Customer Reviews

On Roman Time: The Codex-Calendar of 354 and the Rhythms of Urban Life in Late Antiquity (Transformation of the Classical Heritage)

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I came to this book wanting to know more about the Chronography of 354. The book certainly contained a lot of detail on the origin and transmission of the text from antiquity, which was very welcome. But the majority of the work is dedicated to the study of the illustrations present in the original volume, and now extant only in renaissance reproductions of a Dark Ages copy. This was not my primary interest, but the study is well-worth doing, and well done. Few will take so much time again over what is undoubtedly one of the most interesting, and least studied, aspects of this ancient text.

The title of the book is really somewhat misleading. As a study of Roman time, the work feels incomplete. I suspect that we have here at least three books, all valuable, but none taken forward sufficiently. A review of all Roman calendars and chronographies would be useful, but this is not it. Likewise a study of how Roman society was structured based on official calendars; but again this is not it. Finally the detailed study of the Chronography; but this is mainly covered from the point of view of the illustrations. All of these topics have been attempted, and the book therefore feels a little unfocused.

Nevertheless the book should be a classic, for what it attempts and what it achieves. Where else is this material covered better?

This is a very interesting analysis of the calendar for 354 AD. It gives a lot of very detailed information
about the Roman religious calendar. It is a book for professionals in the field but can be read by those
who just have a general interest. It is well written in a readable style.

Michele Salzman does her field no great favor in a piece of literaute that amounts to nothing more than a picture book. Peter Brown must be rolling in his grave at this. Since when do Renaissance calendars have anything to do with late antiquity? The writing style is elegant, but the subject off key. I suggest readers look for more informative history books rather than this particular one.