SOURCE: Bellemore, Jane. “When Did Valerius Maximus Write the Dicta et Facta Memorabilia?” Antichthon 23 (1989): 67-80.

In the following essay, Bellemore presents internal and external evidence to suggest that Valerius's Memorable Doings and Sayings was written near the beginning of Tiberius's reign, circa 14 to 16 a.d., rather than at its end.

There can be no doubt that Valerius Maximus completed the Dicta et Facta Memorabilia during the reign of Tiberius (a.d. 14-37), although he refers to this emperor only in general terms, as ‘Caesar’, for example, in the preface to the work or, more usually, as princeps. Despite the fact that Tiberius is not named as such, there are references that note his status as ruler of Rome. First, it is made clear by Valerius that Augustus is dead,¹ and, in addition, there are two specific exempla that show that Tiberius is the current princeps.

In exemplum 2.9.6, there...