Tacitus' Wonders

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This volume explores the theme of wonder in Tacitus's works, focusing on paradox, the marvellous, and the admirable. Recent scholarship has largely concentrated on poetic genres in Roman literature, often overlooking historiography. Tacitus, whose judgments on what merits attention frequently diverge from those of his readers, serves as a compelling focal point for this perspective. Current studies on Tacitus are often split between the quest for veracity—according to modern historiographical standards—and literary analyses. Consequently, wonders in his texts are either dismissed as irrelevant to historical accounts or their significance is diminished by being seen as valid only within the narrative. The modern emphasis on historiographical objectivity encourages a consistent methodological approach, yet Tacitus's diverse works, including the Histories and Annals, resist such simplification. While a streamlined methodology is valued today, it should not be assumed that Tacitus shared these priorities. This collection aims to bridge the gap between history and historiography by examining contentious moments in the text that prompt readers to engage in their own interpretations, with individual chapters employing various interpretive methods that reflect the richness of Latin historiographical prose.