Dio Cassius: Roman History May 2026

: 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.

: Exist mostly as sparse fragments or summaries (epitomes). Dio Cassius: Roman History

: His political thought often leans on Stoic principles, advocating for a "republican spirit" of cooperation between the princeps and the Senate rather than a return to a pure Republic. Structure and Survival : Dio frequently critiques the shift from merit-based

: The LacusCurtius site hosts the English translation by Earnest Cary, originally published in the Loeb Classical Library . Structure and Survival : The LacusCurtius site hosts

: Nearly complete; these cover the critical period of 65 BCE to 12 BCE, detailing the collapse of the Republic and the rise of Augustus.

Dio's work is traditionally divided into 80 books, though only a portion survives in its original form.