Some Archaic Themes Present in Trebellius Pollio and in Flavius ​​Vopiscus

Abstract

The analysis of many of the references to the ancient Republican past contained in the last lives of theHistoria Augustareveals that the unknown biographer was familiar with this context, even though, however, he was not very interested in it. His frequent allusions to specific episodes and events were mostly taken from Cicero and Livy, and were intended to colour the story and often to raise its tone, more often also with the aim to confuse and amaze the reader through multipleioca. Among other things, also the events of the alleged censorship of Valerianus and the hypothetical interregnum after Aurelianus’ death are focused on.