Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 23.6.23

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[23] But in all Assyria there are many cities, among which Apamia, formerly called Mesene,¹ and Teredon, Apollonia and Vologessia, and many similar ones are conspicuous. But these three are especially magnificent and widely known: Babylon,² whose walls Semiramis built with bitumen³ (for the ancient king Belus built the citadel), and Ctesiphon, which Vardanes⁴ founded long ago; and later king Pacorus⁵ strengthened it with additional inhabitants and with walls, gave it a Greek name, and made it the crowning ornament of Persia. And finally there is Seleucia, the splendid work of Seleucus Nicator.

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 23.6.23 focus

[23] In omni autem Assyria, multae sunt urbes. Inter quas Apamia eminet, Mesene cognominata, et Teredon et Apollonia et Vologessia, hisque similes multae. Splendidissimae vero et pervulgatae hae solae sunt tres: Babylon cuius moenia bitumine Samiramis struxit—arcem enim antiquissimus rex condidit Belus—et Ctesiphon, quam Vardanes temporibus priscis instituit, posteaque rex Pacorus, incolarum viribus amplificatam et moenibus, Graeco indito nomine, Persidis effecit specimen summum. Post hanc Seleucia ambitiosum opus Nicatoris Seleuci.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. Pliny, N.H. vi. 132, separates Apamia from Mesene; cf. xxiv. 3, 12; on Teredon, cf. Pliny, vi. 145.

2. Diod. Sic. (ii. 9, 9) says that in his time Babylon had been almost wholly destroyed and Pausanias, viii. 33, 3, that only the walls and the temple of Belus were standing.

3. Cf. Curtius, v. 1, 16 and 25.

4. Unknown.

5. Pacorus seems to have been the son of king Orodes, defeated by Ventidius.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 23.6.23

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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