Géza Alföldy and Ronald Syme: a case study

The purpose of this paper is to analyse Ronald Syme’s view of History through the work of one of his best and most insightful critics, Professor Géza Alföldy. The two historians maintained a personal and professional relationship for a quarter of a century. This enabled Alföldy to understand the intricacies of the entire body of work of the Camden Professor of Ancient History at the University of Oxford as few others have done, thereby becoming one of his finest critics.