Ammianus' digressions and their narrative impact

Ammianus’ Res Gestaecontains some thirty-two digressions. These vary considerably in length and content. This chapter examines the narrative impact of four of these digressions, namely Julian’s Thracian campaign (22.8.1–48), the Persian pearls (23.6.85–88), the tragedian Phrynichus (28.1.2–5), and the bissextile day (26.1.7–14). These digressions suggest alternate histories, foreshadow plot developments, engage in metaliterary reflections on the narra-tive, and develop coded polemics, all the while providing powerful symbols for understanding the motivations and challenges of the leaders of the Roman empire in the fourth century. Each digression is directly connected to the main text, situ-ated within a network of digressions, as they reflect the history and historical vantage point of Ammianus’ age, and provide ample scope for metaphorical, allusive, narratological, and political implications.

© 2024 with the author(s), editing © 2024 Mario Baumann and Vasileios Liotsakis,
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