READINGS IN LATE ANTIQUITY “This is a wonderful anthology. Clear, accessible, and vividly engaging, it presents the panoply of Late Antique life from east to west, from city to village, from the powerful to the humble, from transcendent hopes to ordinary burdens – a world to explore, relish, and ponder.” Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Brown University “Unusually comprehensive and enterprising in its selections, this sourcebook will give an entire new generation a choice and a challenge.” Peter Brown, Princeton University Late Antiquity (c. 250–650) witnessed the transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages in the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds. Christianity displaced polytheism over a wide area, offering new definitions of identity and community. The Roman Empire collapsed in western Europe to be replaced by new Germanic kingdoms. In the East, Byzantium emerged, while the Persian Empire reached its apogee and collapsed. Arab armies carrying the banner of Islam reshaped the political map and brought the Late Antique era to a close. This sourcebook illustrates the dramatic political, social and religious trans- formations of Late Antiquity through the words of the men and women who experi- enced them. Drawing from Greek, Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, Coptic, Persian, Arabic, and Armenian sources, the carefully chosen passages illuminate the lives of emperors, abbesses, aristocrats, slaves, children, barbarian chieftains, and saints. The Roman Empire is kept at the centre of the discussion, with chapters devoted to its government, cities, army, law, medicine, domestic life, philosophy, and its Jewish population. Further chapters deal with the peoples who surrounded the Roman state: Persians, Huns, northern barbarians, and the followers of Islam. This revised and updated second edition provides an expanded view of Late Antiquity with a new chapter on domestic life, as well extra material throughout, including passages that appear for the first time in English translation. Readings in Late Antiquity is the only sourcebook that covers such a wide range of topics over the full breadth of the Late Antique period. Michael Maas is Professor of History and Classical Studies at Rice University, USA, where he teaches ancient history. His research focuses on Late Antiquity. His most recent books are The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian (2005) and Exegesis in the Early Byzantine Mediterranean (2003). ROUTLEDGE SOURCEBOOKS FOR THE ANCIENT WORLD READINGS IN LATE ANTIQUITY Second edition Michael Maas GREEK AND ROMAN EDUCATION Mark Joyal, J.C. Yardley and Iain McDougall THE REPUBLICAN ROMAN ARMY Michael M. Sage THE STORY OF ATHENS Phillip Harding ROMAN SOCIAL HISTORY Tim Parkin and Arthur Pomeroy DEATH IN ANCIENT ROME Valerie Hope ANCIENT ROME Matthew Dillon and Lynda Garland SEXUALITY IN GREEK AND ROMAN LITERATURE Marguerite Johnson and Terry Ryan ATHENIAN POLITICAL ORATORY David Phillips POMPEII Alison E. Cooley and M.G.L. Cooley GREEK SCIENCE OF THE HELLENISTIC ERA Georgia Irby-Massie and Paul Keyser WOMEN AND LAW IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE Judith Evans Grubbs WARFARE IN ANCIENT GREECE Michael M. Sage READINGS IN LATE ANTIQUITY Michael Maas THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE Barbara Levick PAGANS AND CHRISTIANS IN LATE ANTIQUITY A.D. Lee ANCIENT GREECE Second edition Matthew Dillon and Lynda Garland ANCIENT GREEK LAWS Ilias Arnaoutoglou TRIALS FROM CLASSICAL ATHENS Christopher Carey GREEK AND ROMAN TECHNOLOGY John Humphrey, John Oleson and Andrew Sherwood ROMAN ITALY 388 BC–AD 200 Kathryn Lomas THE ROMAN ARMY 31 BC–AD 337 Brian Campbell THE ROMAN HOUSEHOLD Jane F. Gardner and Thomas Wiedemann ATHENIAN POLITICS G.R. Stanton GREEK AND ROMAN SLAVERY Thomas Wiedemann FORTHCOMING: ANCIENT GREECE Third edition Matthew Dillon and Lynda Garland ANCIENT CITY OF ROME Christopher Smith, J.C.N. Coulston, Hazel Dodge WOMEN OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST Mark Chavalas GREEK RELIGION Emma Stafford and Karen Stears READINGS IN LATE ANTIQUITY A Sourcebook Second edition Michael Maas First published 2000 by Routledge Reprinted 2003 This second edition published 2010 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Ave., New York, NY 100016 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2000, 2010 Michael Maas The right of Michael Maas to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Typeset in Times New Roman by Keystroke, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Maas, Michael, 1951– Readings in late antiquity : a sourcebook / Michael Maas. p. cm. “Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada”–T.p. verso. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. 1. Rome–History–Empire, 284–476–Sources. 2. Byzantine Empire–Civilization–To 527–Sources. 3. Byzantine Empire–Civilization–527–1081–Sources. I. Title. DG78.M22 2009 937′.06–dc22 2009042117 ISBN10: 0–415–47336–5 (hbk) ISBN10: 0–415–47337–3 (pbk) ISBN13 978–0–415–47336–1 (hbk) ISBN13 978–0–415–47337–8 (pbk) CONTENTS Mapsxliii Introductiontothefirsteditionlxiii Introductiontothesecondeditionlxvii Acknowledgmentslxix Chronologylxxi LateAntiquerulerslxxv Permissionslxxxiii 1TheRomanEmpire:rulerandadministration1 2Cities37 3TheRomanarmy78 4Christianity110 5Polytheism174 6Jews201 7Women224 8Domesticlife240 9Law285 10Medicine297 11Philosophy311 12SasanianPersia327 13Invadersandsuccessorstates345 14SteppepeoplesandSlavs371 15Islam387 Appendix:LateAntiquityontheWeb408 Indexofancientsources410 Index416 vii EXTENDED CONTENTS Alist of passages new to the second edition may be found on the Routledge website: http://www.routledge.com/books/Readings-in-Late-Antiquity-isbn 9780415473378 1TheRomanEmpire:rulerandadministration1 1.1Introduction1 1.2Theemperorandtheimperialoffice2 1.2.1Theemperorcomestotown2 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS, HISTORY 16.10.5–10 AMMIANUSMARCELLINUS,HISTORY22.2.3–5 1.2.2Imperialacclamations3 THEODOSIAN CODE, “MINUTES OF THE SENATE,” 5 1.2.3Courtritual5 CYRILOFSCYTHOPOLIS,LIFEOFSABAS71 1.2.4Cautiousadviceforanall-powerfulmonarch5 AGAPETUS, EXPOSITION 1, 2, 30, 35, 37 1.2.5Theemperor’sroleinwarandpeace6 SYNESIUS OF CYRENE, ON KINGSHIP 16 1.2.6Rulercult7 GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS, ORATION 4.80 1.2.7Theemperorastheembodimentoflaw7 THEMISTIUS, ORATION 19 (227D, 228A) 1.2.8TheChristianemperorlookstoheaven8 EUSEBIUS, LIFE OF CONSTANTINE 4.15 1.2.9Theimageoftheemperor8 THEOPHILUS, A HOMILY ON THE VIRGIN 1.2.10Theimperialrighttointerfereinchurchaffairs9 OSSIUS OF CORDOBA, LETTER TO CONSTANTIUS II, QUOTED BY ATHANASIUS, HISTORY OF THE ARIANS 44, 6–8 viii EXTENDED CONTENTS 1.2.11Theemperoraspriest–Justinian’sview9 JUSTINIAN, NOVEL 6 (MARCH 6, 535) 1.2.12ChallengingJustinian’sinterferenceinchurchaffairs10 FACUNDUS OF HERMIONE, IN DEFENSE OF THE THREE CHAPTERS 12.3 1.2.13Theemperorasthesourceofinstability10 PROCOPIUS, SECRET HISTORY 3.1 AND 5.1 1.3Imperialadministration11 1.3.1Diocletian’sreforms11 LACTANTIUS, ON THE DEATH OF THE PERSECUTORS 7.1–8 1.3.2Anableemperorreliesonhisadvisorycouncil12 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS, HISTORY 15.5.12–14 1.3.3Atopofficial’sclosetiestothemonarch13 CASSIODORUS, DOCUMENTS 6.5 1.3.4Ahierarchyofadministratorssupervisedbytheemperor14 THEODOSIAN CODE 1.15.1 1.3.5Entrancerequirementsforthebureaucracy15 THEODOSIAN CODE 7.2.1 1.3.6Thehonorofservingtheemperor15 THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY 16.48 1.3.7Bishopsintheimperialadministration15 JUSTINIAN, EDICT 1, PREFACE 1.3.8Accesstotheemperorforallcitizens16 THEODOSIAN CODE 1.5.1 1.3.9Anewaristocracyofservice17 BASIL OF CAESAREA, LETTER 299 1.3.10Corruptionandsufferingintheprovinces17 JOHN LYDUS, ON THE MAGISTRACIES OF THE ROMAN STATE 3.59 1.3.11ApictureoftheRomanEmpire18 EUMENIUS, FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE SCHOOLS .20–.21 1.3.12TheconditionanduseofRomanroads19 THEODOSIAN CODE 15.3.4 ix EXTENDED CONTENTS 1.3.13RomanroadsafterRome19 CASSIODORUS, VARIAE XII.18 GREGORY OF TOURS, THE HISTORY OF THE FRANKS VI.11 1.4Economiclife20 1.4.1Diocletian’sEdictonMaximumPrices21 DIOCLETIAN, EDICT ON MAXIMUM PRICES, PREAMBLE 1.4.2Justinian’sEdictontheRegulationofSkilledLabor22 JUSTINIAN, EDICT 6, “ON THE REGULATION OF SKILLED LABOR,” PREFACE, 1 1.4.3Thecolossalwealthofaristocrats23 OLYMPIODORUS OF THEBES, FRAGMENT 41.2 1.4.4Whattodowithwealth?23 ANONYMOUS, ON RICHES 6.3, 20.1–2 1.4.5Poverty24 LIBANIUS, ORATION 7.1–3 1.4.6Naturaldisastersandlocaleconomies25 LIBANIUS, ORATION 18.289, 293 1.4.7Famine25 PSEUDO-JOSHUA THE STYLITE, CHRONICLE 38–42 1.4.8Theemperorstepsin26 ANONYMOUS ORATOR, SPEECH OF THANKS TO CONSTANTINE 5–6 1.4.9Thegreatestatesandtheriseofpatrons28 THEODOSIAN CODE 11.24.2 JUSTINIAN, CODE II.54.1 1.4.10ExploitationofpeasantfarmersinSyriaandEgypt28 JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, HOMILY ON MATTHEW 61.3 1.4.11DependenceuponalandlordonanEgyptianestate29 OXYRHYNCHUS PAPYRUS I.130, LINES 1–10 1.4.12Thecolonate30 JUSTINIAN, CODE 11.48.23.2 1.4.13Apatronfromtheoutside30 HISTORY OF THE MONKS IN EGYPT 8.30–1 x EXTENDED CONTENTS 1.4.14Whoisthebestpatron?31 MIDRASH HA-GADDOL, DEUTERONOMY 32:9 1.4.15Landlockedpeasants31 SYNESIUS, EPISTLES