Roman Dig Backs Ancient Writers' Portrait of Megalomaniac Caligula

Ruins reveal ruler extended palace into Forum temple. British and American archaeologists digging in the Roman Forum said yesterday they had uncovered evidence to suggest that the emperor Caligula really was a self-deifying megalomaniac, and not the misunderstood, if eccentric, ruler that modern scholars have striven to create.
Comments on article "Roman Dig Backs Ancient Writers' Portrait of Megalomaniac Caligula"
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Caligula As an amateur Caligula historian or hobbyist, I disagree with some of what is said of the emperor. I do agree with the findings of this latest dig that suggest Caligula expanded the palace. I'm not sold on some of the stories, such as making his horse consul. I do believe Caligula, if really said that, was trying to make a point to the senate, which he openly detested. Agree or disagree, evidence suggested that Caligula's two historians were not particularly fond of him, or at least his reign and because they wrote so many yrs after his reign, there was plenty of time for false stories, rumors and misleading stories of the 3rd emperor to sort fact from fiction. The truth is, most of what was written "truthfully" of the emperor has been lost, and may never be recovered. If you read alot of history books on Roman emperors, youll see a pattern of not a lot of info when it comes to Caligula. All say the same, crazy, mad, slept with his sister, strangled emperor Tiberious to become emperor, horse to consul, buggered all the women, made senators' wives' prostitutes, and so on and so forth. What we do know is he started off a great emperor, then fell very ill, and was never the same after recovery. He once wore Alexander The Greats armor and rode across the bay of naples to make a point to a doubter that he'd ever become emperor. He exausted the treasury and almost bankrupted Rome. He had two huge party boats (one was found years ago) he did proclaim himself and his sister Drucilla gods, and was murded by his own guard beause he kept company more so with his Germanian counter parts then his own Practorian guard, something future emperors tried to bare in mind. 7/31/2008
courtney morin I really think that caligula was crazy, i mean he made his horse a lawyer what is the horse going to do speak neigh! for GUILTY like wow thats kinda creepy but i also think nero was kinda creepy killing his wives and mom but caligula is waaay creepier! 5/20/2008
tasheikya i need somthing about caligula and his ruling and, achievements.
11/26/2007
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