Dio Cassius: Roman History -
: Dio frequently critiques the shift from merit-based adoption (like Hadrian's) to hereditary succession, famously noting that the Roman Empire descended from a "kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust" following the reign of Marcus Aurelius.
: Surviving largely through the 11th-century epitomes of John Xiphilinus and the 12th-century works of John Zonaras. Primary Access Points
: Essential modern analysis can be found in Fergus Millar’s A Study of Cassius Dio or via academic archives like JSTOR and Academia.edu. Dio Cassius: Roman History
: The LacusCurtius site hosts the English translation by Earnest Cary, originally published in the Loeb Classical Library .
For detailed research or reading, the following resources are highly recommended: : Dio frequently critiques the shift from merit-based
: The Internet Archive provides digitized versions of all 9 Loeb volumes for in-depth study. Cassius Dio — Epitome of Book 73
: Unlike many historians, Dio was a practicing politician. His work often reflects his senatorial biases, particularly his interest in the relationship between the emperor and the Senate. : The LacusCurtius site hosts the English translation
Cassius Dio’s Roman History ( Historia Romana ) is a monumental 80-volume work covering approximately 1,000 years, from the legendary arrival of Aeneas in Italy to 229 CE. Writing in Ancient Greek, Dio spent 10 years researching and 12 years composing his history while serving as a high-ranking Roman senator and two-time consul.






