Open AccessThe campaigning soldier: Vitellius’ entry into Rome
Author(s) -
A. T. Fear
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
emérita/emerita
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.116
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 1988-8384
pISSN - 0013-6662
DOI - 10.3989/emerita.1995.v63.i1.352
Subject(s) - emperor , contrast (vision) , ancient history , philosophy , history , literature , art , computer science , artificial intelligence
Tacitus’ account of Vitellius’ triumphal entry into Rome is used by the author to underline his disapproval of this emperor. However the historian’s description of the Vitellian army has often been seen as positive and in sharp contrast to that given to the emperor himself. This article attempts to show that on close inspection Tacitus’ account is equally hostile to the emperor’s troops and that his disapproval is reinforced by his dwelling upon the colour of their uniforms and the varied associations this would have had in the Roman mind