Harold Mattingly

"Barlaam and Ioasaph" presents a captivating tale rooted in religious allegory and Christian hagiography. Attributed to St. John of Damascus, this enduring story recounts the life of Ioasaph, an Indian prince. The narrative unfolds as a spiritual journey, exploring themes of faith, renunciation, and the search for enlightenment. This historical work, a classic of Eastern Orthodox Christian literature, incorporates elements of the Buddha legend into its richly layered narrative. Set against the backdrop of India, the story transcends its origins, offering timeless insights into ethical and moral teachings. "Barlaam and Ioasaph" remains a significant example of religious fiction and a testament to the power of storytelling to convey spiritual truths. Prepared for print republication, this edition invites readers to explore a remarkable intersection of cultures and beliefs. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In this 1914 book, celebrated classicist Harold Mattingly provides a carefully selected yet wide-ranging history of the ancient world, from the Babylonians to the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Illustrated with thirty-five plates of ancient coins and sculptures as well as twelve maps, this text remains a useful overview of ancient history and literature for beginners and experts alike.

A broad-ranging survey of the Roman Empire, outlining the course of events up to the Western Empire's fall in A. D. 476 and discussing political, economic, and cultural life. Dr. Mattingly, for many years in charge of Roman coins at the British Museum, shows throughout the book how the study of coins supplements the gaps in the contemporary historical documents.