On Buildings

by Procopius

Procopius, born at Caesarea in Palestine late in the 5th century, became a lawyer. In 527 CE he was made legal adviser and secretary of Belisarius, commander against the Persians, and went with Belisarius again in 533 against the Vandals and in 535 against the Ostrogoths. Sometime after 540 he returned to Constantinople. He may have been that Procopius who was prefect of Constantinople in 562, but the date of his death (after 558) is unknown.

Procopius's History of the Wars in 8 books recounts the Persian Wars of emperors Justinus and Justinian down to 550 (2 books); the Vandalic War and after-events in Africa 532–546 (2 books); the Gothic War against the Ostrogoths in Sicily and Italy 536–552 (3 books); and a sketch of events to 554 (1 book). The whole consists largely of military history, with much information about peoples and places as well, and about special events. He was a diligent, careful, judicious narrator of facts and developments and shows good powers of description. He is just to the empire's enemies and boldly criticises emperor Justinian. Other works by Procopius are the Anecdota or Secret History —vehement attacks on Justinian, Theodora, and others; and The Buildings of Justinian (down to 558 CE) including roads and bridges as well as churches, forts, hospitals, and so on in various parts of the empire.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Procopius is in seven volumes.

Genres: History, Architecture, Nonfiction, Art

576 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

Procopius of Caesarea was born in the latter years of the fifth century at Caesarea in Palestine. He originated from the land-owning provincial upper class and, like Zosimus, became a civil servant. As early as A.D. 527, before the emperor Justin's death, Procopius became counsellor, assessor, and secretary to Belisarius, whose fortunes and campaigns he followed for the next twelve or fifteen years. Small wonder he became very knowledgeable of military affairs through this service. He has long been respected as a historian of the emperor Justinian’s wars, and is reckoned the greatest of the later Greek historians. Procopius was finally raised to the dignity of an illustrius, and died not earlier than A.D. 562.

Reviews

[Diarmuid Angland · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one was to believe this account of the buildings of Justinian by Procopius, every fort/city in the Empire was rebuilt to be impregnable, it was garrisoned with many troops and settlers were placed there so that it was now prosperous.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less exciting that "The Wars" books by far, unless you are very into architecture. That said, a must read for Byzantinists and the former!

[Mete Oguz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This work is surprisingly more fun to read than the title suggests. Especially the 5th chapter, the 'buildings of Asia' was interesting for me because hidden in Procopius' descriptions are some very valuable information on the 6th century countryside and peasant life. He frequently refers to marshy boggy areas which are dried up and paved with stone for transportation, or how uncrossable rivers are bridged over etc. The whole text is one big chain of flattery for Justinian and Theodora, which also made me laugh occasionally as I had just previously read the 'Secret History', and certain vivid scenes do to with Theodora especially kept coming back to me.

Having read all of Procopius' works, I feel that he has a very creative mind, and appears dedicated and intellectual at the same time. His true feelings are a mystery, and I really wish I could've met him, I want to get into that brain.