Herodian
Who was Herodian?
Greco-Roman official and historian (c.170–c.240)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Herodian (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Herodian was a Greco-Roman historian and minor civil servant active in the late second and early third centuries CE. He was born around 170 CE somewhere in the Roman Empire, though where exactly is still up for debate. Some suggest Syria, Alexandria in Egypt, or Asia Minor as his birthplace. While details of his early life are unclear, it's known he spent a good amount of time in Rome. However, he likely didn't hold any important public position while there.
Herodian's main contribution to historical literature was his eight-book series 'History of the Empire from Marcus onwards,' written in Greek. It covers the turbulent period from 180 to 238 CE and details the reigns of emperors like Commodus, Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus, and Alexander Severus. He claimed to have witnessed many events he wrote about, which gives his account a sense of firsthand authenticity.
Herodian modeled his writing after Thucydides, both in style and structure. Later Byzantine scholars, especially Photios I of Constantinople, praised his clear, lively, and enjoyable writing style. Photios noted that Herodian managed to balance straightforward storytelling with a touch of flourish without being overly simplistic or ornate. Like Thucydides, Herodian often included speeches, sometimes partly or entirely made up, to better explain character and motives.
Though Herodian's work offers valuable insights into a chaotic time in Roman history, modern scholars approach it cautiously regarding complete accuracy. His narrative favored dramatic storytelling and readability over strict factual precision. Still, his accounts, especially of emperors like Elagabalus, are seen as possibly more fair and insightful compared to other sources from the time, like Cassius Dio. Herodian lived to an old age, at least into the early reign of Gordian III, who became emperor in 238 CE, suggesting he lived into the 240s or perhaps 250 CE.
Before Fame
Not much is known about Herodian's early life or what prompted him to start writing history. Born around 170 CE during the Pax Romana under Marcus Aurelius, he lived through a time when the Roman Empire started facing internal issues leading to the third-century crisis. As a minor civil servant, it's likely he had enough education to work in the imperial bureaucracy.
Herodian probably became a historian because he was a firsthand witness to significant political unrest. He experienced the assassination of Commodus in 192 CE, the Year of the Five Emperors that followed, and an era of ongoing imperial instability. His choice to write in Greek rather than Latin shows his cultural background and suggests he was writing for the educated, Greek-speaking elite of the eastern Mediterranean.
Key Achievements
- Authored the eight-book 'History of the Empire from Marcus onwards' covering 180-238 CE
- Provided eyewitness accounts of major political upheavals during the crisis of the third century
- Created a more balanced historical portrayal of Emperor Elagabalus than other contemporary sources
- Developed a distinctive historical writing style praised by Byzantine scholars for its clarity and vigor
- Chronicled the reigns of thirteen emperors during one of Rome's most unstable periods
Did You Know?
- 01.Herodian witnessed the assassination of Emperor Commodus in 192 CE and lived through the chaotic Year of the Five Emperors that followed
- 02.His historical work covers exactly 58 years of Roman history, from the death of Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE to the rise of Gordian III in 238 CE
- 03.Byzantine scholars praised his writing style as achieving the perfect balance between simplicity and sophistication, avoiding both crude plainness and excessive ornamentation
- 04.Unlike many Roman historians who wrote in Latin, Herodian composed his entire historical work in Greek, reflecting his cultural background
- 05.He lived to see at least thirteen different emperors during his lifetime, making him a witness to one of the most politically turbulent periods in Roman history