Emperors and Usurpers - An Historical Commentary on Cassius Dio''s Roman History

Emperors and Usurpers provides an historical commentary for the final books of Cassius Dio's Roman history, with a focus on Dio's role as author and historian, his historical method, and his attitude to the Severan regime. The study elucidates Dio's account of the controversial reigns of Caracalla, Macrinus, and Elagabalus.

List of contents

• Table of Contents


• Abbreviations


• Map


• Introduction


• I. Cassius Dio's life and career


• II. Texts and citations


• III. Cassius Dio as historical guide


• IV. Time of composition and the nature of Dio's contemporary history


• V. Cassius Dio, Greek annalist


• VI. Other sources for the reigns of Macrinus and Elagabalus


• VII. Modern scholarship on the reigns of Macrinus and Elagabalus


• Book 79(78): Macrinus


• I. The structure of book 79(78) and the chronology of Macrinus' reign


• II. Sources for book 79(78)


• III. Commentary


• Book 80(79): Elagabalus


• I. Overview and structure of book 80(79)


• II. Sources for Book 80(79)


• III. Assessing Elagabalus' reign


• IV. Historical outline


• V. Religion


• VI. Elagabalus' demise


• VII. Commentary


• Book 80(80): Severus Alexander


• I. Introduction


• II. Commentary


• Works Cited

About the author

Andrew G. Scott is Assistant Professor of Classical Studies at Villanova University.

Summary

Emperors and Usurpers provides an historical commentary for the final books of Cassius Dio's Roman history, with a focus on Dio's role as author and historian, his historical method, and his attitude to the Severan regime. The study elucidates Dio's account of the controversial reigns of Caracalla, Macrinus, and Elagabalus.

Additional text

This excellent commentary on the last three books of Dio's history brings the reader to a better understanding of the historian's focus, methodology, and the system of personal experience and belief that inform the whole.

Product details

• Authors: Andrew G. Scott, Andrew G. (Assistant Professor Scott
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.07.2018
• EAN: 9780190879594
• ISBN: 978-0-19-087959-4
• No. of pages: 216
• Series: Society for Classical Studies American Classical Studies; Society for Classical Studies American Classical Studies; Society for Classical Studies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; Social sciences, law, business > Political science; POLITICAL SCIENCE / General, HISTORY / Ancient / General, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, HISTORY / Historiography, Politics & government, Historiography, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Politics and government, Ancient History, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval