Episode 49. Pharsalus and Its Aftermath: Caesar Against the Republic, Part Two

Works CitedPrimary SourcesAppian. Civil Wars, Book II. Continuous narrative of the civil war; a useful supplement to Caesar's own account.Anonymous. Bellum Alexandrinum (Alexandrian War). Continuation of Caesar's Civil War, possibly by Aulus Hirtius; the primary source for the Egyptian campaign.Caesar. Bellum Civile (Civil War), Books I–III. Caesar's own account of the civil war through Pharsalus and its immediate aftermath. Use with awareness that Caesar is his own most careful propagandist.Cassius Dio. Roman History, Books XLI–XLII. Narrative spine for the period.Plutarch. “Life of Brutus,” chapters 1–6. Brutus at Pharsalus and his pardon by Caesar.Plutarch. “Life of Caesar,” chapters 38–48. The essential biographical account of the Greek campaign, Pharsalus, and the Egyptian war; Plutarch's portrait of Caesar at Pharsalus is the fullest we have.Plutarch. “Life of Pompey,” chapters 65–80. The essential source for Pompey's perspective through Pharsalus and his death at Pelusium.Suetonius. Divus Julius, chapters 30–68. Character details including Caesar swimming in the harbour and the purple cloak.Secondary SourcesGoldsworthy, Adrian. Caesar: Life of a Colossus. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2006. The best modern military biography; essential for Dyrrachium, Pharsalus, and the Alexandrian siege.Holland, Tom. Rubicon. Little, Brown, 2003. Excellent popular narrative of the late Republic and civil war.Schiff, Stacy. Cleopatra: A Life. Little, Brown, 2010. The best modern biography of Cleopatra; invaluable for the Ptolemaic court and the Egyptian campaign.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/real-roman-history/donations