Primary Sources Reading List (Ongoing)
1. Mythos
APOLLODORUS, Bibliotheke: A summary of all the Greek myths. But it is a work of very low literary value.
HYGINUS, Fabulae: Similar of Bibliotheke, including literary value.
HESIODUS, Theogonia: The birth of the gods.
[HOMEROS], Homerikoi humnoi: Praise to the gods.
HESIODUS, Erga kai Hemerai: Farming is the main theme, but myths are also often told.
HESIODUS, Katalogos: Very fragmentary! Myths told in genealogical order.
APOLLONIUS, Argonautika: It's a long and important legend that takes place just before the Troian War.
VALERIUS FLACCUS, Argonautica: Same story. Apollonius was preferred because the ending is missing here.
HOMERUS, Ilias: Legend of Troia.
HOMERUS, Odysseia: The homecoming adventure of Odysseus, one of the main characters of Troia.
VERGILIUS, Aeneid: A group who managed to escape from Troia, led by Aeneas, -after many adventures- traveled to Italy and settled there. There they unite with the natives and become the Latin people who will later found Rome.
DIODORUS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike I-V: It describes the geography and culture of the peoples of Egypt, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. It can be read both for a final overview of myths in general and to learn a little more about geography.
DIODORUS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike VI-X: Very fragmentary! It is told from the Trojan War to 500 BC.
2. Greek
2.1. Classical Period (483-323)
2.1.1. Greco-Persian Wars
HERODOTUS, Histories Apodexis: Although the subject of the book is the Greco-Persian wars, Herodotus begins to tell his story in 560 BC by giving long information about the surrounding peoples.
DIODORUS SIΚELOS, Bibliotheke Historike XI: Same topic. I recommend that Diodorus' work be read as a whole later at Diadohoi period, from beginning to end. Or you can read it piece by piece if you prefer.
2.1.2. Wars of Greek States
THUCYDIDES, Ho Polemos ton Peloponnesion kai Athenaion: After the Persian Wars, Athens became the dominant power in Greece and the other cities united and fought against it. This great war, called the Peloponnesian Wars, takes place between 431-404 BC. But this book is up to 411.
XENOPHON, Hellenika: Xenophon picks up where Thucydides left off, writing Greek history until 362.
DIODORUS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike XII-XVI: Recounts Greek history up to the death of Philippus, father of Alexander (450-335)
XENOPHON, Anabasis: This book can be read in the year 400. 10,000 Greek mercenaries, including the author, join the fight for the throne between the Persian princes. When their commander dies after the war, Xenophon, the author of the book, takes over the command and tries to bring the army back to Greece. This is one of my favorite ancient books.
2.2 Hellenistic Period (323-30)
2.2.1. Alexander
ARRIANUS, Alexandrou Anabasis: The great campaign of Great Alexander.
QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS, Historiae Alexandri Magni: It is the same subject as Arrianus's book, but the first two books are missing. Still, it is worth reading if you like Alexander.
DIODORUS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike XVII: Same Topic.
2.2.2. Diadohoi
3. ROME
3.1 General
FLORUS, Epitoma: In fact, this book is a summary of the history of Titus Livius, which we will read a lot. Florus can be read after Paterculus.
3.2. Roman Kingdom (753-509)
LIVIUS, Ab Urbe Condita I: Beginning of Titus Livius' "From the Foundation of the City". Starts little earlier than foundation of city.
DIONYSIUS HALICARNASSUS, Rhomaike Archaiologia I-IV: Dionysius describes the same events as Livius (kingdom and early republican period). As will be noticed, Dionysius' book is much more detailed; Dionysius covers the kingdom period in 4 books where Livius covers it in 1 book. It can be read if you are interested in these periods.
PLUTARCHUS, Theseus-Romulus: While reading Ab Urbe Condita, when you encounter these people, take a break and read Plutarchus.
PLUTARCHUS, Lycurgus-Numa.
3.3. Early-Middle Republic (509-133)
3.3.1. Early Republic and First Punic War (509-218)
LIVIUS, Ab Urbe Condita II-X: Between 509-292.
PLUTARCHUS, Solon-Publicola: While reading Ab Urbe Condita, when you encounter these people, take a break and read Plutarchus.
PLUTARCHUS, Alcibiades-Coriolanus.
PLUTARCHUS, Themistocles-Camillus.
DIONYSIUS HALICARNASSUS, Rhomaike Archaiologia V-XX: Fragmentary after book 11, up to 270 BC. Book 11 ends in 443 (book 4, chapter 8 of Livius).
APPIANUS, Rhomaike I-VI ve VIII: The book proceeds ethnographically, not chronologically. The first 5 books are fragments. 6th Spain, 7th Hannibal (2nd Punic War), 8th 1st Punic War. That's why we skip the 7th book for now.
DIODOROS SICULUS, Bibliotheke Historike XXI-XL: Very Fragmentary! It goes from the Middle Republic to Caesar's time.
3.3.2. Hannibalic War (218-201)
LIVIUS, Ab Urbe Condita XXI-XXX: The most serious war the Roman Republic has ever seen. Hannibal of Carthage's invasion of Italy.
PLUTARCHUS, Philopoemen-Flamininus: While reading Ab Urbe Condita, when you encounter these people, take a break and read Plutarchus.
PLUTARCHUS, Pericles-Fabius Maximus.
SILIUS ITALICUS, Punica: Epic poems of Hannibalic war.
POLYBIUS, Historiai I-XXIX: Between 264-144, but only books 1-5 have survived to the present day and book 5 ends in 216. So we can only read the first years of Hannibal's wars from Polybius (books 1-3). 4th and 5th book is about the events in Greece. The first three books can be read and left.
APPIANUS, Rhomaike VII.
3.3.3. Macedonian War and Beyond (214-133)
LIVIUS, Ab Urbe Condita XXXI-LXV: Until the end of the Macedonian wars (166)
PLUTARCHUS, Aristides-Cato the Elder: While reading Ab Urbe Condita, when you encounter these people, take a break and read Plutarchus.
PLUTARCHUS, Timoleon-Aemilius Paulus.
LIVIUS, Periochae LXVI-CXLII: Livius' books on the years 166-9 is missing, but there are very short summaries of these books. It can be read as preliminary information.
APPIANUS IX-XII
3.4. Late Republic (133-31)
Civil War
Post Caesar
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