." [1]
Herodotus was the first Greek historian, and perhaps the first true historian (who committed history to writing) in the world. Born in Halicarnassus (an Ancient Greek city in present-day Turkey on the Aegean Sea), Herodotus wrote during the third quarter of the fifth century BCE. He, and Thucydides following him shortly after, embraced the systematic approach of true historia, meaning inquiry, observation and research of events and people. Though his methods were still in the early, untested stages which would be greatly improved upon by more modern historians, Herodotus began a crucial intellectual endeavor for which Ancient Greece became known. [2]</br> </br>Now considered one of the foundational books of history, Herodotus’s Histories, or The History, was originally criticized and discounted by his peers. His anthropological approach to history was much less desired than more strictly political works. Analyzing the importance of culture in key historical events, Herodotus’s work fell to the wayside behind the “sharper but narrower political historiography of [his contemporary] Thucydides.” [3]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "Herodotus Gronovii. Gr. Lat. fol." and given by Thomas Jefferson to his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph. The Brown Bibliography[4] lists the 1763 edition published in Amersterdam while George Wythe's Library[5] on LibraryThing states "Precise edition unknown. Several folio editions were published." The Wolf Law Library followed Brown's recommendation and purchased the edition published in Amsterdam in 1763.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in full period leather binding with new spine in speckled calf laid down. All edges stained red. Restored with new hinges. Contains beautiful huge feather marble endpapers and Ex-Veloit College Library bookplate and minimal markings. Contains engraved full-page frontispiece including a bust of Herodotus; engraved title page in red and black. Purchased from Rose's Books.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
External Links
References
- ↑ Dibdin, Classics, 1827; Vol. 2, pp. 23-24
- ↑ De Ste. Croix, G.E.M. “Herodotus,” Greece & Rome, Second Series 24, no. 2 (Oct. 1977): 130-31.
- ↑ Carl E. Schorske “History and the Study of Culture,” New Literary History 21, no. 2 (Winter 1990): 409.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on April 21, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
