Emperors and Political Culture in Cassius Dio's Roman History

A historical and historiographical study of the historian Cassius Dio and his account of political culture under the Roman Empire.

Caillan Davenport (Edited by), Christopher Mallan (Edited by)

9781108926232, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 6 April 2023

371 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.537 kg

'?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 García, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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.

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.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], History [HB]