Mons Graupius Identified
The Agricola
The chapters which deal specifically with the events we are concerned with are those between 25 and 38.
- Note; Click on the chapter heading for a separate box to come up, read the Tacitus text then revert to our analysis of key aspects of the text -
Tacitus Latin wordplay is of an old style and at times some of the words and phrases have an uncertain translation to a modern one. The translation therefore in modern times can appear a bit “flowery”.
If we strip this baggage off though, and accept that some modern words used in the translations are “best fit” approximations to words and phrases understood in common usage at the time, we can glean a pretty accurate flow of the events that took place.
We merely have to exercise caution over the slant Tacitus placed on the events when recording them.
One thing is certain, as noted above Tacitus’s aim was to set the reputation of Agricola against real events but record him for posterity in the most favourable light.
We must show therefore a little discrimination, as well as examining further some of the critical key words used in modern translations which leave the course of events les fully understood than it could be.
NEXT PAGE: The Agricola Chapter 25
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First Published February 2009
