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Dio Cassius

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description Dio Cassius Overview

Dio Cassius, also known as Cassius Dio, was a Greek-speaking Roman senator and historian who lived during the late second and early third centuries AD. He wrote a history of Rome in eighty books, beginning with the legendary arrival of Aeneas and continuing to the reign of the emperor Severus Alexander in 229 AD. Much of the work survives through excerpts, epitomes, and later quotations, while several sections remain substantially intact.

help Dio Cassius FAQ

Who was Cassius Dio?

Cassius Dio, also called Dio Cassius, was a Greek-speaking Roman senator and historian who lived during the late second and early third centuries AD. He held public office and wrote a major history of Rome.

How many books were in Cassius Dio's Roman History?

Cassius Dio wrote the Roman History in eighty books. The work begins with the legendary arrival of Aeneas and continues through the reign of the emperor Alexander Severus.

How much of Cassius Dio's Roman History survives?

Some sections survive substantially, especially books covering the late Republic and early Empire, while other books survive through fragments and later summaries. Byzantine writers such as Xiphilinus and Zonaras preserved material from parts of the lost text.

Why is Cassius Dio useful for studying Roman politics?

Dio combined historical writing with experience as a Roman senator and administrator. His account is particularly valuable for imperial politics, even though historians compare it with sources such as Livy, Tacitus, and inscriptions.

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