The political philosophy of Dio Chrysostom

The paper deals with Dio Chrysostom’s political orations to figure out his attitude to kingship, tyranny and others forms of government. The content analysis of the discourses reveals which virtues of the king are considered the most important. Constructing the image of the ideal king, Dio used such mythological and historical examples as Heracles and Alexander the Great. Dio tried to influence the emperor Trajan to make the ruler follow the advices of wise men. The political thinking of Dio Chrysostom can’t be referred to the definite philosophical doctrine as he took his ideas from different teachings (Socrates and his successors, the Stoics, the Cynics, and Homer as well) and adopted them to the modern political situation in the Roman Empire.