Editing Procopius (section)

===''The Buildings''===
[[File:Sangarius Bridge. Drawing 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Triumphal arch at the entrance to the [[Sangarius Bridge]]]]

''The Buildings'' ({{langx|grc|Περὶ Κτισμάτων}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|Perì Ktismáton}}; {{langx|la|De Aedificiis}}, "On Buildings") is a [[panegyric]] on Justinian's public works projects throughout the empire.<ref name="Downey">Downey, Glanville: "The Composition of Procopius, De Aedificiis", in ''Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association'' 78: pp.&nbsp;171–183; [https://www.jstor.org/pss/283492 abstract] from JSTOR.</ref> The first book may date to before the collapse of the first dome of [[Hagia Sophia]] in 557, but some scholars think that it is possible that the work postdates the building of the [[Sangarius Bridge|bridge over the Sangarius]] in the late 550s.<ref>Whitby, Michael: "Procopian Polemics: a review of A. Kaldellis ''Procopius of Caesarea. Tyranny, History, and Philosophy at the End of Antiquity''", in ''The Classical Review'' 55 (2006), pp.&nbsp;648ff.</ref> Historians consider ''Buildings'' to be an incomplete work due to evidence of the surviving version being a draft with two possible redactions.<ref name="Downey" />{{sfn|Cameron|1985}}

''Buildings'' was likely written at Justinian's behest, and it is doubtful that its sentiments expressed are sincere. It tells us nothing further about Belisarius, and it takes a sharply different attitude towards Justinian. He is presented as an idealised [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Christian]] emperor who built churches for the glory of God and defenses for the safety of his subjects. He is depicted showing particular concern for the water supply, building new [[Roman aqueduct|aqueducts]] and restoring those that had fallen into disuse. Theodora, who was dead when this panegyric was written, is mentioned only briefly, but Procopius's praise of her beauty is fulsome.

Due to the [[panegyric]]al nature of Procopius's ''Buildings'', historians have discovered several discrepancies between claims made by Procopius and accounts in other primary sources. A prime example is Procopius's starting the reign of Justinian in 518, which was the start of the reign of his uncle and predecessor {{nowrap|[[Justin I]].}} By treating the uncle's reign as part of his nephew's, Procopius was able to credit Justinian with buildings erected or begun under Justin's administration. Such works include renovation of the walls of [[Edessa]] after its 525 flood and consecration of several churches in the region. Similarly, Procopius falsely credits Justinian for the extensive refortification of the cities of [[Constanța|Tomis]] and [[Histria (Sinoe)|Histria]] in [[Scythia Minor (Roman province)|Scythia Minor]]. This had been carried out under {{nowrap|[[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]],}} who reigned before Justin.<ref>Croke, Brian and James Crow: "Procopius and Dara", in ''The Journal of Roman Studies'' 73 (1983), 143–159.</ref>