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For instance, Julius Caesar loved the art of debate, particularly that of philosophy. Nero was a talented musician, often giving concerts that lasted for hours (Suetonius, p.117). These glimpses into the lives of the rulers gives them a human side, which tends to balance the unscrupulous deeds throughout the rest of the book. Suteonius treats the emperors harshly, spending much time documenting their brutality.
In some cases, Suetonius provides a balanced account, highlights successes with failures, and misdeeds with kindness. In other cases, he is clearly against the leader, as with the case of Caligula. Surprisingly, Suetonius includes one account where he has nothing bad to say. Apparently, the short life of Titus was a fine example of humanity. If one were to form an opinion-based entirely on Suetonius, it would appear that he considered Julius Caesar to be the most successful of the Roman Emperors. He spends more time on Caesar than on any other ruler. His goes into more intimate depth of character with him as well and highlights what he did for the Empire. Nero would be the ultimate loser, as Suetonius has absolutely nothing good to say about him.
Hidden within Suetonius's descriptions, we learn about Roman myth and superstition. In many of the accounts, Suetonius provides a laundry list of omens that would foretell the fate of the ruler. This early form of foreshadowing allows the reader to explore the role that fate played in Roman...
The belief in pre-destiny comes out in Suetonius's descriptions and histories, particularly prophetic dreams right before an assassination.
The Roman leaders consult with oracles many times throughout the work, providing a glimpse into Roman theology and superstition. At the time of the writing, this practice would not have seemed strange. These practices were a part of daily life. Suetonius is more interested in the results of the oracle and what it foretold, than in the actual practice of consulting an oracle itself. Through this work, the reader discovers that superstition, myth, and religion play a significant role in Roman politics throughout the period covered.
Suetonius provides readers with insight that is not typically found in histories of the time. His account appears to be biased in some respects, presenting only favorable or unfavorable facts of the time. However, one must remember that his accounts are derived from rumor and gossip of the time. Therefore, they stand as a testimony of sociological dialogue of the time. This work provides the reader with a unique account of the history and the manner in which it affected people of the time.
Works Cited
C. Suetonius Tranquillus. The Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Loeb Classical Library. 1913. Online with original pagination preserved at http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Julius*.html. Accessed October 21, 2008
Works Cited
C. Suetonius Tranquillus. The Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Loeb Classical Library. 1913. Online with original pagination preserved at http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Julius*.html. Accessed October 21, 2008
Roman view of Christianity Early Christianity did not develop in isolation, but within a complex landscape already occupied by belief systems, social networks, systems of identity, and political institutions, and it is essential not to regard it 'as somehow independent, as if the church were an entity existing apart from Christians living in particular times and places. Such a treatment neglects how the history of Christianity was influenced and shaped
Conventional literature would come to see Cleopatra as an exploitive whore, responsible for the downfall of virtuous men like the Ptolemies, Julius Caesar and, inevitably, Marc Antony as well. So is this reported by historical accounts such as that by Cassius Dio who reflected that "Indeed she so enchanted and enthralled not only Antony but all others who counted for anything with him that she came to entertain the hope that she would rule the
high degree of misinformation I had received from traditional teachings about the church and the beginning of Christianity. Moreover, I was struck by the notion that most other people in the Western world receive this same degree of intentional misinformation, so much so that I have even heard people defend the idea that knowledge of the historical church is irrelevant to modern Christianity. Reading through the class material, I
shape and to create our modern world? The modern world was shaped by a range of events and powerful people. One of the first most influential people was Clovis. Clovis was the founder of the Merovingian dynasty of Frankish kings, and one who defeated the Roman rule in Gaul along with defeating a range of Germanic people, creating the kingdom that is known as France nowadays. Most notably, it was
Anthony Blond in his book A Scandalous History of the Roman Emperors (New York: Carroll & Graf, 2000), a book originally published in 1994, the author seems to have written a history of Rome for the current tabloid age, though in truth, the Roman Emperors lived that sort of life and were not shy about letting the world know it. The book is both a history of the Emperors and
Spear of Destany The history of civilization is full of legends and myths that have cut across cultural barriers and are nowadays some of the most well-known stories related to the old times of religion and civilization. One of these myths include, among others, the Holy Graal, the Shroud of Turin, or the Spear of Destiny, both of them linked to the life and death of Jesus Christ. The present research provides