Perhaps a more detailed exposition of the ethnographical tradition would have further enhanced the literary contextualization. The other literary works of Tacitus are briefly introduced to provide a context for the creation of the Germania.
Both the political situation in Rome itself, which formed the backdrop for the formulation of Tacitus’ views, and the new wave of Roman expansionism in the late first to early second centuries AD are brought to the reader in admirably clear and simple terms, and in ways which are relevant to illuminating the work in hand. The introduction provides useful information on Tacitus as an author, his own public career, and the broader historical context. The emphasis throughout is on accessibility.
Benario’s Germania comes as welcome relief to this long period of neglect, bringing the Germania to a potentially wide readership in the convenient, affordable, and readily-available Aris and Philips series. The appearance of a new English commentary on Tacitus’ Germania is, as the author points out, long overdue.
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