Nature Of Sources Flashcards
Nature of Sources
Suetonius
Type of source
Biography (includes habits and appearance)
100 years after Aug. (No censorship)
Not Historian (doesnt delve too deep to resource)
Entertainment/Gossip
Nature of Sources
Suetonius
What discussed
Inclusion of others where Aug. Only speak of himself
|_> allows to question Aug. Monopolising claims
Nature of Sources
Suetonius
How ordered?
Not chronological
Difficult to get full image
Lack of development over time
Nature of Sources
Suetonius
Biased?
Hirtius and Pansa (adds fuel to fire) after Mutina
Entertaining as well as informing
Gives pros and cons
Nature of Sources
Suetonius
Reliability
Would have read Aug will
AD121 made Advisor to Hadrian
|_> dismissed in AD122 for neglect of duty
Experienced (12 Caesars)
Checked truth when possible
Access to Imperial Libraries
|_> controlled library
Nature of Sources
RG
Type of sources
Propaganda
|_> to public on bronze pillars of Mausoleum
Likely revised before death
Nature of Sources
RG
What discussed?
His own role
|_> SUET mentions others
A lot about Rome
|_> SUET wider image
Nature of Sources
RG
How ordered?
Not chronolgical
|_> difficult to get full image
Lack of development over time
Nature of Sources
RG
Biased?
Leaves out small details (NOTHING NEGATIVE)
|_> stops in 2BC
Twists truth ‘‘Senate enrolled me as consul’’
|_> truth marched on Rome in 43BC with 8 legions - 3 legions defected
Bound to be
Nature of Sources
RG
Reliability
Includes facts (but consider need to glorify)
Never reflects badly
Contemporary
