Florus, the author of ‘Epitome of Roman History’, was reportedly born in Africa and lived in Rome during Hadrian’s time. He wrote in a concise and pointed rhetorical style, providing a summary of Roman history and wars in two books in order to show the greatness and decline of Roman morals, from the Founding of Rome to Augustus’ reign. A collection of short poems ascribed to a ‘Florus’ also survives from antiquity, though whether it was the same person as the ‘Epitome’ remains unce...

In his seminal work, "Epitome of Roman History," Florus presents a comprehensive yet concise overview of Rome's illustrious past, chronicling its rise from humble beginnings to the pinnacle of power in the ancient world. Written in a clear and engaging style, the text is structured as a historical narrative that is rich in rhetorical flair, embodying the characteristics of early Roman historiography. Florus deftly synthesizes various historical sources, emphasizing key events and figures w...

"The Roman people during the seven hundred years, from the time of King Romulus down to that of Caesar Augustus, achieved so much in peace and war that, if a man were to compare the greatness of their empire with its years, he would consider its size as out of all proportion to its age." - FlorusThe Epitome is an abridgement of Roman History with special reference to the wars waged by the Roman people from the foundation of the city down to the age of Augustus. It once enjoyed - pe...