Must be one of them fucking miracles, huh?
Caligula, Herod the Great and Nero have one thing in common. The only writings we have about them are by their enemies. In all 3 cases, these were popular leaders who had the backing of the commons but either quickly lost (Nero and Caligula) or never had (Herod) the support of the nobility.
There were no popular rebellions against any of them. In fact, when Herod died there were revolts against his sons taking over for him and they had to be installed at the point of a sword. The Caesars of the Julio-Claudian dynasty understood that they needed to keep the city mob happy and they did so through bread and circuses. But they got their money from the upper classes and the provinces. Herod seems to have had the benefit of the lower classes supporting him because his construction projects employed great numbers and made them less dependent on the nobility.
So, when ancient historians write stuff about Caligula screwing his sister or making his horse a senator I recall that these calumnies are being written by members of the class that Caligula was demanding money from. Could they be true? Yes. Could they be fictitious. You bet your ass. There is no way to know.
Quote:Caligula was sadistic and certainly possessed traits of a socio-path.
Caligula, Herod the Great and Nero have one thing in common. The only writings we have about them are by their enemies. In all 3 cases, these were popular leaders who had the backing of the commons but either quickly lost (Nero and Caligula) or never had (Herod) the support of the nobility.
There were no popular rebellions against any of them. In fact, when Herod died there were revolts against his sons taking over for him and they had to be installed at the point of a sword. The Caesars of the Julio-Claudian dynasty understood that they needed to keep the city mob happy and they did so through bread and circuses. But they got their money from the upper classes and the provinces. Herod seems to have had the benefit of the lower classes supporting him because his construction projects employed great numbers and made them less dependent on the nobility.
So, when ancient historians write stuff about Caligula screwing his sister or making his horse a senator I recall that these calumnies are being written by members of the class that Caligula was demanding money from. Could they be true? Yes. Could they be fictitious. You bet your ass. There is no way to know.
