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November 2015 Vol. 53 No. 3


Johns Hopkins University Press


The following review appeared in the November 2015 issue of CHOICE. The review is for your internal use only. Please review our Permission and Reprints Guidelines or email permissions@ala-choice.org.

Social & Behavioral Sciences
History, Geography & Area Studies - Ancient History

53-1416
DG338
2014-35089 CIP
Salisbury, Joyce E. Rome's Christian empress: Galla Placidia rules at the twilight of the empire. Johns Hopkins, 2015. 236p bibl index afp ISBN 9781421417004, $34.95; ISBN 9781421417011 ebook, $34.95.

Salisbury (Univ. of Wisconsin, Green Bay) tells much of Placidia’s story by weaving a broad political and religious context, using varied ancient sources to fill gaps imaginatively.  The empress, the daughter of Theodosius, led a fascinating life and remained powerful through decades of political and religious turmoil.  She was taken hostage as a girl by the Goths when they sacked Rome in 410, and later married a Gothic king.  Often focusing on other people around Placidia, Salisbury brings emotions and opinions to life.  She illuminates early church debates in the context of imperial court machinations and synthesizes complex points concisely.  She shows how Theodosius's legislation to protect his dynasty opened the door for powerful female relatives, as did the Church’s growing acceptance of strong, pious women.  Although Salisbury widely cites modern and ancient sources, information about ancient authors is needed, and sometimes she provides no source, or a modern source for an ancient quotation.  To follow thematic threads, the author jumps geographically and chronologically, which can make it difficult to keep contemporaneous events in mind.  Maps and figures are helpful, not a major contribution.  A useful, scholarly, and engaging examination of Placidia and late antiquity.

--S. Brown, J. Paul Getty Museum

Summing Up: Recommended. Most levels/libraries.