Request a Tutorial

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

: Exist mostly as sparse fragments or summaries (epitomes).

: The Internet Archive provides digitized versions of all 9 Loeb volumes for in-depth study. Cassius Dio — Epitome of Book 73

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.

: 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.

: 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.

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

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