Suetonius

Is the Bible trustworthy based on what we know from history? Sources outside the Bible all confirm what the Bible says. Josephus was a Jewish historian and mentions Jesus several times. He notes Jesus’ role as a religious teacher and his death by crucifixion. Tacitus was a Roman historian and says Jesus lived during the N.T. times and that he was referred to as the “Christ” by His followers. Modern historians accept these two as reliable reporters and historians and neither one were Christians…

This passage comes before a section where Suetonius discusses about how the senate was “swelled by a low-born and ill-assorted rabble” and the steps in which Augustus made to change this . Thus, this passage can be viewed as Augustus’ way of ensuring proper legitimate citizens are born, which in the future would see worthy men in the senate rather than “rabble”, relating this passage to the sections that follow it in Suetonius’ text. Potter links these elements together with piety,…

According to the famous Roman historian, Suetonius, “There were many warnings presented to Julius Caesar about his impending doom” (Suetonius 81). However, Caesar simply brushed off all of these words without giving them a second thought. His inflated ego made him unable to recognize blatantly given warnings. Even his own beloved wife was called…

was banished to the Pontine Islands, Lucius was left in the care of Gnaeus. However, Gnaeus’ health was failing and that next year, AD 40, he died of dropsy and Lucius was sent to live with his paternal Aunt, Domitia Lepida the Younger. (Pg. 38) Suetonius described the younger Gnaeus as cruel as well. He was also dishonest, cheated his creditors and stole the charioteer’s prize money. He was “a man of ‘wholly despicable’ character”. Tacitus, a senator and another Roman historian, remarked that…

is not seen through the eyes of many people around the world today. Today some see euthanasia as an excuse for people to kill themselves in spite of their pain. The first recorded use of the word was by Suetonius, a Roman historian, to describe the death of Augustus Caesar (1). However, Suetonius’ use of the word denoted a “gentle and natural or noninduced death” (3) as Augustus Caesar passed…

In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the line “Et tu, Brute?” stands out as one of the most famous lines in the play. The only problem, however, is that Julius Caesar did not say that line upon being stabbed twenty-three times. Although the play Julius Caesar seems quite credible, Shakespeare has indeed embellished a few parts of it. In the play, the character of Marc Antony does not correspond to historical texts; but the assassination of Julius Caesar in essence does stand validated with…

In this essay we shall discuss the Romans’ reaction to Greek culture whilst comparing their relations with other cultures. Therefore, it shall be necessary to consult both ancient and modern scholarship. In order to understand the Roman attitude to the Greeks we need to explore the various things which Rome absorbed from the Greeks into its own culture. Amongst these are the conflation of traditional Roman deities with their Greek counterparts, inspirations for literature and the social…

(Cowell P256) During Caesar 's dictatorship, the roman coins began to depict his head; previously only men of great power had appeared. Conspirators began to believe that Caesar wanted to become rex (king). Suetonius stated that “when they hailed him as king, "I am Caesar and no king.” (Suetonius) The previous Roman Republic was no more with Caesar having complete control of the empire. Conspiracy caused worry with the roman people as the previous roman monarchy was widely disliked; in an…

In what ways did the Julio-Claudians use traditional and foreign religion as a political tool? In this essay I will investigate the ways in which the Julio-Claudian dynasty used traditional Roman religion alongside foreign cults as political tools to legitimise their imperial role by emphasising divine heritage and by providing religious cohesion by conflating traditional Roman religion with aspects of foreign cults. I will use both ancient authors and modern scholarship to analyse the ways in…

Emperor Nero, infamously known as one of the most oppressive of the Roman emperors, came to power in 54 AD, with an extensive range of reforms. While Nero’s initial rule and reforms were immensely prosperous and popular, his rule soon degraded as negative influences, debauchery, and maliciousness, became his legacy. The reforms under the influence of Seneca and Burrus were exceptionally successful, however, without their guidance, Nero’s further reforms brought colossal amounts of chaos and…