Cassius Dio

Lucius (or Claudius) Cassius Dio (/ˈkæʃəs ˈdiːoʊ/; alleged to have the cognomen Cocceianus;Greek: Δίων Κάσσιος Κοκκηϊανός Dion Kassios Kokkeianos, c. AD 155–235), known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio, was of Greek origin, Roman consul and noted historian who wrote in Greek. Dio published a history of Rome in 80 volumes, beginning with the legendary arrival of Aeneas in Italy; the volumes then documented the subsequent founding of Rome (753 BC), the formation of the Republic (509 BC), and the creation of the Empire (31 BC), up until AD 229. The entire period covered by Dio's work is approximately 1000 years. Of the 80 books, written over 22 years, many survive into the modern age, intact, or as fragments, providing modern scholars with a detailed perspective on Roman history.

Biography

Dio was the son of Cassius Apronianus, a Roman senator, and he was born and raised at Nicaea in Bithynia. Byzantine tradition maintains that Dio's mother was the daughter or sister of the Greek orator and philosopher, Dio Chrysostom; however, this relationship has been disputed. Lucius is often identified as Dio's praenomen, but a Macedonian inscription, published in 1970, reveals the abbreviation, "Cl.", presumably Claudius. Although Dio was a Roman citizen, he wrote in Greek. Dio always maintained a love for his hometown of Nicaea, calling it "his home", as opposed to his description of his villa in Italy ("my residence in Italy").

Cassius Dio (consul 291)

Cassius Dio (fl. late third century) was a Roman senator who was appointed consul in AD 291.

Biography

Cassius Dio was either the grandson or great-grandson of his namesake, the historian Cassius Dio, whose family originated in Bithynia. He was appointed consul posterior in AD 291 alongside Gaius Junius Tiberianus at quite a young age. This was followed by a posting as Proconsular governor of Africa from approximately 1 July 294 to 1 July 295. Then on 18 February AD 296, he was appointed Praefectus urbi of Rome, a position he held until AD 297.

Cassius Dio owned a house on the Palatine Hill called the Domus Dionis. At some stage, he and 12 other senators each contributed 400,000 sesterces, probably for the construction of a building.

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