J. C. G. Boot - Commentatio historica de Pericle, ejusque in civitatem Atticam meritis - 1833

THE GLORY OF ATHENS — PERICLES AND THE ORIGINS OF THE GREAT GREEK DEMOCRACY
An fascinating original edition from 1835 dedicated to Pericles, the great statesman who transformed Athens into the political, artistic and intellectual center of the Grecian world. A work by the Dutch philologist Johannes Cornelius Gerardus Boot, this in-depth historical inquiry analyzes Athenian democracy, political power, the Peloponnesian Wars and the legacy of the most celebrated figure of classical Athens. Composed for a academic competition at the University of Utrecht and awarded in 1834, it represents a significant testament to European humanistic culture of the nineteenth century. An exemplar preserved in its period binding in marbled paper.
ABSTRACT
Published in Utrecht in 1835, the Commentatio historica de Pericle, ejusque in civitatem Atticam meritis constitutes a historical and philological study devoted to the personality of Pericles and his contribution to the political, cultural and institutional greatness of Athens.
The author does not merely recount the events of the statesman's life, but examines his character, political decisions, influence on democratic institutions and the responsibilities in the events that led to the Peloponnesian War.
Through a careful reading of ancient historians, Boot reconstructs the complex relationship between Pericles, the Athenian people, political adversaries and the great intellectual figures of his time.
The work arose within the framework of an academic competition announced in 1833 and received official recognition on March 26, 1834, before publication in 1835.

WHY TO BUY
Interesting original edition of a rewarded academic dissertation, published at the early stage of Johannes Cornelius Gerardus Boot’s career, destined to become one of the most authoritative Dutch classical philologists of the nineteenth century.
The volume tackles one of the fundamental personalities of Western history: Pericles, symbol of the apex of Athenian democracy and of the extraordinary flowering of Greek civilization in the 5th century BC.
Particularly notable is the erudite apparatus, with numerous references to Thucydides, Plutarch, Plato, Cicero, Aristophanes and other testimonies of antiquity.
The historical subject, academic recognition and the original binding confer upon the exemplar interest for collections devoted to ancient Greece, the history of democracy, classical philology and European university culture.

MARKET VALUE
Indicative commercial value: 160–250 euros.
This is a work of genuine historical and bibliographic interest, intended mainly for a specialized audience of collectors and scholars of antiquity.
This is a work of genuine historical and bibliographic interest, but mainly aimed at a specialized audience of collectors and scholars of antiquity.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Original edition of 1835, text in Latin with quotations in ancient Greek, numerous bibliographic references and footnotes.
Octavo format. Main text of 96 numbered pages, preceded by unnumbered preliminary leaves including title page, academic presentation and preface. Page 96 contains the conclusion of the work, followed by a quotation in Greek.
Period binding in polychrome marbled paper, with elegant veining in ochre, brown, red and black tones.
The cover shows abrasions, scuffs and normal signs of aging. Spine and hinges loose, with signs of wear and some points of weakening.
Internally, paper of good tone, with occasional foxing, small stains and slight marginal yellowing. Wide margins and original type-preserving foliation, with irregularities typical of the paper production of the period.
Sharp impression, elegant typographic titles, initials and decorative flourishes.

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
BOOT, Johannes Cornelius Gerardus (1811–1901).
Commentatio historica de Pericle, ejusque in civitatem Atticam meritis.
Scripsit J. C. G. Boot, Phil. Theor. Lit. Hum. et Jur. Cand. in Acad. Lugd. Bat.
Trajecti ad Rhenum, apud Joh. Altheer, Academiae Typographum, MDCCCXXXV.
Utrecht, Johannes Altheer, tipografo dell'Accademia, 1835.
Il frontespizio accademico supplementare riporta il nome completo dell'autore, Johannes Cornelius Gerardus Boot, originario di Arnhem, nella Gheldria, e candidato in filosofia, lettere classiche e diritto presso l'Università di Leida.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
Pericles represents one of the central figures in the history of Western civilization. During his political supremacy, Athens reached an extraordinary level of naval power, democratic elaboration, artistic activity and intellectual development.
The Parthenon, the consolidation of democratic institutions, theatrical and philosophical production and the expansion of Athenian influence constitute some of the aspects most associated with his era.
Boot approaches this figure through a critical investigation of sources, trying to distinguish historical testimonies from interpretations that are often contradictory among ancient authors.
Particular attention is given to the stateman's private life, to his relations with Aspasia, to his influence on public opinion, to the management of state affairs and to the conflict between Athens and Sparta.
The pages devoted to the origins of the Peloponnesian War analyze Pericles' political responsibilities and the complex circumstances that led to the clash between the principal Greek powers.
Thus the work offers not only a historical biography, but a reflection on the relationships between leadership, democracy, imperial ambition and the fate of ancient cities.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Johannes Cornelius Gerardus Boot (1811–1901) was a Dutch classical philologist, historian and academic, born in Arnhem.
He studied classics and law at Leiden University, where he earned two doctorates in 1836.
After holding teaching positions, he became a professor at the Athenaeum Illustre of Amsterdam, distinguished by his research on ancient literature and history.
Among his important works is an edition of Cicero’s correspondence with Atticus, published in 1865.
The dissertation on Pericles belongs to the early phase of his scholarly activity and already testifies to the rigorous philological approach that would characterize his later career.

PRINTING HISTORY
The first publication of the work dates to 1835, at Johannes Altheer, academic printer of Utrecht.
The supplementary title page documents the prior presentation of the dissertation to a competition held in 1833 by the faculties of philosophy and literature of the university.
The recognition was awarded on March 26, 1834, while the printed publication followed in the following year.
The volume presents the typical features of European university dissertations of the nineteenth century: Latin composition, Greek quotations, apparatus of historical and philological notes, division into chapters and paragraphs and refined typographic layout.

RARITY
Original copies of this specialized dissertation appear less frequently on the antiquarian market than modern reproductions.
The collecting interest derives mainly from the publication date, the academic recognition obtained by the author and the link with a scholar who later established himself in European classical philology.
A work particularly suitable for collections devoted to ancient Greece, the political history of Athens and nineteenth-century university culture.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
The work presents a substantial apparatus of references to ancient sources, including Thucydides, Plutarch, Plato, Cicero and Aristophanes. The author's academic career and scholarly output are documented in biographical and bibliographical catalogs of Dutch universities.

PERCHÉ ABBIAMO SCELTO QUESTO LIBRO
We have selected this publication for its direct link to one of the most important moments in Western history: the birth and consolidation of Athenian democracy under Pericles.
Its academic origin, the prize awarded in 1834 and the subsequent fame of its author make the volume a compelling testament to the great European tradition of classical studies.

AVVERTENZA FOTOGRAFICA
In old books, signs of time, wear and previous handling are an integral part of the exemplar’s history. The AI visuals are for illustrative and atmospheric purposes only. The original photographs document the book actually offered, its binding, the paper and visible conditions.