personal life Flashcards
What did he create at Capraea
at Capraea mapped himself a private play house. Sexual extravagance
Bevies of girls and toy boys. dressed as pans and nymphs posted around the island “Caprineum” (caprinus, goatish, goats sexual appetite)
Evidence of his paranoia
- Forbade anyone to consult haruspices, except openly and with witnesses present.
- Attempted to suppress all oracles but desisted for fear of the power shown by the Praestine lots
- Assigned provinces to certain men of consular rank, not daring to send them out detained them in Rome till their successors had been appointed (paranoia)
what made his uneasiness of mind worse
A perpetual stream of reproaches from all sides aggravated his uneasiness of mind.
- Every one of his condemned victims cursed him to his face
when his victims cursed him to his face he would
Sometimes he laughed and deliberately publicised it, sometimes he was ashamed and tried to hide it
Artabanus’ letter
Artabanus king of Parthia sent a letter of murdering family, slaughtering innocent people, neglecting duties, indulging his lusts. Asked to commit suicide as soon as convenient.
By the end of his reign he was
Thoroughly disgusted with himself
Why did he say in his letter to the senate (at the end of his reign)
“may all the gods and goddesses in heaven bring me to an even worse damnation than I now daily suffer”
Why did he refuse the title Father of his country
His skill in divination of the hatred and ill repute he would come into led him to Refuse the title Father of His Country and that of them swearing an oath to approve in advance whatever he did or said. He knew he would be unworthy of such honours, he had said do not bind yourself to approve a man’s every action “for what if something were to change that man’s character”
“If you ever feel doubts about… My devotion to you - but may I die before that happens! - the title of Father of His Country will not recompense me for the loss of your regard”
his appearance
- strongly and Heavily built
his shoulders and chest were broad
His body perfectly proportioned from top to toe
Handsome,more sh complexioned face, occasional rashes of pimples
Remarkably large eyes, could see in the dark when first opening them after sleep, would disappear after 1/2 minutes.
Stiff stride,neck poked forward
Excellent health
mannerisms
Left handed, so strong he could poke in a newly plucked Apple, wound the skull of a young man with a flick
Spoke with great deliberation and eloquent movements of the fingers
religion
Lacked any deep regard for the gods or religious scruples.
His belief in astrology persuaded him the world was wholly ruled by fate.
interests
Deeply devoted to Greek and a Latin literature
Writing lyric poems and Greek verses
Researched mythology to a ridiculous extent, questioning Grammatici
His use of Greek and LAtin
Spoken Greek fluently
In the senate he stuck to latin
Ordered a soldier asked in greek to give evidence on oath must answer in Latin or not at all
Deeply devoted to Greek and a Latin literature
Writing lyric poems and Greek verses
rarely left Rome
First two years of his reign did not once step out of Rome, then only to nearby towns (occasionally and never for long).
Often announced he would make a tour of the provinces and inspect the troops. Every year he made all the preparations but never going.
(provinces never got to see him)
his young officer nickname
As a young officer such a hard drinker Tiberius Claudius Nero -> Biberius Caldius Mero (bibere, hot, merum,unmixed)
