Alexander of the Metz Epitome

The Metz Epitome has been a long-neglected source for the study of Alexander the Great. Due to how the Metz Epitome has come down to scholars, many questions still remain surrounding its composition, context, and audience. This paper offers a reappraisal of Romano’s thesis that the Metz Epitome was written before or during Julian’s campaign against the Sassanids in AD 363. It will examine two themes – the Alexander centricity of the narrative and the emphasis on Alexander’s non-violent interactions with local figures and groups – and suggest that the Metz Epitome was written in a post-Julian Roman empire.