Suelonius doesn'l sei up in De lIlia Cil eSi1rum a explieit opposition
hetween Easlern and Roman, hut between good and bad behaviors. Nevertheless Easlern
slereotypes sueh as despotism, corruption, voluptuous anel elfeminate eoneluet appear
naturally represented in the publie and private attitudes of the worst emperors. Some or
them seem to promote a model Ç' I" government that recalls the theocratic monarchy
characteristie or Hellenistic tyrants. ln spite or the gradual process of hellenisation in the
aristocratic Roman classes, the extravagances 01" Caligula and Nero beco me unacceptable
to the Roman mentality. ln what concerns religion, the biographer distinguishes the
ancient Greek cults, consecrated long ago by tradition, from the new imporlations, sueh
as Egyptian, Juelaic anel Christian believes. So when Suetonius rejects the introduction or
exotic habits he doesn't stress ethnic reasons but reveals a moralizing perspective based
on ancestral Roman mores.