Caligula: Paranoia and Brutality in Ancient Rome
Caligula: Paranoia and Brutality in Ancient Rome
Known as Rome's most capricious tyrant, Caligula, was said to have proclaimed himself a living God before building vast bridges and killing half the Roman elite on a whim. The son of a great military leader, his personal and fiscal excesses led him to be the first Roman emperor to be assassinated. In this film, Mary Beard reveals a more intriguing portrait of not just the monster, but the man.
Known as Rome's most capricious tyrant, Caligula, was said to have proclaimed himself a living God before building vast bridges and killing half the Roman elite on a whim. The son of a great military leader, his personal and fiscal excesses led him to be the first Roman emperor to be assassinated. In this film, Mary Beard reveals a more intriguing portrait of not just the monster, but the man.
Related Titles
Related Articles
View All
The 5 Most Visited Places in Rome – and the Strangest Facts about Them
The five most visited landmarks in Rome may not surprise you, but these little-known facts about some very well-known places certainly will. Take another look the Colosseum, the…
When in Rome? 3 Roman Bad Guys and Human Nature
The Roman empire gave the world architectural and engineering feats like the Colosseum and aqueducts. Additionally, their intellectual contributions continue to shape how we think…
Who Killed Julius Caesar & Why Was He Betrayed?
Julius Caesar altered the course of the Roman republic, yet the greatest impact he had came about in the aftermath of his assassination in 44 BCE. His death would change the…
Sex and Violence in Rome: Caligula’s Empire and the Salacious Rumors that Built It
Caligula was Rome’s third emperor, and the first to be assassinated. While the start of his reign was full of promise, he soon lost support as he became increasingly erratic,…
Nero’s Revenge: Rethinking Rome’s Most Depraved Emperor
Known for “fiddling” while Rome was in flames, Nero is the model for depraved autocrats. Sifting through the lurid details, historians now depict a more complex man. He was…
Crossing the Rubicon: Brutal Role Models Influenced Julius Caesar’s Rise to Power
When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BCE, the fate of the Roman Republic had already been sealed. Rome’s representative government had been crumbling for decades. And…
The Long Strange Story of Search: From Ancient Scrolls to Digital Books
Libraries have been around for more than 2000 years. And so has the problem of organizing and searching written knowledge. While Google’s search is impressive, it owes much to the…
Why Does the Western New Year Start January 1? Credit Rome
January 1 starts the new year in most parts of the world, but why is this so? How did the Western calendar develop, and what are the meanings of the months? We go back to the days…
How Alexander Became Great: From Child of Zeus to God of Egypt
Alexander entered Egypt in 332 BCE, liberating it from the Persians and advancing his ultimate goal of conquering the entire Persian Empire. In the process, he transformed Egypt,…