The Colloquia of the Hermeneumata Pseudodositheana

The Colloquia are manuals written to help ancient Greeks and Romans get around in each other''s languages; they contain examples of how to conduct activities like shopping banking visiting friends hosting parties taking oaths winning lawsuits using the public baths having fights making excuses and going to school. They thus offer a unique glimpse of daily life in the Early Roman Empire and are an important resource for understanding ancient culture. They have however been unjustly neglected because until now there were no modern editions of the texts no translations into any modern language and little understanding of what the Colloquia are and where they come from. This book makes the Colloquia accessible for the first time by combining a new edition translation and commentary with a ground-breaking comprehensive study of their origins. It is clearly written and will interest students non-specialists and professional scholars alike.