Review of: Kemezis, Adam M. Greek narratives of the Roman Empire under the Severans: Cassius Dio, Philostratus and Herodian. Greek culture in the Roman world. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, xii, 340 p. in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2015.07.24 (original) (raw)

The relationship between the Greek novel and the 'real world' deserves reconsideration. Because the Greek-speaking provinces of the Roman Empire have recently inspired a large number of publications, this paper aims at delivering some remarks relative to the sort of historical informations which can be drawn from these texts, so far improperly characterized as 'ideal novels'.Concerning elite, for instance, wealth appears to be more important than eugeneia, even if it allows to perform prestige through the same social practices of differentiation than before. Secondary roles and even groups of ordinary people (sailors , goatherds) display a large description of Greek civic societies, not restricted to the elite.