Cassius Dio

Cassius Dio characterises Cleopatra, in a goddess like nature. He uses adjectives to enhance her character, for example ‘a woman of surpassing beauty’ (Roman History 42.34), the word ‘surpassing’ has made her not just ordinarily beautiful, but a woman of outstanding appearance. Dio gives the impression that Cleopatra is perfect and can do no wrong. The nouns used, give Cleopatra an array of positive traits, he uses ‘power, beauty, and knowledge’ (Roman History 42.34), all of which any woman would

Cassius Dio insists the empire and Augustus owe an extraordinary amount to Gaius Maecenas, Marcus Agrippa, and to a lesser extent, Livia. While the empire had problems with stability from time to time, the three of them had their roles in cultivating prosperity. The role of lifelong friend and confidante is attributed to Agrippa, as his loyalty ceased to cultivate throughout the years. The trifecta aided Augustus in ruling and improving the empire, while sporadically corralling the Octavian mindset

died. After his death the lands of Iceni was annexed by Rome losing its status as an ally. Boudicca the Celtic Queen of Iceni objected, leading a revolt which was eventually crushed leading to her suicide according to Tacitus in the Annals. Cassio Dio on the other hand makes no reference to suicide but says she died of illness. Tacitus’ account is generally seen as the more trustworthy or closer to the truth as his father-in-law Agricola was the Roman general responsible for much of the Roman conquest

From the rise of Augustus Caesar to the life of Cassius Dio there occurred a distinct shift in the governance of Rome. The Roman Republic was created to cater to the wants and needs of the citizens of Rome, but it wasn’t perfect. By the time of Caesar, the Roman people were ready and willing to accept someone ambitious and capable as their leader. Eventually, the government that would later inspire modern representative democracies transitioned into a 1500-year monarchy. Julius Caesar, criticized

recounted by two of the most influential Roman historians of the ancient world, Cornelius Tacitus and Cassius Dio, the British were successfully presented to be of a barbaric nature; leaving behind a legacy of destruction and massacre that resulted in military failure and brought forth little success. But despite the obvious Roman agenda that has been intertwined within the recounts of Tacitus and Dio, they remain to be the only credible primary sources

Therefore, although Dio Cassius was writing approximately two centuries after the events, it would have been possible for him to have quoted direct speeches made by Octavian. Dio Cassius’ context also needs to be taken into account. He was a Senator, consul and proconsul himself, and was therefore, like most ancient Roman historians, an elite male, writing

30 BC ~ Octavian was given the title of Imperator, which was used in the Eastern provinces. Imperium suggests unlimited imperium (or power) (Antiquity 2 Interpreting The Past) This was the first of many titles that were to be given to Octavian after his defeat of Mark Antony in 31 BC at the Battle of Actium. It indicates that the provinces thought Octavian was worthy of being honoured, and that the power he possessed at the time should remain his. Therefore this was the first factor that initiated

First, I think it challenges historians to further examine the work of Cassius Dio to uncover more possible examples of deliberate misrepresentation of facts to serve political ends. If Dio engaged in such surreptitious behavior in the case of Elagabalus, it is no stretch to think he did so in other areas, concerning other figures and events. Further scholarship could, at the very least, refuse to take Dio at face value, as many scholars had done in the past with his life of Elagabalus

Other historians, such as Cassius Dio and Horace, held similar views. Cleopatra was virtually always portrayed as a corrupting influence on Antony (Fear, 2008). This view was greatly manipulated by Octavian and the savage propaganda war he unleased against Cleopatra. Octavian strived

Britain’s first heroic patriots. What we know for sure about this inspirational woman is limited. The main sources of information about her are from histories written by prominent Roman historians, Dio Cassius and Tacitus. This not only creates