The Hellenistic Period: Historical Sources in Translation

by Peter Sidney Derow (Editor), Roger S. Bagnall (Editor)

This book presents in translation 175 of the most revealing documents that have survived on stone and papyrus from the Hellenistic period.

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2003

Reviews

[Tyler Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The literary traditions of Greek and Roman antiquity took little interest in the lives of most members of less wealthy strata of society, in the details of the workings of governments, in the ways that most people made a living, in the activities of women, and in the everyday exercise of religion, to name just a few areas left largely obscure by the ancient historians. In real life, however, these areas often demanded detailed documentation, and it is by inscriptions and papyri that these gaps can be partly illuminated and filled.” (xxv)

This is an eminently helpful collection that achieves exactly what it sets out to do. The aim is to facilitate access to the documentary texts (esp. inscriptions and papyri) which are crucial for our understanding of the Hellenistic Period. Some of the 'documents' actually make good reading (such as a letter where a man offers have his wife take his place in jail so that he can get back to work!) but most are pretty dry. Yet this is the material we have to work with and this collection is a great entrance into it.

I would recommend this for anyone looking to work with documentary materials or with an interest in the Hellenistic period. The introductions and notes provided by the editors are 'to the point' both in brevity and in giving what a reader actually needs to be told. A general sense of the Hellenistic period is almost essential before reading and something like Bingen's collection of essays ("Hellenistic Egypt: Monarchy, Society, Economy, Culture") would be a great follow up.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good source for primary documents for Hellenistic Egypt. Covers most facets of everyday life through governmental policies.