Suetonius' Lives of the Caesars is one of the most important sources for the early days of the Principate. Suetonius includes all sorts of fascinating biographical details about the men he describes--along with plenty of sometimes unverifiable gossip and rumor.For Thursday's class, please read Suetonius' account of Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, or Nero. Pick a line that illustrates particularly well either the emperor's achievements or the way in which that emperor's life was a personal tragedy, or a tragedy for the people of Rome.
"One man proposed that the name of the month of August be transferred to September, because Augustus was born in the latter, but died in the former; another, that all the period from the day of his birth until his demise be called the Augustan Age, and so entered in the Calendar. But though a limit was set to the honours paid him, his eulogy was twice delivered: before the temple of the Deified Julius by Tiberius, and from the old rostra by Drusus, son of Tiberius; and he was carried on the shoulders of Senators to the Campus Martius and there cremated"
ReplyDeleteTheses lines demonstrates Augustus's achievements by how the Romans view him in all he did after he died. The people later called his time the(Augustan Age)and how the month of August is name after him. For the most of the people of Rome Caesar was popular among them so that is why they would do something of this nature for him once he died.
He devised a new form for the buildings of the city and in front of the houses and apartments be erected porches, from the flat roofs of which fires could be fought [This was undoubtedly after the great fire]; and these he put up at his own cost. He had also planned to extend the walls as far as Ostia and to bring the sea from there to Rome by a canal. During his reign many abuses were severely punished and put down, and no fewer new laws were made: a limit was set to expenditures; the public banquets were confined to a distribution of food, the sale of any kind of cooked viands in the taverns was forbidden, with the exception of pulse and vegetables, whereas before every sort of dainty was exposed for sale. Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition. He put an end to the diversions of the chariot drivers, who from immunity of long standing claimed the right of ranging at large and amusing themselves by cheating and robbing the people. The pantomimic actors and their partisans were banished from the city [Because of their disorderly conduct].
ReplyDeleteThis shows the achievements of Nero and all that he did for the Roman people while he was in office. It showed that he cared for the Roman people and wanted good things for them.
"Yet even at that time he could not control his natural cruelty and viciousness, but he was a most eager witness of the tortures and executions of those who suffered punishment, revelling at night in gluttony and adultery, disguised in a wig and a long robe, passionately devoted besides to the theatrical arts of dancing and singing, in which Tiberius very willingly indulged him,in the hope that through these his savage nature might be softened. This last was so clearly evident to the shrewd old man, that he used to say now and then that to allow Gaius to live would prove the ruin of himself and of all men, and that he was rearing a viper for the Roman people and a Phaethon for the world."
ReplyDeleteThis shows tradegy for the Roman people. Here they have a leader who not only makes people suffer but he also isn't of high morals. It's tragedy because Roman people are dying and they even call him the worst master. It's never good for the people being ruled when their leader is cruel.
Well I think it is pretty easy to mark Caligula as a tragety for the Roman People. There are several quotes that suggest he was a monster, especially the, "so much for Caligula the emperor: now we must tell his career as a monster," line. There is much to viewed as tragic here, especially starving people.
ReplyDeleteAside from that, as far as personal achievements go he seemed to be a very qualified politician, pre-monster. He threw huge events, gladiators, theatrical performences, "sometimes even at night, lighting up the whole city." I can't immagine that people wouldn't have loved him for things like this.
Jon Hepola
"He often appeared as one of the advisers at cases tried before the magistrates; and when they gave games, he also arose with the rest of the audience and showed his respect by acclamations and applause. When the tribunes of the Plebeians appeared before him as he sat upon the tribunal, he apologized to them because for lack of room he could not hear them unless they stood up. By such conduct he won so much love and devotion in a short time, that when it was reported that he had been waylaid and killed on a journey to Ostia, the people were horror stricken and with dreadful execrations continued to assail the soldiers as traitors, and the Senate as murderers, until finally one or two men, and later several, were brought forward upon the Rostra by the magistrates and assured the people that Claudius was safe and on his way to the city."
ReplyDeleteIn this line of the reading it seems that Claudius had a big impact on the people of Rome mostly in the lower class because he made it seem that they were as equal to him even though he was the emperor, but as being the emperor of Rome the high up people seem that he is really scared man who really didnt want to be or should even be the emperor and the tradey of his story is that he got killed by his own wife and she committed adultery against him.
"He even introduced a semblance of free government by maintaining the ancient dignity and powers of the Senate and the magistrates; for there was no matter of public or private business so small or so great that he did not lay it before the Senators."
ReplyDeleteThis shows that at least in the beginning of his rule, Tiberius tried to play by the old rules of the Republic, giving power to the Senators. However, he got progessively worse as he stepped into the role of emperor, and after his death many people "prayed to Mother Earth and the Manes to allow the dead man no abode except among the damned."
"...although Augustus had hardly yet recovered his strength after a severe illness, he followed over roads beset by the enemy with only a very few companions, and that too after suffering shipwreck, and thereby greatly endeared himself to Caesar, who soon formed a high opinion of his character over and above the energy with which he had made the journey."
ReplyDeleteI think this line shows the Augustus' achievements. Even at a young age he was a pretty good leader and others looked up to him, and trusted him. He was very determined as well which I believe is a good trait to have as a leader. Augustus had also gained respect from Caesar at the time who later adopted him; this is also a achievement especially when you take into account his age.
"...he little by little began to practice himself, neglecting none of the exercises which artists of that kind are in the habit of following, to preserve or strengthen their voices. For he used to lie upon his back and hold a leaden plate on his chest, purge himself by the syringe and by vomiting, and deny himself fruits and all foods injurious to the voice."
ReplyDeleteI picked this line from the life of Nero because I think it shows how little Nero paid attention to his people. Instead of running the empire he would spend his time singing and playing the lyre, even going to such extremes as mentioned above. I think this was both a tragedy for Nero and for the people of Rome. Nero began to waste his life and harm his body for his fruitless pursuit, and the people of Rome had to suffer an emperor who wouldn't rule. And to make it even more of a tragedy for the Romans, they had to listen to Nero perform in the theater. I'm not sure which was the worse tragedy for them.
John Rawerts
“Yet he did not remain throughout without experience of treachery, but he was attacked by individuals, by a conspiracy, and finally by a civil war. A man of the Plebeians was caught near his bed-chamber in the middle of the night, dagger in hand; and two members of the equestrian order were found lying in wait for him in public places, one ready to attack him with a sword-cane as he came out of the theater, the other with a hunting knife as he was sacrificing in the temple of Mars.” This line shows how tragic Claudius’ life was. During his time as emperor people were actively trying to assassinate and kill him. Also, at the time there were people who were trying to overthrow him.
ReplyDeleteEVERYONE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON TUESDAY!!!
ReplyDeleteYikes!!! What was up with Tiberius?
"Presently he broke out into every form of cruelty, for which he never lacked occasion, venting it on the friends and even the acquaintances, first of his mother, then of his grandsons and daughter-in-law, and finally of Sejanus."
These lines illustrate the personal tragedy of Tiberius. However, he brought most of his problems upon himself. He abused women, was constantly playing the "game" to the point that killing his opposition was no big deal.In fact he tortured and then killed a person that he had invited to Rome because Tiberius though the man was there to give testimony about the death of his son Drusus. Tiberius also allowed Rome to become leaderless when he just wandered off one day. When word of Tiberius's death reached Rome, the people celebrated.
Tiberius did have many military victories. His most impressive accomplishment may have been recovering the standards that Marcus Crassus had lost to the Parthians.
Tiberius may have been afflicted with some form of mental illness. His actions went from one extreme to the next.
EVERYONE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON TUESDAY!!!!!!!
Ruth Wilson
ReplyDelete"It seems to me worth while to give an account of several members of this family, to show more clearly that though Nero degenerated from the good qualities of his ancestors, he yet reproduced the vices of each of them, as if transmitted to him by natural inheritance."
This seems to sum up Nero's life pretty well. His forefathers did seem to be great in what they did, as did Nero... in the first bit of the story. Then he went down hill fast. Maybe he caught the siphalys! yea for std's making leaders crazy! ummm....that's a huge tragedy for Rome because the good stuff and all his ancestors only took up the first twenty or so points and there were 62. (I hope. Roman numerals arent my forte) It seems that making transvestites and seducing people were all in a good days work for Nero. How can ones country survive when the head is rotten, through and through? The begining of the end? Lets find out on the next episode of "The Young and the Emperor."
From Tiberius (LXI):
ReplyDelete"Not a day passed without an execution, not even those that were sacred and holy; for he put some to death even on New Year's day. Many were accused and condemned with their children and even by their children." and "The word of no informer was doubted. Every crime was treated as capital, even the utterance of a few simple words."
What a nightmare that must have been - so much for ever thinking that one would get a fair judicial hearing. Easy way to get even with somebody you had a problem with. Kind of brings to mind the Soviet Union (especially in the 1930s). No wonder his death brought so much happiness to the empire.
From Augustus "XXXVII. To enable more men to take part in the administration of the State, he devised new offices: the charge of public buildings, of the roads, of the aqueducts, of the channel of the Tiber, of the distribution of grain to the people, as well as the prefecture of the city, a board of three for choosing Senators, and another for reviewing the companies of the knights whenever it should be necessary. He appointed censors, an office which had long been discontinued. He increased the number of praetors. He also demanded that whenever the consulship was conferred on him, he should have two colleagues instead of one; but this was not granted, since all cried out that it was a sufficient offence to his supreme dignity that he held the office with another and not alone."
ReplyDeleteLooking at this quote it's obvious that Augustus was looking to improve the condition of Rome and take steps forward to ensure a better future for all Romans.
"He built many public works, in particular the following: his forum with the temple of Mars the Avenger [24 B.C.], the temple of Apollo on the Palatine [28 B.C.], and the fane of Jupiter the Thunderer on the Capitol [22 B.C.]."
ReplyDeleteAlthough there were many more works constructed during this time, I think that one of the great achievements was building temples that worshiped the Gods. These, hopefully, would help the Romans reclaim some of their lost virtus.
"at last the memory of his mother caused him hatred"
ReplyDeleteNero's hatred toward his mother along with other things in his life caused caused him to become paranoid and vindictive. this caused great distress for the people of rome and since he could not trust anyone he went on a reign of terror thbat can rival any other in history.
This passage about Nero's beginnings shows how his life's foundations were laid to be a personal tragedy.
ReplyDelete"Yet he gave no slight attention to liberal studies from his earliest youth, and even published frequent specimens of his attainments in each line. But even so he could not attain any public position or inspire more favorable hopes of his future. His mother Antonia often called him "a monster of a man, not finished but merely begun by Dame Nature"---; and if she accused anyone of dullness, she used to say that he was "a bigger fool than her son Claudius." His grandmother Augusta [Arkenberg: i.e., Livia] always treated him with the utmost contempt, very rarely speaking to him; and when she admonished him, she did so in short, harsh letters, or through messengers. When his sister Livina heard that he would one day be emperor, she openly and loudly prayed that the Roman people might be spared so cruel and undeserved a fortune."
This kind of treatment must surely have caused him to feel animosity towards his family as well as suffer personal issues throughout his career.
Then, beginning with a display of filial piety, he gave Claudius a magnificent funeral, spoke his eulogy, and deified him. He paid the highest honors to the memory of his father Domitius. He left to his mother the management of all public and private business. Indeed, on the first day of his rule he gave to the tribune on guard the watchword "The Best of Mothers," and afterwards he often rode with her through the streets in her litter. He established a colony at Antium, enrolling the veterans of the Praetorian Guard, and joining with them the wealthiest of the chief centurions, whom he compelled to change their residence; and he also made a harbor there at great expense.
ReplyDeleteWhen Claudius died, it had a great effect on Nero and who he was a person. It was important for him to give this display of filial piety.
"He devised a new form for the buildings of the city and in front of the houses and apartments be erected porches, from the flat roofs of which fires could be fought [This was undoubtedly after the great fire]; and these he put up at his own cost. He had also planned to extend the walls as far as Ostia and to bring the sea from there to Rome by a canal. During his reign many abuses were severely punished and put down, and no fewer new laws were made: a limit was set to expenditures; the public banquets were confined to a distribution of food, the sale of any kind of cooked viands in the taverns was forbidden, with the exception of pulse and vegetables, whereas before every sort of dainty was exposed for sale. Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition. He put an end to the diversions of the chariot drivers, who from immunity of long standing claimed the right of ranging at large and amusing themselves by cheating and robbing the people. The pantomimic actors and their partisans were banished from the city [Because of their disorderly conduct]."
ReplyDeleteI believe that this helped rome with the fighting of house or City fires, looked to bring in more fresh water for the citizens, and helped reduce the crime that afflicted the city and that all helped to atleast make Rome itself more liveable