1594 Short Stories in Memorial of TIberius Caesar CULTS, CRIME, ANCIENT GREECE

Valerii Maximi dictorum factorumque memorabilium, libri IX, 1594. 1-400, 1-96, Also bound in is another work by Valerius from 1523, 1-10 pages. COMPLETE.  Text densely browned.  Binding rubbed and worn. 6 5/8 by 4 1/4 inches. 

This work is a collection of short stories, sayings, and phrases, memorial to Tiberius Caesar, who was reigning during Valerius lifetime. These anecdotes depict ancient Greek life and philosophy as well as famous kings and Caesars. Many modern historians claim that Valerius s work was taken from Cicero, Livy, and Sallust, as well as other ancient historians and philosophers, rather than creating original works. However, many of the topics he writes about were controversial and unusual for the time he wrote on homosexuality within the Roman army and the aristocracy of ancient Greece. While homosexually itself was written on, it was only considered tolerable in a master-slave relationship; not within a public and high status sense. Other topics include omens, revenge, superstitious cults, women lawyers, modesty, crimes, and conflicting political views. Notable names mentioned in this famous work include Scipio Africanus, Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus, and Alexander the Great! References: USTC 861809