Agrippina atrox ac ferox - Tacitus’ depiction of Agrippina minor in the Annals

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject History - World History - Early and Ancient History, grade: A, Indiana University, language: English, abstract: Agrippina the younger seems to fascinate not only for modern authors or movie makers, but also ancient writers and artists. Not only was Agrippina minor widely used as model for statues or images on coins, she also used to play often a major role in the stories of ancient authors like Tacitus, Suetonius or Cassius Dio. She stands out in the description of those authors, characterized mainly as evil and greedy for power, interfering the businesses of the emperors and therefore totally un-female, if not even totally male in her character. The paper covers biographical facts as well as Agrippina’s depiction in literary sources, her relations to the emperors of her family as well as her commemoration on coins. Furthermore, Agrippina’s actions, especially her political actions are described and the impact which they had on Roman society and on her characterization by Tacitus.