This study uses Voyant tools to conduct a digital textual analysis of Tacitus' Annals, combining computational methods with traditional close reading to examine Tacitus' starkly contrasting portrayals of Tiberius and Nero. The analysis focuses on patterns in moral and political vocabulary, utilizing frequency trend charts, word clouds, and keyword context visualizations to reveal how Tacitus employs evaluative language within his narrative. The findings align with existing scholarship: Tiberius is portrayed as restrained and ambivalent, while Nero receives increasingly harsh criticism. Simultaneously, digital evidence uncovers subtle shifts imperceptible through close reading alone—such as the gradual diminishment of moral praise in later accounts of Tiberius and occasional echoes of republican ideals within Nero's biography. These findings demonstrate how digital tools can complement traditional philological methods, deepening our understanding of Tacitus' rhetorical strategies while offering fresh perspectives for broader discussions in Roman historiography and digital classics. 

Haojiong Cui. A Digital Analysis of Tacitus’ Annals Using Voyant Tools. The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 98-103. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSST.2026.080114.

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[2] Ronald Syme, Tacitus, 1958, Oxford University press.

[3] Rockwell, G., & Sinclair, S. Hermeneutica: Computer-Assisted Interpretation in the Humanities. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2016.