Herodia'nus
（
Ἡρωδιανός), a writer on Roman history.
He was a Greek, though he appears to have lived for a considerable period in Rome, but without holding any public office. From his work, which is still extant, we gather that he was still living at an advanced age in the reign of Gordianus III., who ascended the throne A. D. 238. Beyond this we know nothing respecting his life.
Works
History
His history extends over the period from the death of M. Aurelius (A. D. 180) to the commencement of the reign of Gordianus III. (A. D. 238), and bears the title,
Ἡρωδιανοῦ τῆς μετὰ Μάρκον Βασιλείας ἱστοριῶν Βιβλία ὀκτώ.
He himself informs us (1.1.3, 2.15.7) that the events of this period had occurred in his own lifetime. Photius (
Phot. Bibl. 99) gives an outline of the contents of the work, and passes a flattering encomium on the style of Herodian, which he describes as clear, vigorous and agreeable, preserving a happy medium between an utter disregard of art and elegance and a profuse employment of the artifices and prettinesses which were known under the name of Atticism, as well as between boldness and bombast ; adding that not many historical writers are his superiors.
He appears to have had Thucydides before him to some extent as a model, both for style and for the general composition of his work, like him. introducing here and there speeches wholly or in part imaginary.
In spite of occasional inaccuracies in chronology and geography, his narrative is in the main truthful and impartial; though Julius Capitolinus (Maxim.
duo, 100.13) says of him,
Maximino in odium Alexandri plurimum favit. Others also charge him with showing too great a partiality for Pertinax.
Editions
The best editions of Herodian are those by
Irmisch, Leipzig, 1789-1805, 5 vols. 8vo.; by
F. A. Wolf, Halle, 1792, 8vo.; and by
Bekker, Berlin, 1826. Notices of other editions will be found in Fabricius (
Bibl. Graec. vol. vi. p. 287, &c.) and Hoffmann (
Lex. Bibl. vol. ii. p. 362, &c.).
Editions
Wolf's
Narratio de Herodiano et Libro ejus, prefixed to his edition of Herodian; Vossius,
de Hist. Graec. p. 284, ed. Westermann.
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C.P.M]
