Cassius Dio's Julia Domna: Character Development and Narrative Function

Abstract

This paper examines how and why Cassius Dio portrayed Julia Domna in the manner that he did. Dio consistently depicts Julia as foreign and power-hungry, a portrait that appears to be driven by his analysis of the later Severan regime. Julia serves as a link between the two halves of the dynasty, a claim that runs counter to the official line of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander. The later Severan house, seen by Dio as foreign and dominated by powerful female figures, informs his portrayal of Julia Domna and shows a continuity of analysis throughout the final books of his history.