Dionysius and the City of Rome: Portraits of Founders in the Roman Antiquities

In Dionysius and the City of Rome: Portraits of Founders in the Roman Antiquities, Beatrice Poletti examines how Dionysius of Halicarnassus portrayed legendary Roman characters for an empire-wide, Greek-speaking audience, serving his historiographical and pedagogical aims. Dionysius' history of Rome from the Trojan War to the First Punic War aimed to reconcile Greek intellectual opposition to Rome with Roman domination by demonstrating that the Romans were originally Greek and lived by Greek moral principles.

Format: Hardback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

In her book, "Dionysius and the City of Rome: Portraits of Founders in the Roman Antiquities," Beatrice Poletti delves into the portrayal of figures traditionally considered the founders of the political and religious institutions of Rome in the writings of Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Through a comprehensive analysis of these figures—Aeneas, Romulus, Numa Pompilius, L. Junius Brutus, and M. Furius Camillus—Poletti explores the role each played in the narrative development of the Roman Antiquities. By examining how Dionysius portrayed these legendary Roman characters for a Greek-speaking audience across an empire, she sheds light on his historiographical and pedagogical aims.

Dionysius' literary work stands as a significant milestone in the contemporary discourse surrounding Greek and Roman identities. Hailing from Caria, he spent over twenty years in Rome under the rule of Augustus (r. 31 BCE–14 CE), where he composed a comprehensive history of Rome, spanning from the aftermath of the Trojan War to the outbreak of the First Punic War. Dionysius' primary objective was to reconcile the Greek intellectual opposition to Rome with Roman dominance by demonstrating that the Romans were, in fact, of Greek origin and adhered to Greek moral principles. Furthermore, he intended his history to serve as an exemplary model, providing his readers with valuable insights into good leadership through the characters he created.

Poletti contextualizes Dionysius' project within the cultural and political landscape of Augustan Rome to highlight the extent of contemporary influences on his work. By examining the social, political, and cultural context of the time, she sheds light on the ways in which Dionysius' portrayal of the founders influenced the perception and understanding of Roman history and society among his Greek-speaking audience.

In conclusion, "Dionysius and the City of Rome: Portraits of Founders in the Roman Antiquities" by Beatrice Poletti is a valuable contribution to the study of ancient history and identity. Through her meticulous analysis of Dionysius' portrayal of the founders, Poletti provides a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between Greek and Roman cultures, as well as the historical and pedagogical aims of his literary work. This book offers valuable insights into the contemporary discourse surrounding Greek and Roman identities and is essential reading for anyone interested in the ancient world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793655066