I,Claudius Project: Dio Cassius



NAME: Dio Cassius (aka Cassius Dio) DATES : ca.AD 150 - 235

CONSULTED WORK : Roman History - Originally covered the period 753 BC - AD 229, but only part of it survives covering the years from 69 BC to AD 46 with substantial lacunae (gaps) after 6 BC, the rest survives in the epitomes (Cliff note like versions) of Zonarus (753-146 BC and 44 BC - AD 96) and of Xiphilinus (69 BC - AD 229) In the Loeb edition ,vol. VII contains Books LVI-LX (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Claudius), vol. VIII Books LXXI-LXX (Claudius and Nero).
GENRE: (annalistic) history
LANGUAGE: Greek
STYLE of Roman History : Scholars describe it as Thucydidean, a description of events accompanied by analysis. He for the most part uses a Roman annalistic (yearly) framework to discuss events alternating foreign with domestic events, in the manner of Tacitus. Descriptions of portents and the inclusion of set speeches are prominent in the work.
RELIABILITY QUOTIENT : Fair
Dio is further removed in time than the other ancient sources for this period and anachronisms are frequently present in his work. Most of his evidence for the Julio-Claudian dynasty survives only in epitomized (summarized) form - which in places sounds suspiciously like Tacitus. These "reader's digest versions", do however fill in gaps providing us with annalistic summaries of the reigns of Augustus, Caligula and Claudius.