ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΖΩΝΑΡΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΟΝ {δεμένο μαζί} ΤΟΥ ΛΟΓΟΘΕΤΟΥ ΤΩΝ ΣΕΚΡΕΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙ ΤΩΝ ΔΕΗΣΕΩΝ ΝΙΚΗΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΧΩΝΙΑΤΟΥ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ, IOANNI ZONARA COMPEDIUM HISTORIARUM, {bound with} NIKETAE CHONIATAE HISTORIA. BASILEAE OPORINUS 1557. EDITIO PRINCEPS for both works,FOLIO, contemporary decorated leather with wear rebaked with modern cloth spine, together 2 works in 1, complete both works, Greek original and Latin translation texts in double column, text clean and bright, woodcut devices on titles, larger devices on blank ff. at end of both works, woodcut initials, light creasing and marginal soiling to part 1 title and first few ff., textual loss to top corner of final leaf of index, occasional neat marginalia in an early hand, pencil and ink sketches on final blank, gilt central ornaments on covers, overall in very good condition. First edition of the works of the Byzantine historians of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The humanist Hieronymus Wolf published both Joannes Zonaras and Nicetas Choniates Histories. These two books were not just chronicles; they were the first major attempt by Western scholars to organize and print historical Byzantine texts systematically.Zonaras was a 12th-century Byzantine official and monk. His Annales, Epitome Historiarum, is a world history from the creation of the world to 1118 AD. Zonaras is unique because he had access to ancient Byzantine sources that are now lost. Oporinus was one of the greatest scholarly printers in history. His books are known for their massive size and beautiful, clear Roman type. Choniates was an eyewitness to the fall of Byzantium in 1204. His history covers 1118 to 1206 AD. This is the primary source for the Sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204. Choniates was a high-ranking official who actually saw the city fall. Choniates’ text gave the Greek side of the story, describing the horror of the Latin occupation of the East. A fine set of the very first Byzantine Histories published in the original Greek during 16th century. [Adams Z180, N225; USTC 667915, 677915]