A commentary on Q. Curtius Rufus 'Historiae Alexandri' Book X

Abstract

This thesis consists of a text and commentary on Book Ten of Quintus Curtius Rufus' His toriae Alexandri Magni Macedonis; the work was probably written in the middle of the first century A.D. The main body of the commentary deals with linguistic, stylistic and historical matters; each episode is preceded by a more general introduction to the issues involved. In addition, there is an introduction, dealing with the manuscript tradition, the date of composition, the identity of the writer, the popularity of Alexander as an exemplum in Rome and contemporary historical and biographical practices. There are three appendices: the first deals with Curtius' sources and includes detailed tables in which the five main Alexander sources are compared throughout Book Ten; the second brings together elements of contemporary political allusion in Book Ten and attempts to draw a conclusion concerning the undoubted similarities between the accessions of Arrhidaeus, Alexander's brother, and the emperor Claudius; the third compares Curtius' preferences for certain clausulae with that of other writers. At the end, there is an index nominum and an index rerum.