Dio's Impressions Of The Relationship Between Antony And Cleopatra
Part 1 Cleopatra
What impression does Dio give of the relationship between Cleopatra and Antony, and how does this impression relate to other Roman attitudes found in the chapter?
The portrait of Cleopatra overpowering and enslaving Antony in their relationship was a constant subject in the Roman sources. (Fear, 2008 p. 10) Dio’s impression of Cleopatra and Antony’s relationship was that “she had laid him under some spell and deprived him of his wits.” (Scott-Kilvert, 1987a) Dio pictures Antony as being charmed and spellbound by her, the activities described in the extract reveals that Antony was like a shadow of a manly and disciplined Ruler of Rome, he has embraced foreign and immoral way of life and became bewitched by Cleopatra. Dio strongly bases his impression on other artists of that time picturing Cleopatra with Antony as the goddesses …show more content…
The behaviour of Cleopatra and Antony described in the extract such as “she was saluted by him as ‘queen’ and ‘mistress’” or she “rode with him on horseback even in the cities or else was carried in a litter, while Antony followed on foot” brings no doubt that he, Dio, believed that Cleopatra enslaved Antony and this relationship was fatal to Antony’s rulership over Rome.
The attitudes of other Romans towards the relationship between Cleopatra and Antony was clearly similar to the impression given by Cassius Dio. Burstein (2004 pp. 65 – 66) reveals that Roman image of Cleopatra originated in the fierce campaign Octavian started against her as part of his preparation for his war against Antony. His propaganda of her relationship with Antony became the key for the negative and judgemental impression of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. The two themes that
What impression does Dio give of the relationship between Cleopatra and Antony, and how does this impression relate to other Roman attitudes found in the chapter?
The portrait of Cleopatra overpowering and enslaving Antony in their relationship was a constant subject in the Roman sources. (Fear, 2008 p. 10) Dio’s impression of Cleopatra and Antony’s relationship was that “she had laid him under some spell and deprived him of his wits.” (Scott-Kilvert, 1987a) Dio pictures Antony as being charmed and spellbound by her, the activities described in the extract reveals that Antony was like a shadow of a manly and disciplined Ruler of Rome, he has embraced foreign and immoral way of life and became bewitched by Cleopatra. Dio strongly bases his impression on other artists of that time picturing Cleopatra with Antony as the goddesses …show more content…
The behaviour of Cleopatra and Antony described in the extract such as “she was saluted by him as ‘queen’ and ‘mistress’” or she “rode with him on horseback even in the cities or else was carried in a litter, while Antony followed on foot” brings no doubt that he, Dio, believed that Cleopatra enslaved Antony and this relationship was fatal to Antony’s rulership over Rome.
The attitudes of other Romans towards the relationship between Cleopatra and Antony was clearly similar to the impression given by Cassius Dio. Burstein (2004 pp. 65 – 66) reveals that Roman image of Cleopatra originated in the fierce campaign Octavian started against her as part of his preparation for his war against Antony. His propaganda of her relationship with Antony became the key for the negative and judgemental impression of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. The two themes that