Brian Sanders

Brian Sanders

CLCS 230

02.17.05

Appian was born in Alexandria around the year 95 CE (Mellor HAR 65). He became a Roman citizen and “held high office at the court of Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE)” (Mellor HAR 65). He wrote in Greek (Mellor RH 112) but used both Greek and Latin sources (Mellor HAR 65), including fragments of Augustus’ autobiography (Mellor RH 178). He wrote the Romaika, “a history of Rome’s wars”, and about ten of the original twenty-four books survive (Mellor HAR 65). In his works, he emphasized “the centrality of Egypt and the superiority of monarchical government” (Mellor HAR 65). Appian died in the 160s CE (Mellor HAR 65).

Dio Cassius was a wealthy Greek from Nicaea (Mellor HAR 539, Boardman 341), born around the year 164 CE (Mellor HAR 539). His father was consul around 180 CE (Mellor HAR 539, Boardman 341), so Dio visited Rome around that time (Mellor HAR 539). He became quaestor by 190 CE (Mellor HAR 539) and held the consulship twice (Mellor HAR 539, Boardman 341). He was governor of Pannonia in the late 220s (Boardman 341). He wrote in Greek (Mellor RH 2, 112). Though he was sympathetic to imperial power (Mellor HAR 539), he provides a harsh portrayal of Tiberius (Mellor RH 94). He wrote one of the only surviving accounts of the life of Hadrian (Mellor RH 163). Dio researched his Roman History for ten years, and then took more than ten years to write it (Mellor HAR 539). He died in the 230s CE (Mellor HAR 539).

Plutarch was from Chaeronia in Boeotia (Boardman 257) and was born around 45 CE. He was a Greek writer living under Roman rule (Mellor RH 2) and he learned Platonist philosophy in Athens (Boardman 257). He was influenced by “a range of Greek biographical writing with quite different purposes and forms” than those typically associated with Rome (Mellor RH 133). About half of Plutarch’s works survive (Boardman 258) and show that he connected biography to the Roman practice of portraiture (Mellor RH 137). His Parallel Lives was inspired by “Nepos’ comparative lines” (Mellor RH 143). He took a distinct moral approach in his biographies and liked to include jokes. He “denounced Herodotus for impiety when he ascribed political motivation to the oracle at Delphi” (Mellor RH 199). His sources include Aratos of Sicyon’s autobiography (Mellor RH 166), Sulla’s commentarii (Mellor RH 170), and Augustus’ autobiography (Mellor RH 178). He was made procurator of Greece near the end of his life (Boardman 257), and he died in the 120s CE.

Nicholas of Damascus, born c. 64 BC to very wealthy, prominent Greek family in Damascus. His father, Antipater, was probably present in the city when Pompey made it his headquarters in 64 BC to form the province of Syria. Liberally educated, Nicolaus wrote poetry, comedies and tragedies and studied and wrote extensively about Hellenistic philosophy, especially the Peripatetic philosophers. His talents and social standing earned him the job of tutor to the princes of Herod, King of the Jews, perhaps before 20 BC. Josephus relied heavily on Nicolaus. In his works, Antiquities of the Jews and the Jewish War, Josephus mentions him 33 times and indicates that he was a daily companion and most trusted advisor to Herod (AJ 1.94, 17.99; BJ 2.21). Through Herod Nicolaus became acquainted with Augustus. He visited Rome twice before 8 BC with Herod. After Herod’s death in 4 BC he retired to private life but reemerged to represent Herod’s son Archelaus at Rome. This time he made a protracted visit. Unclear when he died, but clearly he lived into his 60s. His works include numerous dramatic compositions and writings on philosophy and the material sciences as well as an autobiography. His largest work was his Universal History in 144 books from the earliest times to the death of Herod the Great, which Joseophus relied heavily upon. The whole work was the greatest world history since Ephorus, with fragments compiled in Jacoby FGrH 2.A.324; C. 229. His best known work however was his Life of Augustus. It covered Augustus’ early life down to 49 BC, leaving off where Augustus was raising an army in Campania in that year. Due to his friendship with Augustus, Nicolaus had access to material unavailable to other historians, namely Augustus’ private memoirs. This is apparent in at least 2 ways: 1) his constant references to the actions, thoughts, and advice of Augustus’ mother Atia for her son during the crucial time following Caesar’s assassination (which can only have come from the memoirs), 2) Nicolaus repeatedly conveys Octavian’s’ conviction that he inherited all Caesar’s power along with his name and estate (chs. 18, 28, 31). He felt he had a just claim to the imperium through Caesar’s will 3 other information is present: Octavian knew Agrippa from very early on, at age 16 (Agrippa’s brother was captured at Thapsus and Octavian gained his release). As a result Nicolaus’s work shows strong bias toward his patron; hence his work is by no means a reliable, impartial commentary. About half of it is devoted to events and data surrounding the assassination of Caesar (ch.s 19-27). A very important source for this event, though again not without a stong dose of Caesarian bias. He used other soucrs for this part, probably the works of Asinius Pollio and Oppius. Best edition is C. M Hall with commentary; fragments in FGrH and a very long article in RE by Richard Lauqueur.

Velleius Paterculus (c. 19 BC to c. 30 AD). Of Campanian descent. Equestrian municipal aristocracy on both sides. His father served with Pompey the Great and survived until 5 AD. One of the loyal adherents of Tibeirus in Germany. Velleius Paterculus served under P. Vinicius and P. Silius in Thrace and Macedonia as military tribune in 1 AD. He was present at Gaius’ tour of the eastern provinces and meeting with Tiberius who was in exile at Samos; also Gaius’ meeting twith Phraates on the Euphrates and at his death. He criticized Gaius when it was safe to do so. In 4 AD he served under Tiberius in Germany, 6 AD he was selected quaestor and brought reinforcements to Tiberius at the report of Pannonian and Illyrian rebellions. He then returned to Rome but declined a senatorial province in order to serve as a legate to Tiberius. When Varus’ legions were annihilated in Germany, Velleius went with Tiberius into Germany and was present at his triumph in 12 AD. Elected praetor in 14 AD, but appears to have retired from the military career at Augustus’ death. He wrote a History of Rome that focused on the late Republic and the military exploits of Augustus and Tiberius. Combined in the Loeb edition with the Res Gestae of Augustus

Works cited:

Boardman, Griffin, and Murray. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Roman World.

New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.

Mellor, Ronald. The Historians of Ancient Rome. New York: Routledge, 2004.

Mellor, Ronald. The Roman Historians. New York: Routledge, 1999.