Emperors and Political Culture in Cassius Dio's Roman History
Emperors and Political Culture in Cassius Dio's <I>Roman History</I>
Christopher Mallan, University of Western Australia, Perth
The Roman History of Cassius Dio provides one of the most important continuous narratives of the early Roman empire, spanning the inception of the Principate under Augustus to the turbulent years of the Severan Dynasty. It has been a major influence on how scholars have thought about Roman imperial history, from the Byzantine period down to the present day, as well as being a work of considerable literary sophistication and merit. This book, the product of an international collaborative project, brings together thirteen chapters written by scholars based in Europe, North America, and Australia. They offer new approaches to Dio's representation of Roman emperors, their courtiers, and key political constituencies such as the army and the people, as well as the literary techniques he uses to illuminate his narrative, from speeches to wonder narratives.
- Presents an in-depth analysis of the content and themes of Dio's imperial narrative
- Analyses the Roman History using a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches
- Provides translations of all passages from Greek and Latin texts
Reviews & endorsements
'… a welcome and timely contribution to the ongoing discussion dedicated to the Roman History of Cassius Dio and the history of imperial Rome and its literature.' Richard Westall, Plekos
'Davenport and Mallan have produced an essential and enormously important volume that will be required reading for any specialist who wishes to approach the work of Dion. ' Gustavo Vivas GarcÃa, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Product details
April 2023Paperback
9781108926232
371 pages
229 × 152 × 20 mm
0.537kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Cassius Dio: The Senator and his Caesars Caillan Davenport and Christopher Mallan
- Part I. Imperial and Political Narratives:
- 1. Vox Populi, Vox Mea? Information, Evaluation and Public Opinion in Dio's Account of the Principate Adam Kemezis
- 2. News, Rumour, and the Political Culture of the Roman Imperial Monarchy in the Roman History Caillan Davenport
- 3. Literary and Documentary Sources in Dio's Narrative of the Roman Emperors Cesare Letta
- 4. 'Now Comes the Greatest Marvel of All!' (79[78].8.2): Dio's Roman Emperors and the Incredible Rhiannon Ash
- Part II. Emperors and Biographies:
- 5. Cassius Dio's Funeral Speech for Augustus: Sources, Rhetoric, Messages Christina T. Kuhn
- 6. '... but he possessed a most singular nature': Cassius Dio on Tiberius Christopher Mallan
- 7. An Emperor's War on Greece: Cassius Dio's Nero Shushma Malik
- 8. War and Peace: Imperial Leadership in Dio's Second-Century Narrative Caillan Davenport
- III. Political Groups and Political Culture:
- 9. 'The People' and Cassius Dio Monica Hellström
- 10. Citizenship, Enfranchisement, and Honour in Cassius Dio Myles Lavan
- 11. The Company They Keep: Emperors and their Associates Barbara Saylor Rodgers
- 12. Dio and his Friends: Autobiography and Biography in Dio's Contemporary Narrative Christopher Mallan
- IV. Reception and Reflection:
- 13. The Reception of Cassius Dio's Imperial Narrative in Byzantium (Tenth – Twelfth Centuries) Alicia Simpson.
