Citations in Classics and Ancient History

The most common style in use in the field of Classical Studies is the author-date style, also
known as Chicago 2, but MLA is also quite common and perfectly acceptable. Quick guides for
each of MLA and Chicago 2 are readily available as PDF downloads. The Chicago Manual of
Style Online offers a guide on their web-page:
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
The Modern Language Association (MLA) does not, but many educational institutions post
an MLA guide for free access.

While a specific citation style should be followed carefully, none take into account the specific
practices of Classical Studies. They are all (Chicago, MLA and others) perfectly suitable for citing
most resources, but should not be followed for citing ancient Greek and Latin primary source
material, including primary sources in translation.

Citing Primary Sources:

Every ancient text has its own unique system for locating content by numbers. For example,
Homer's Iliad is divided into 24 Books (what we might now call chapters) and the lines of each
Book are numbered from line 1. Herodotus' Histories is divided into nine Books and each of these
Books is divided into Chapters and each chapter into line numbers. The purpose of such a system
is that the Iliad, or any primary source, can be cited in any language and from any publication and
always refer to the same passage. That is why we do not cite Herodotus page 66. Page 66 in what
publication, in what edition?
Very early in your textbook, Apodexis Historia, a passage from Herodotus is reproduced. This
particular passage is taken from the G.C. Macaulay translation of 1890 and is identified as
Herodotus i. 56 - 58 (1.56-58 is also acceptable). That is; Herodotus, The Histories, 1 Book I (1 is
also acceptable), Chapters 56 to 58 (line numbers are not necessary unless specific attention is
being drawn to those lines).

1
But we do not give the title of the work if an author has only one extant text. We can simply cite Herodotus because
the Histories is the only work we have by that author.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 2

Using this passage in your essay is even easier than using secondary sources. For example:

Herodotus (1.56) says that the Athenians were part of the Ionian tribe of Greeks.
"…the Lacedaemonians and the Athenians had the pre-eminence, the first of the Dorian and
the others of the Ionian tribe" (Hdt. i.56).
Herodotus (1.56) reminds us that "…the Lacedaemonians and the Athenians had the pre-
eminence, the first of the Dorian and the others of the Ionian tribe."

It isn't necessary to include the publication from which you took the quote since your audience
can refer to any publication and find the same passage. So, if you are citing a passage of
Thucydides from Apodexis Historia, you don't need to cite the collection itself, just the Thucydides
passage. However, we sometimes compare various translations and, in that case, it is proper to
include them in the Bibliography. The translator should be acknowledged in a footnote and the
publications are listed as:

De Sélincourt, Aubrey, trans. 1972 (1954). Herodotus, The Histories. London, New York: Penguin
Books.
Fitzgerald, Robert, trans. 2004 (1974). The Iliad, Homer. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Lattimore, Richmond, tans. 1951. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Shankman, Steven, Ed. 1996. The Iliad of Homer Translated by Alexander Pope. 2 London, New
York: Penguin Books.
Strassler, Robert B. Ed. 2007. The Landmark Herodotus, the Histories. Andrea L. Purvis trans.
New York: Anchor Books. 3
Waterfield, Robin, trans. 1998. Herodotus, The Histories. Oxford University Press.

2
A more complicated scenario: Homer is the author, Alexander Pope the translator, but both have been dead long
enough that they have no claim to copyright. The editor of the current edition, Steven Shankman, holds copyright
and so the work is listed under his name.
3
Andrea Purvis may hold copyright to the translation, but in this particular publication the editor, Robert Strassler,
holds copyright so the work is listed under his name.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 3

Standard Abbreviations

A
Source Abbrev. Works (English/ Latin) Abbrev.
Aelian Ael. Historical Miscellany / Varia Historia VH
On the Nature of Animals / De Natura Animalium NA
Aeschines Aeschin. Against Timarchus Aeschin. 1
On the Embassy Aeshcin. 2
Against Cetisiphon Aeshcin. 3
Aeschylus Aesch. Agamemnon Ag.
Eumenides Eum.
Libation Bearers / Choephoroe Lib. / Cho.
Persians / Persae Pers.
Prometheus Bound / Prometheus Vinctus PB / PV
Seven Against Thebes Seven / Sept.
Suppliant Women / Supplices Supp.
Andocides Andoc. On the Mysteries Andoc. 1
On His Return Andoc. 2
On the Peace Andoc. 3
Against Alcibiades Andoc. 4
Antipon Antiph. Against the Stepmother Antiph. 1
First Tetralogy Antiph. 2
Second Tetralogy Antiph. 3
Third Tetralogy Antiph. 4
On the Murder of Herodes Antiph. 5
On the Choreutes Antiph. 6
Apollodorus Apollod. Library / Bibliotheca Bibl.
Epitome Epit.
Apollonius Ap. Rhod. Argonautica Argon.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 4

Aristides, Ael. Ar. The Art of Rhetoric / Ars Rhetorica Ars.

Aelius Orations (numbered from 1 to 50) Orat.
Aristophanes Ar. Acharnians / Acharnenses Ach.
Birds / Aves Birds/ Av.
Clouds / Nubes Cl. /Nub.
Ecclesiazusae Eccl.
Frogs / Ranae Frogs
Knights / Equites Kn. / Eq.
Lysistrata Lys.
Peace Peace
Plutus Pl.
Thesmophoriazusae Thes.
Wasps / Vespae Wasps
Aristotle Arist. Athenian Constitution / Athenaion Politeia Ath. Pol.
Economics / Oeconomica Econ.
Eudamian Ethics Eud. Eth.
Metaphysics Met.
Meteorology Mete.
Nicomachean Ethics Nic. Eth.
On Generation and Corruption Gen. Corr.
On the Generation of Animals Gen. An.
On the Heavens / De Caelo Cael.
On the History of Animals Hist. An.
On the Parts of Animals Part. An.
On the Soul / De Anima De An.
Physics Ph.
Poetics Poet.
Politics Pol.
Problems Pr.
Rhetoric Rh.
Topics Top.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 5

Virtues and Vices Vir..

Arrian Arr. The History of Alexander / Anabasis Alexandri Anab.
Indica Ind.
Athenaeus Ath. The Diepnosophists

B
Bacchylides Bacchyl. Epinicians Ep.
Dithyrambs Dith.

C
Callimachus Call. Aetia Aet.
Epigrams Epig.
Hymn to Zeus H. 1
Hymn to Apollo Ap.
Hymn to Artemis H. 3
Hymn to Delos H. 4
Hymn to Athena H. 5
Hymn to Demeter H. 6
Ctesias Ctes. Photius' Epitome of the Persica of Ctesius
Quintus Curt. History of Alexander
Curtius Rufus

D
Demades Demad. On the Twelve Years
Demosthenes Dem. Letters L.
Olynthiac 1 Dem. 1
Olynthiac 2 Dem. 2
Olynthiac 3 Dem. 3
Philippic 1 Dem. 4
On the Peace Dem. 5
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 6

Philipic 2 Dem. 6
On the Halonnesus Dem. 7
On the Chersonese Dem. 8
Philippic 3 Dem. 9
Philippic 4 Dem. 10
Reply to Philip Dem. 11
Philip Dem. 12
On Organization Dem. 13
On the Navy Dem. 14
On the Freedom of the Rhodians Dem. 15
For the Megalopolitans Dem. 16
On the Accession of Alexander Dem. 17
On the Crown Dem. 18
On the False Embassy Dem. 19
Against Leptines Dem. 20
Against Midias Dem. 21
Against Androtion Dem. 22
Against Arstocrates Dem. 23
Against Timocrates Dem. 24
Against Arstogiton 1 Dem. 25
Against Arstogiton 2 Dem. 26
Against Aphobus 1 Dem. 27
Against Aphobus 2 Dem. 28
Against Aphobus Dem. 29
Against Onetor 1 Dem. 30
Against Onetor 2 Dem. 31
Against Zenothemis Dem. 32
Against Apatourius Dem. 33
Against Phormio Dem. 34
Against Lacritus Dem. 35
For Phormio Dem. 36
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 7

Against Pantaenetus Dem. 37

Against Nausimachus and Xenopeithes Dem. 38
Against Boeotus 1 Dem. 39
Against Boeotus 2 Dem. 40
Against Spudias Dem. 41
Against Phaenippus Dem. 42
Against Macartatus Dem. 43
Against Leochares Dem. 44
Against Stephanus 1 Dem. 45
Against Stephanus 2 Dem. 46
Against Evergus and Mnesibulus Dem. 47
Against Olympiodorus Dem. 48
Against Timotheus Dem. 49
Against Polycles Dem. 50
On the Trierarchic Crown Dem. 51
Against Callippus Dem. 52
Against Nicostratus Dem. 53
Against Conon Dem. 54
Against Callicles Dem. 55
Against Dionysodorus Dem. 56
Against Eubulides Dem. 57
Against Theocrines Dem. 58
Against Neaera Dem. 59
Funeral Speech Dem. 60
Erotic Essay Dem. 61
Deinarchus Din. Against Demosthenes Din. 1
(Dinarchus) Against Aristogeiton Din. 2
Against Philocles Din. 3
Diodorus Diod. Bibliotheca Historica
Siculus
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 8

Diogenes DL Lives of the Eminent Philosophers

Laertius Diog. Laert.
Dionysius of Dion. Hal. Roman Antiquities Ant. Rom.
Halicarnassus The Ancient Orators / De Antiquis Oratoribus Orat.
On Lysias Lys.
On Isocrates Isoc.
On Isaeus Is.
On Demosthenes Dem.
To Ammaeus (Letters) 1 and 2 Amm.
On Dinarchus Din.
On Thucydides Thuc.
On Literary Composition Comp.
To Pompeius Pomp.

E
Epicurus Epicurus Epistles Ep.
Euripides Eur. Alcestis Alc.
Andromache Andr.
Bacchae Bacch.
Cyclops Cyc.
Electra El.
Hecuba Hec.
Helen Hel.
Heraclidae Heraclid.
Heracles Her.
Hippolytus Hipp.
Ion Ion
Iphigenia in Aulus IA
Iphigenia in Tauris IT
Medea Med.
Orestes Or.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 9

Phoenissae Phoen.
Rhesus Rhes.
Suppliants Sup.
Trojan Women Tro.

H
Herodotus Hdt. The Histories
Hesiod Hes. Shield of Heracles Sh.
Theogony Theog.
Works and Days WD
Hippocrates Hippoc. Airs Waters Places Aer.
Aphorisms Aph.
Epidemics Epid.
The Law / Lex Lex
The Oath / Jusjurandum Jusj.
On Ancient Medicine
On Articulations Art.
On Fistulae Fist.
On Fractures Fract.
On Haemorrhoids Haem.
On Injuries to the Head VC
On Regimen in Acute Diseases Acut.
On the Sacred Disease / De Morbo Sacro Morb. Sacr.
On Surgery
On Ulcers Ulc.
Prognostics Prog.
Homer Hom. Iliad Il.
Odyssey Od.
Homeric Hymns HH
Hyperides Hyp. In Defence of Lycophron Hyp. 1
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 10

Against Philippides Hyp. 2

Agaisnt Athenogenes Hyp. 3
Against Demosthenes Hyp. 4
Funeral Oration Hyp. 5

I/J
Josephus Joseph. Jewish Antiquities AJ
The Jewish Wars / Bellum Judaicum BJ
Isaeus Isaeus Cleonymus Isaeus 1
Menecles Isaeus 2
Pyrrhus Isaeus 3
Nicostratus Isaeus 4
Dicaeogenes Isaeus 5
Philoctemon Isaeus 6
Apollodorus Isaeus 7
Ciron Isaeus 8
Astyphilus Isaeus 9
Aristarchus Isaeus 10
Hagnias Isaeus 11
Euphiletus Isaeus 12
Isocrates Isoc. To Demonicus Isoc. 1
To Nicocles Isoc. 2
Nicocles or The Cyprians Isoc. 3
Panegyricus Isoc. 4
To Philip Isoc. 5
Archidamus Isoc. 6
Areopagiticus Isoc. 7
On the Peace Isoc. 8
Evagoras Isoc. 9
Helen Isoc. 10
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 11

Busiris Isoc. 11
Panathenaicus Isoc. 12
Against the Sophists Isoc. 13
Plataicus Isoc. 14
Antidosis Isoc. 15
On the Team of Horses Isoc. 16
Trapeziticus Isoc. 17
Against Callimachus Isoc. 18
Aegineticus Isoc. 19
Against Lochites Isoc. 20
Against Euthynus Isoc. 21
Justin Just. Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Epit.
Trogus

L
Lysias Lys. On the Murder of Eratosthenes Lys. 1
Funeral Oration Lys. 2
Against Simon Lys. 3
On a Wound by Premeditation Lys. 4
For Callias Lys. 5
Against Andocides Lys. 6
On the Olive Stump Lys. 7
Accusation of Calumny Lys. 8
For the Soldier Lys. 9
Against Theomnestus 1 Lys. 10
Against Theomnestus 2 Lys. 11
Against Eratosthenes Lys. 12
Against Agoratus Lys. 13
Against Alcibiades 1 Lys. 14
Against Alcibiades 2 Lys. 15
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 12

For Mantitheus Lys. 16

On the Property of Eraton Lys. 17
On the Confiscation of the Property of the
Brother of Nicias Lys. 18
On the Property of Aristophanes Lys. 19
For Polystratus Lys. 20
Defence on the Charge of Bribery Lys. 21
Against the Corn Dealers Lys. 22
Against Pancleon Lys. 23
On the Refusal of a Pension Lys. 24
Defence against the charge of Subverting the
Democracy Lys. 25
On the Scrutiny of Evandros Lys. 26
Against Epicrates and the Envoys Lys. 27
Against Ergocles Lys. 28
Against Philocrates Lys. 29
Against Nichomachus Lys. 30
Against Philon Lys. 31
Against Diogeiton Lys. 32
Olympic Oration Lys. 33
Against the Subversion of the Ancestral
Constitution of Athens Lys. 34

N
Cornelius Nepos Nep. Lives / Vitae Vit.
Miltiades Milt.
Themistocles Them.
Aristides Ar.
Pausanias Paus.
Cimon Cim.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 13

Lysander Lys.
Aclibiades Alc.
Thrasybulus Thr.
Conon Con.
Dion Di.
Iphicrates Iph.
Chabrias Cha.
Timotheus Tim.
Datames Dat.
Epaminondas Ep.
Pelopidas Pel.
Agesilaus Ag.
Eumenes Eum.
Phocion Phoc.
Timoleon Timol.
Kings Reg.
Hamilcar Ham.
Hannibal Han.
Cato Ca.
Atticus Att.

O
Oxyrhynchus Papyri POxy

Old Oligarch Ps.Xen. Constitution of the Athenians Const. Ath.

(Pseudo-
Xenophon)

P
The Parian Marble / Parian Chronicle
Pausanias Paus. Description of Greece
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 14

Elaphantine Papyri PEleph.

Phaedrus Phaed. Aesop's Fables
Philostratus Philostr.
Photius Phot. Bibliotheca
Pindar Pind. Isthmian Odes Isthm.
Nemean Odes Nem.
Olympian Odes Ol.
Pythian Odes Pyth.
Plato Pl. Alcibiades 1 Alc. 1
Alcibiades 2 Alc. 2
Apology Ap.
Axiochus Ax.
Charmides Chrm.
Cleitophon Cleit.
Cratylus Cra.
Critias Crit.
Crito Crito
Definitions Def.
Demodocus Dem.
Epinomis Epin.
Letters / Epistles Epist.
Eryxias Eryx.
Euthydemus Euthyd.
Euthyphro Euthyph.
Gorgias Grg.
Hipparchus Hipparch.
Hippias Minor Hp. Min.
Hippias Major Hp. Mai/
Ion Ion
Laches Lach.
Laws / Leges Laws / Leg.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 15

Lovers Lovers
Lysis Lysis
Menexenus Menex.
Meno Meno
Minos Minos
On Justice
On Virtue
Parmenides Parm.
Phaedo Phd.
Phaedrus Phdr.
Philebus
Politics Plt.
Protagoras Prt.
Republic Rep.
Sisyphus
Statesman Stat.
Symposium Symp.
Sophist Soph.
Theages
Theaetetus Tht.
Timaeus Ti.
Plutarch Plut. Moralia Mor.
Amatorius Amat.
The Fortune of Alexander Alex. Fort.
De Exilio De Exil.
On the Pythian Oracle De Pyth.
Parallel Lives / Vitae Parallelae Vit.
Aemilius Paulus Aem.
Agesilaus Ages.
Alcibiades Alcib.
Alexander Alex.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 16

Antony Ant.
Aratus Arat.
Aristides Arist.
Artaxerxes Art.
Brutus Brut.
Caesar Caes.
Camillus Cam.
Cato Cat.
Cicero Cic.
Cimon Cim.
Cleomenes Cleom.
Coriolanus Cor.
Crassus Crass.
Demetrius Demetr.
Demosthenes Dem.
Dion Dion
Eumenes Eum.
Fabius Maximus Fab.
Galba Galb.
Gaius Gracchus CG.
Lucullus Luc.
Lycurgus Lyc.
Lysander Lys.
Marcellus Marc.
Marius Mar.
Nicias Nic.
Numa Num.
Otho Oth.
Pelopidas Pel.
Pericles Per.
Philopoemem Phil.
 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 17

Phocion Phoc.
Pompey Pomp.
Publicola Publ.
Pyrrhus Pyrrh.
Romulus Rom.
Sertorius Sert.
Solon Sol.
Sulla Sull.
Themistocles Them.
Theseus Thes.
Tiberius Gracchus TG
Timoleon Tim.
Titus Flamininus Flam.
Polyaenus Poly. Strategemata Strat.
Polybius Polyb. Roman History

S
Sophocles Soph. Ajax
Antigone
Electra
Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus Tyrannus / Oedipus Rex
Philoctetes
Trachiniae
Strabo Strab. Geography
Suda / Suidas Suda

Thucydides Thuc. History of the Peloponnesian War

 Citation in Classics and Ancient History - 18

X
Xenophon Xen. Agesilaus Ages.
Anabasis / March of the Ten Thousand Anab.
Apology of Socrates Apol.
Art of Horsemanship Horse.
Cavalry Commander Cav.
Cynegeticus Cyn.
Cyropaedia Cyr.
Hellenica Hell.
Hiero Hier.
Hunting Hunt.
Constitution of the Spartans Lac.
Memorabilia Mem.
Oeconomicus Oec.
Symposium Symp.
Ways and Means Ways