By Titus Livy The Early History of Rome: Books I-V of the History of Rome from its Foundation (Penguin Classics) (

by Livy

Unknown Binding

About the author

Titus Livius (Patavinus) (64 or 59 BC – AD 17)—known as Livy in English, and Tite-Live in French—was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people – Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Books from the Foundation of the City) – covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional foundation in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own time. He was on familiar terms with the Julio-Claudian dynasty, advising Augustus's grandnephew, the future emperor Claudius, as a young man not long before 14 AD in a letter to take up the writing of history. Livy and Augustus's wife, Livia, were from the same clan in different locations, although not related by blood.

Reviews

[Grady Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a really wonderful book in many ways. There's actually lots of humor, and the book is full of wisdom and wonderful little stories / anecdotes that are sometimes moving, like this one:

“The three young men reached Delphi, and carried out the king’s instructions. That done, Titus and Arruns found themselves unable to resist putting a further question to the oracle. Which of them, they asked, would be the next king of Rome? From the depths of the cavern came the mysterious answer: ‘He who shall be the first to kiss his mother shall hold in Rome supreme authority.’

Titus and Arruns were determined to keep the prophecy absolutely secret, to prevent their other brother, Tarquin, who had been left in Rome, from knowing anything about it. Thus he, at any rate, would be out of the running. For themselves, they drew lots to determine which of them, on their return, should kiss his mother first.

Brutus, however, interpreted the words of Apollo’s priestess in a different way. Pretending to trip, he fell flat on his face, and his lips touched the Earth—the mother of all living things.”

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE FIRST PART OF LIVY'S MONUMENTAL "HISTORY OF ROME”

Titus Livius Patavinus (anglicized as "Livy"; 59 BCE-17 CE) was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history (142 books) of Rome and the Roman people; this book contains the first five books of the History.

He states, "Great though Romulus was, he was better loved by the commons than by the senate, and best of all by the army." (Pg. 50) He begins the second book, "My task from now on will be to trace the history in peace and of a free nation, governed by annually elected officers of state and subject not to the caprice of individual men, but to the overriding authority of law." (Pg. 105)

He calls 440 BCE "A Year of Gloom," asserting that it "was far from continuing the tranquility of the last. On the contrary, it was a black one in every respect---a year of death and danger, of famine and sedition, while starving men were so grateful for gifts of food---given with an ulterior motive---that they had almost fell to the lure and bowed their necks to the yoke of sovereignty. Had war been added to the list of miseries, scarcely by the help of all the gods in heaven could the country have survived." (Pg. 283)

He records of 386 BCE, "Calamity of unprecedented magnitude was drawing near, but no adequate steps were taken to meet it. The nation which so often before... had as a final recourse in its hour of danger appointed a Dictator to save it... instituted no extraordinary command and looked for no special means of self-preservation. How true it is that destiny blinds men's eyes, when she is determined that her gathering might shall meet no check!" (Pg. 382) Later, he adds, "Nevertheless it was neither God's purpose nor man's that the Romans---of all people---should owe their lives to a cash payment." (Pg. 395)

Livy is one of the most fascinating of ancient historians.