The Influence of Julius Africanus’ Chronographiae
on Malalas’View of Ancient History
Umberto Roberto

Abstract The work entitled Chronographiae by Sextus Julius Africanus, composed around 221
AD, was one of the main sources for the books I to IV of John Malalas’ Chronographia. Malalas’
acquaintance with Africanus is tangible on different levels. First of all, there are the passages in
which Malalas claims to quote Africanus’ text directly. Besides that, the Africanus’ tradition is
also evident in several other Malalas’ chapters, particularly when considering similar passages
attributed to Africanus by other authors. The third and final level of Malalas’familiarity with the
tradition of Africanus consists in his reuse of ideas and opinions characteristic of the Chrono-
graphiae. However, despite the influence of the Chronographiae on the first part of his Chronicle,
it seems certain that Malalas did not have direct knowledge of Africanus’ work. Malalas may
have known the tradition of the Chronographiae through an anthology or excerpts, or perhaps
from another source citing Africanus. It is possible to suggest that this source belonged to the
cultural milieu of Alexandria.

i. The Chronographiae by Sextus Julius Africanus
The work entitled Chronographiae by Sextus Julius Africanus, composed around 221
AD, was one of the main sources for the first books of John Malalas’ Chronographia. As
shown by various authors, the historiographic influence of Africanus lasted for centu-
ries in the Roman and Byzantine East, and he was long taken as a model and point of
reference by the writers of Christian chronicles and universal histories.1 Whereas the
popularity of the Chronographiae in the Alexandrian context is widely evidenced, we
know little about its relevance in the area of Antioch. In particular, we do not know
through which channels Malalas came to know the Chronographiae. For various rea-
sons, we cannot entertain the idea that Malalas was familiar with the complete work.
Furthermore, we can surmise that Malalas did not have direct knowledge of it. He may
have known the tradition of the Chronographiae through an anthology or excerpts, or
perhaps from another source quoting it. In this connexion, it has been suggested that
the mediator between the Africanus’ tradition and Malalas may have been Timotheus,

For Africanus as a source of Malalas see Jeffreys (1990b), pp. 172-173. On Africanus and his culture see,
in general, Adler (2004). On his historiographical influence see Roberto (2011), pp. 213-222.