[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/lit/ - Literature

View post   
File: 585 KB, 1500x2101, Alexander the Great.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
22253725 No.22253725 [Reply] [Original]

What should I read once I'm done with the greek historians? I've read Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon, but I'm not sure what would be a fitting follow up. I'm thinking Arrian, Plutarch or Pausanias. Thoughts?

>> No.22253783

Reading ancient historians is a big waste of time.

>> No.22253813

I think your next move should be Hippocrates, or, if you haven't already, you should dive into the greek tragedies. If you've already read Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides move on to the comedies of Aristophanes. Then hit up Plato and Aristotle if you haven't already, followed by Epicurus, Euclid, and Archimedes.
Read Virgil when you're done with all that then move on to Plutarch.
That's my recc

>> No.22253932

>>22253783
Why?
>>22253813
What's particularly interesting about Hippocrates? I understand all the other recs (thank you), but I'm not familiar with his works. Why is he important compared to, say, Plato or the tragedians?

>> No.22253934
File: 382 KB, 1371x1600, Plato-portrait-bust-original-Capitoline-Museums-Rome.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
22253934

>>22253725
PBUH.

>> No.22254025

>>22253932
I’m not sure I would say there’s anything particularly *interesting* about Hippocrates. I’m of the belief that reading the classic Greeks is a way to strengthen our own ability to reason, argue, and communicate logically. Really there’s no way I can make Hippocrates sound interesting beyond what’s on Wikipedia. A Wikipedia article is not a book though. I’m sure you know from reading Herodotus that there’s something almost indescribable that happens to your thoughts by the end of these readings. You take a bit of the book home to our age and it colors your perception.
Hippocrates’ writings and actions brought about the systematization of medicine. How might reading those works affect your mind?
That’s my take on it. maybe I’m a pseud.

>> No.22254079

When I was reading those, I followed with Arrian. I liked the idea of seeing the Achaemenid Empire from cradle to grave.

>> No.22254905

>>22253725
So you want to read ancient Greeks?

Skip Plato. Skip Aristotle. Skip all Playwright.

9 lyric poets or at least Sappho

Euclid Elements

Greek Magical Papyri

The Life of Apollonius of Tyana by Flavius Philostratus

Almagest

>> No.22255116

>>22253725
I'd suggest to read Arrian about Alexander followw by secondary sources about Roman history first because Romans historians aren't very reliable. Afterwards you can read Plutarch, Polybius and Livy.
I can recommend Routledge for Roman history, they have three books spanning their entire history. They are academic and therefore dry but very informative. Ignore history pop garbage like Mary Legbeard's SPQR.