Latin historiography and Plutarch: the case of Ammianus Marcelinus

Abstract

Plutarch’s influence on the historical thought of subsequent ages is a vast and fascinating subject. One major historical work from Late Antiquity has not yet received any systematic attention in connection with Plutarch, the Latin Res Gestae of Ammianus Marcellinus. Since both authors are Greek by education and birth, Platonists, and deeply involved in Roman history, it is reasonable to suspect that Ammianus might have consulted Plutarch. This paper will look for possible traces of Plutarch’s works in Ammianus.