In 20 BC, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso was placed on trial before the Roman Senate for the murder of Germanicus Caesar, the adopted-son and heir-apparent of the reigning Emperor Tiberius (Rome’s second emperor). Piso had been the governor of the Roman province of Syria when Germanicus was sent to exercise a special command in the East. Piso clearly hated the intrusion of a royal prince into his provincial command, and actively hindered Germanicus’ mission in the East. After Germanicus grew sick and died in Syria, Piso was prosecuted on several charges. Anticipating that he would be condemned, Piso committed suicide before the conclusion of the trial (this was not necessarily a sign of guilt—by committing suicide, he hoped to end the trial and thereby prevent his family from having to pay any penalty in the case of condemnation).
For centuries, our only account of this incident was contained in Tacitus’ historical work The Annals (2.59.1-3.19.3). In the mid-20th century, however, archaeologists found an inscription containing the actual senatorial decree that published the record and results of Piso’s trial to the Roman Empire. We thus have two sources for Piso’s trial—the original senatorial record of the trial (which was published immediately after the trial), and Tacitus’ description of the trial (which was written over a century later).
Read these two accounts carefully, comparing and contrasting the information they provide on the trial. Look for similarities and differences—what advantages and disadvantages does each type of source provide? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the original senatorial record? Of Tacitus’ historical account? Write a paper of 1,500 words discussing the results of your analysis of the sources. Your primary focus should not be on Piso’s trial itself, but on the way the two sources record and present the event. In other words, this is an analysis of the sources more than the event.
