Frontinus: The Stratagems and the Aqueducts of Rome (Loeb Classical Library, No 174)

Rating:
Summary: One perspective on the Aqueducts
Review: The famous quote of Frontinus, commissioner of public water works under Trajan:
"With such an array of indispensable structures carrying so many waters, compare, if you will, the idle Pyramids or the useless, though famous, works of the Greeks!" Perhaps the Aqueducts of Rome, with its scientific shortcomings, does not have the audience of the Strategems. But it shows that those Romans knew how to get things done: a city of one million had a water supply comparable to a metropolis today. The famous quote recalls the effort of the Romans to distinguish their culture by outdoing all others in utility and sheer size.

Rating:
Summary: One perspective on the Aqueducts
Review: The famous quote of Frontinus, commissioner of public water works under Trajan:
"With such an array of indispensable structures carrying so many waters, compare, if you will, the idle Pyramids or the useless, though famous, works of the Greeks!" Perhaps the Aqueducts of Rome, with its scientific shortcomings, does not have the audience of the Strategems. But it shows that those Romans knew how to get things done: a city of one million had a water supply comparable to a metropolis today. The famous quote recalls the effort of the Romans to distinguish their culture by outdoing all others in utility and sheer size.

Rating:
Summary: The ROman equivalent of Sun Tzu
Review: The Strategems is a little-known work that is filled with cunning tricks used by ancient generals. Unfortunately Frontinus' other work, the "Art of War" doesn't survive. But the Strategems is still a very interesting piece of literature, reminding me of Sun Tzu in many ways. Also look out for Aeneas Tacticus, Onasander and Asclepiodotus in Loeb, for other military manuals from ancient times!

Rating:
Summary: The ROman equivalent of Sun Tzu
Review: The Strategems is a little-known work that is filled with cunning tricks used by ancient generals. Unfortunately Frontinus' other work, the "Art of War" doesn't survive. But the Strategems is still a very interesting piece of literature, reminding me of Sun Tzu in many ways. Also look out for Aeneas Tacticus, Onasander and Asclepiodotus in Loeb, for other military manuals from ancient times!