Tragic Elements in Dion 55.2 and Brutus 36.7

Abstract

According to Plutarch, the daimon which appears to Dion and announces to him his imminent death looks as a Tragic Erinys (Dion 55.2). Plutarch says also that a vision which identifies itself as “your evil daimon” appears to Brutus, just before the battle of Philippi, to announce to him his death (Brutus 36.7). We find this last motive also in Caesar. This paper focuses on the similarities between these episodes which announce the death to Dion and Brutus in a similar way, establishing intertextual links between these Lives. Secondly, I’ll pay attention to the relationship between these texts and the tragedy.