Image and Imitation

Josephus' Antiquities 1-11 and Greco-Roman Historiography

by Martin Friis

Book cover: Image and Imitation

Extent: 242 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Classical Studies, Jewish Studies

Series: Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe

Series volume number: 472

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(October 2018)

ISBN: 9783161564666

6.06 x 9.06 inches

Price: $112.00

In stock

Flavius Josephus ranks among the most influential and prolific ancient Jewish writers. His account of near-contemporary events in the Jewish War and the latter half of the Jewish Antiquities have often been subjected to critical scrutiny. Josephus’ writings, however, also include an account of the most remote past of the Jewish people in the first eleven books of the Jewish Antiquities. Yet, only rarely has this part of his authorship been subjected to a historiographically oriented analysis. Martin Friis offers such an analysis with emphasis on Josephus’ various strategies of self-presentation. He provides numerous examples of the comprehensiveness of Josephus’ self-presentational style, and shows how Josephus consistently presents himself as a capable and competent historian in a manner that is highly reminiscent of, and easily comparable to, that of some of the greatest ancient Greco-Roman historians.

  • By (author) Martin Friis