Tacitus, Tiberius, and the CE 17 Earthquake in Asia

Many people have heard of the Roman city Pompeii, and how it and sister city Herculaneum were destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in CE79. However, a select few know that in CE17 a worse natural disaster destroyed over twenty cities in the Roman province of Asia. That disaster: an Earthquake. Although the emperor Titus, who did not rebuild either Pompeii or Herculaneum, is usually credited with being a benevolent and likeable ruler, his predecessor Tiberius is often caricatured as stern, unpopular, and miserly. However, in this groundbreaking book, Dr Daryn Graham explores how Tiberius rebuilt scores of cities and towns damaged by the CE17 on a grand scale in a manner that outshines all other emperors of the first century. In doing so, Graham examines the text of Tacitus' Annals, presenting a new, solid case for when it was written by Rome's greatest historian. Suitable for reading by all Classical world enthusiasts, this pioneering book will challenge what we think we know about Tiberius, and Tacitus.

Dr Daryn Graham is a Classical historian and Bible scholar. He received his PhD in Ancient History from Macquarie University, Sydney, and has authored many historical articles for Ancient History and Theology journals and magazines, including Archaeological Diggings Magazine. He lives in Sydney, Australia.