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Social Science Feminism & Feminist Theory

Theopompus The Historian

by (author) Gordon S. Shrimpton

Publisher
McGill-Queen's University Press
Initial publish date
Apr 1991
Category
Feminism & Feminist Theory, Greece
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780773508378
    Publish Date
    Apr 1991
    List Price
    $110.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780773562912
    Publish Date
    Apr 1991
    List Price
    $110.00

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Description

Theopompus was primarily known in antiquity for his historical works, which included an Epitome of Herodotus; Hellenica, a twelve-volume history of Greece; and the fifty-eight volume Philippica, which focused mainly on the career of Philip II of Macedon. All of Theopompus' works were lost by late antiquity except fifty-three volumes of the Philippica, which survived into Byzantine times only to disappear by perhaps the tenth century. Before these works were lost, geographers, lexicographers, biographers, collectors of anecdotes, and later historians all quoted Theopompus in their writings and many critics of historical style commented on Theopompus' work. Concentrating on the Hellenica and the Philippica, Shrimpton studies the fragments and testimonies to reveal what can be gleaned about the scope and content of Theopompus' two major works. He deals systematically with the problems of interpretation and makes clear the methodological background of his reconstructions and evaluations, furnishing the basis for further methodological debate. Theopompus' moral and political views are discussed, as are his treatment of two of the most important figures of the middle of the fourth century BC, Philip and Demosthenes. In addition, Shrimpton provides a comprehensive index of the proper names found in the fragments and reassesses the authorship of the Hellenica Oxyrhynchia, suggesting that it is most plausibly identified with Cratippus.

About the author

Editorial Reviews

"Shrimpton has provided a new interpretation of Theopompus, based upon meticulous scholarship and controlled imagination, that will both serve as an up-to-date statement of the main problems and provide convincing new explanations for many of the existing controversies." T.R. Robinson, Department of Classics, Carleton University. "There has not been a comprehensive study of the works of Theopompus for a very long time in any language -- there is no question about the importance of Shrimpton's book." P. Harding, Department of Classics, University of British Columbia.

"Shrimpton has provided a new interpretation of Theopompus, based upon meticulous scholarship and controlled imagination, that will both serve as an up-to-date statement of the main problems and provide convincing new explanations for many of the existing controversies." T.R. Robinson, Department of Classics, Carleton University.
"There has not been a comprehensive study of the works of Theopompus for a very long time in any language -- there is no question about the importance of Shrimpton's book." P. Harding, Department of Classics, University of British Columbia.