Timaeus of Tauromenium and Hellenistic Historiography

by Christopher A. Baron

Timaeus of Tauromenium (350–260 BC) wrote the authoritative account of the Greeks in the Western Mediterranean. Like almost all the Hellenistic historians, his work survives only in fragments. Beyond an up-to-date treatment of this important author, this book shows that both the nature of the evidence and modern assumptions about historical writing in the Hellenistic period have skewed our treatment and judgement of lost historians. For Timaeus, much of our evidence is preserved in the polemical context of Polybius' Book 12. When we move outside that framework and examine the fragments of Timaeus in their proper context, we gain a greater appreciation for his method and his achievement, including his use of polemical invective and his composition of speeches. This examination of Timaeus also conveys a broader impression of the major lines of Hellenistic historiography.

316 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Marie-aimée · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! I am dazzled by his method! First when I saw it in the library I was so glad ! There is almost nothing on Timaeus of Tauromenium despites he is an important source for classical authors we know (think about Strabo, Polybe and Diodorus).

I recommend for his excellent chapter on the study of fragmentary works you can use for any classical authors. I love the mini-conclusions he made in every chapter. It' giving to his argumentation rhetorical way very clear so you have the main informations. Another excellent chapter is the one on Polybius and Timaeus relationship. Polybious is the main author who transmited fragments of Timaeus. And he is also the reason why everybody thinks Timaeus is not a "good historian". Polybius had constructed his own methodology against Timaeus' one. So you can easily understand why you should be careful with its points of view on Timeaus' work. Another very good chapter is the one on Pythagoras and Timaeus' relationship. Despites the conclusion is more hypothesis, the link is very interesting.

This book is not a rehabilition of Timaeus' work but it changes completly my own conclusions on legitimacy of Polybius. I could never say how much it had influenced me but it is certainly one of the best book I ever read on antique author.