The last of the Suetonius Caesars. (To review . . . Caesars I &II, III, IV, V, VI, VII-IX, X-XI) Domitian “At the beginning of his reign, Domitian would spend hours alone every day doing nothing but catching flies and stabbing them with a needle-sharp pen.” “Throughout every gladitorial show Domitian would chat, sometime in [...]

Vespasian He was once pelted with turnips in Africa. Omen he would become emperor #1: A stray dog once “picked up a human hand at a cross-road” and brought it into the room where Vespasian was having breakfast. Omen he would become emperor #2: An ox burst into the room where Vespasian was eating. No [...]

Vespasian He was once pelted with turnips in Africa. Omen he would become emperor #1: A stray dog once “picked up a human hand at a cross-road” and brought it into the room where Vespasian was having breakfast. Omen he would become emperor #2: An ox burst into the room where Vespasian was eating. No [...]

Some short-timers . . . Galba Lasted 7 months. He liked to watch tightrope-walking elephants. Otho Lasted 95 days. He used a poultice of moist bread to prevent the growth of his beard. Vitellius Lasted less than a year. He dedicated a dish to Minerva. The recipe called for pike livers, pheasant brains, flamingo tongues [...]

Nero He expelled mimes from Rome. He inflicted punishments on the Christians, “a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief.” He sang and played the lyre for the hordes. No one was allowed to leave the theatre during Nero’s long performances. Women gave birth during them. People feigned death in order to be taken [...]

Gaius (Caligula) He erected a shrine to himself, with a golden image that priests dressed every day in clothes identical to the ones he was wearing. He complained that there no were disasters. He feared the prosperity of his reign would lead to it being totally forgotten. He often prayed for a “great military catastrophe, [...]

Before my trip to Italy a couple of years ago, I re-read The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius. Written . . . sometime between AD 119 and 140. That Suetonius! He cracks me up. Now we begin the Suetonius series. Today we explore caesars I & II: Julius Caesar His health was sound, “apart from sudden [...]