Let Others Know

We remember the Roman empire for its advanced civilization given the technological backwardness of the time where it subsisted. Their amphitheaters, arches, public baths….

Hey ho! Wait a minute! let’s not talk about all that, shall we? Let’s explore something “not-so-flattering”, or rather should I say captivating(it depends upon the mindset), aspect of the Roman empire. Cause you never know with the next person. Hell you could be sitting next to a psychopath and not know about it until you feel that cold metal. Ha, jokes aside today we’re going to present the most singular and the most notorious emperors that Rome ever produced!

Nero(54-68 AD)

Nero is mostly notorious for the burning of Rome in 64 AD (which certain claim that Nero himself provoked) to be able to better construct the city from its ashes, like a phoenix, if we will. And to clear his name off the record, he blamed the Christians for having caused the fire and persecuted them by throwing them to wild animals, crucifying them, or burning them. The conflagration engulfed a large part of the city and led to the deaths of thousands of its inhabitants. He didn’t tolerate opposition; he repressed it with iron hands. But what is most troubling among the numerous assassinations of political opponents, senators, and relatives is the murder of his own mother, Agrippina! There are many movies depicting Nero, one of which is Quo Vadis.

Caligula( 37-41 AD)

Every man pretending to be a god or a descendant of god has something going on about him—something not usually pleasant. Such was the case with Caligula. Caligula, after he held the title of emperor, was overwhelmed by its immensity and the power that came with it. So much so that he urged to be venerated as the god ‘Jupiter’. He dressed like him and used to offer carnal services in the name of Jupiter. Contemporaries of Caligula describe him as “insane, self-absorbed, short-tempered, murderous, profligate, and sexually voracious.”. He was a madman to have thrown an entire row of audience members into the jaws of wild beasts just to amuse himself. And of course, let’s not forget the inappropriate audiences he held with his elder sisters and even with his brother-in-law! There is a Netflix series on Caligula called Roman Empire.

Commodus(180-192 AD)

Commodus was a man of his time. He was certainly mean, but at this rate, almost no reign was without a stain. Commodus was a big narcissist. He liked to boast about his physique, which was immaculate, according to sources. He was handsomely built, which led to his vanity of thinking of himself as Hercules( deja vu?). He also fought like Hercules, almost. He would dress up as Hercules and step into the arena himself. He won all of his fights because his opponents would all surrender to him. He used unfair means to win against his opponents. According to a contemporary account, individuals who had been maimed or amputated were taken to the arena and tied together to resemble a giant, so that Commodus, believing himself to be Hercules, could slay the giant and later boast about his achievement( Machiavellian!) He also killed animals in the same manner. Once, he killed 100 lions in a single day! Another rather gut-turning incident was recorded by the historian Aelius Lampridius: Commodus had a steward thrown into an oven because the water where he was supposed to have his bath was lukewarm! Commodus has been well portrayed in the film Gladiator.

Conclusion

These are just some of the names that tend to appear at the top because history has been uncompromising with them. Maybe it is that some facts have been exaggerated or falsified, but when a certain tale gets written over and over again for the umpteenth time changes are inevitable. Now, to conclude their personality at such a depraving state is unfair because- -to err is human. There might have been an other side to the coin, there always is! But we are fond of slanders, aren’t we ?