Title: Justini ex Trogi Pompeii historiis externis libri XLIIII, 1559
Author: Marcus Junianus Justinus, Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus
Publisher: Lugduni, apud Ioannem Frellonium
Condition: Poor
A mid 16th edition of Justin’s epitome of Pompeius Trogus's "Historiae Philippicae", being his famous general history of the world, in 44 books. While the work itself focused heavily on the ancient Macedonian Empire founded by Philip II, it also acted as a general world history of all lands and territories which were eventually controlled by Alexander the Great and the Diadochi, his later successors. Beginning with the legendary Ninus, founder of Ninveh in ancient Assyria, and ending roughly around 9 A.D., Trogus provides extensive coverage of the development of the eastern Empires, from the Assyrians and Parthians, only briefly glossing over early Roman history and the Iberian Peninsula itself in the final two books. While the original work itself was lost, it was preserved in the form of excerpts over the years, finally being compiled into a loose epitome by Justin. The author’s preface explains how he aimed to only collect the most important and interesting passages of the original work. Even today, incomplete though they may be, this work has continued to be viewed as an important source of information for the ancient history of those Eastern empires. Selection from the work of the historian Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus handed down by the Roman historian Marcus Junianus Justinus, here in the Lyon edition of 1559.
There are 12 small medallion woodcuts throughout.
This volume bears the stamp of the dissolved monastery library Franziskaner Kloster Dettelbach.
One volume in 32mo, 410+(56) pages
This volume is in poor shape, with rubbing and worming to the binding. There is worming up to page 12, obscuring several letters, and again, more heavily, from pages 393 to the end, being worst at the end of the volume. There is foxing and staining.