Abstract: This paper seeks to explore the quality traits that Tacitus deemed important in an emperor in the emerging Roman Empire through analysis of Books 11-16 of his Annals. Throughout Books 11-16, Tacitus recounts the reigns of both Claudius and Nero, elucidating their flaws and often pointing to their shortcomings as rulers. The influence of both…Continue reading Fortitude, Honor, and Wisdom in Roman Emperors (Abby Holland, 2018)

Abstract: During the final Julio-Claudian reigns, many Romans took their own lives; some were forced by imperial decree, others by shame. This paper examines not only the circumstances behind many of the suicides in Tacitus’s Annals but also the attitudes Tacitus expected Romans to hold concerning them. How one meets suicide is of utmost importance. Tacitus overwhelmingly…Continue reading Cutting Their Veins: Suicide & Shame in Tacitus’s Annals (Gray Wood, 2018)