The Sources of Cassius Dio for the Roman Civil Wars of 49–30 bc
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20087182 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Richard W Westall (corresponding author), Richard Westall |
| Year | 2016 |
| Pages | 51-75 |
| Publication date | 2016-01-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | CHAPTER |
| Venue | Cassius Dio (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Brill (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1163/9789004335318_005 |
| OpenAlex | W2610312594 |
| ISBN | 9789004335318 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
While there is clear evidence that at least some of Dio’s material for the Roman civil wars of 49-30 BC derives from Livy, there is also abundant evidence that Dio did not follow Livy in reporting most of that period’s events. Rather, it would appear that Dio made use of the work of a historian who was critical of all the Caesarian leaders, M. Antonius and Caesar the Younger included. Various items suggest that this historian should be identified as Cremutius Cordus. First and foremost, Dio’s reporting of the omens that presaged the outcome of the battle of Pharsalus points not only to an awareness of the Livian account, but also to use of a source sensitive to the claims of the defeated. Secondly, Dio’s account of the siege and fall of Perusia suggests both an awareness of Augustan propaganda and a willingness to repeat the slander of human sacrifice to Divus Iulius. Thirdly, Dio’s reporting of triumphs for the 40s and 30s BC is selective, tending towards the omission of Antonian partisans. Fourth, Dio’s account of the leadership of Cassius and Brutus at Philippi seems redolent of what is known of the views of Cremutius Cordus. Fifth and last, when the genre of invective is taken into consideration, Dio’s testimony for the nature of the historical work of Cremutius Cordus emerges as far less anodyne than might be imagined. In the final analysis, these items invite a re-reading of Dio’s handling of the Roman civil wars with an eye to which sources were used
Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Battle · Cicero · Invective · Literature · Political science · Politics · Sacrifice · Siege · Spanish Civil War · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classics · History · Law
| Citations per year | 0.57 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2019 - 2019 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |