Latest news with #Suetonius
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Caligula was a ‘madman' – but he also knew his plants, researchers say
A new study suggests the notoriously cruel Roman emperor Caligula possessed knowledge of medicinal plants, particularly hellebore. The research, from Yale Ancient Pharmacology Program, re-examines an anecdote from Suetonius's The Twelve Caesars concerning Caligula's understanding of ancient pharmacology. The study highlights Antikyra, a Greek spa town, as the " Mayo Clinic of the Roman world", renowned for its hellebore treatments for conditions like epilepsy and mental illnesses. Researchers propose that Caligula's interest in hellebore may have stemmed from his own suspected struggles with epilepsy and insomnia. Study author Trevor Luke said Caligula is often 'dismissed as a madman' for his erratic and tyrannical behaviour, but 'he very likely knew something about hellebore and pharmacology in general'.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Notoriously cruel Roman emperor may have been a plant nerd, archaeologists find
The notoriously cruel Roman emperor Caligula may have been quite knowledgeable about medicinal plants, a new study suggests. Emperor Gaius, nicknamed Caligula, was the third ruler of the Roman Empire from 37AD until his assassination in 41AD. Surviving records of the tyrant's short reign hint that he indulged in an extravagant lifestyle of megalomania, sadism and sexual perversion. A new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, suggests that the dictator may have been familiar with the pharmacology of ancient times. 'He's dismissed as a madman, perhaps rightly so, but we show he very likely knew something about hellebore and pharmacology in general,' Trevor Luke, an author of the study from the Yale Ancient Pharmacology Program, said. Researchers assessed a brief anecdote about Caligula originally reported by historian Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars. The second century collection of biographies of Roman rulers provides evidence that 'Caligula, while a tyrant, was more knowledgeable about medicine than has been previously understood'. The text tells the story of an unnamed Roman senator suffering from an unspecified ailment who takes a leave of absence to the Greek spa town of Antikyra, hoping his health would improve with treatment using the flowering plant hellebore. But when the senator asks Caligula to extend his leave, the emperor has him executed, quipping that 'a bloodletting was necessary for one whom hellebore had not benefited in all that time'. The study by Yale researchers sheds new light on the passage, providing context about Antikyra's place in the Roman Empire and Caligula's familiarity with plant medicines. "Our work suggests that Antikyra functioned as a kind of Mayo Clinic of the Roman world – a place where affluent and influential Romans visited for medical treatments not widely available elsewhere," Andrew Koh, another study author, explained. "It was known for hellebore treatments and little else. It's an example of ancient medical tourism. Roman bigwigs travelled there for treatments the same way that the rich and powerful visit Rochester, Minnesota, to avail themselves of the latest medical techniques and therapies available at the Mayo Clinic,' Dr Luke said. Antikyra, on the Gulf of Corinth in the Phocis region of central Greece, was famed for its association with unique hellebore treatments for epilepsy and mental illnesses. Texts point to two varieties of the plant – white hellebore for treating afflictions of the head and black hellebore for clearing the bowels. The port town was renowned for the perceived efficacy of special hellebore potions used to treat melancholy, insanity, epilepsy, and gout. Since the term "hellebore" was used to reference various plants, examining the plant's historical uses has been difficult. Researchers suspect the spa town held personal appeal to Caligula as historical records hint that he likely suffered from epilepsy and insomnia that Antikyran potions were believed to cure. 'It's possible that Suetonius is wrong and Caligula wasn't ordering the man's execution but simply prescribing an alternative treatment that he had read about or knew from his own experience," Dr Luke said.
Ammon
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Ammon
2,000-year-old book about Roman emperors enters bestseller charts
Ammon News - A gossipy account of the lives of Roman emperors has entered the bestseller charts – 2,000 years after it was written. Sex scandals and foreign policy failures don't only beleaguer the modern politician, it turns out: in the early second century, the scholar Suetonius chronicled the dramas of the first set of Roman emperors, and now, their indiscretions and eccentricities have been dug up in a new translation which is proving popular in bookshops. The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius, translated by Tom Holland. The Lives of the Caesars, translated from Latin by The Rest Is History podcast co-host Tom Holland, made the Sunday Times hardback nonfiction chart this week. Publisher Penguin Classics said that the book is the first of their hardback nonfiction classics to appear on the list. The book is a collection of 12 biographies covering the rule of Julius Caesar and the first 11 Roman emperors. On hearing that it was in the charts, Holland was 'delighted for Suetonius, to see the lad is capable of getting on the bestseller list after two millennia'. The book, published on 13 February, comes 18 months after ancient Rome became the centre of a major internet pop culture moment, when women began asking men how often they think about the Roman empire, and posting their responses online. However, 'it's also partly because our understanding of power derives from Rome more than anywhere else'. The US 'Republican system was modelled on that of ancient Rome, but the [Roman] Republic ended up becoming an autocracy, and so in America, there's always been this anxiety that a Republican system of government may end up an autocracy, and I guess that at the moment, that anxiety has a particular salience.' Suetonius wrote The Lives of the Caesars, commonly known as The Twelve Caesars, in the early second century AD during the reign of Hadrian. 'I think the reason that it's always been popular is the fact that it is full of the most sensational gossip. It is kind of ancient Rome's Popbitch. It is full of scandal, and extraordinary detail, but it is also very psychologically astute,' says Holland. 'It has the quality of a very highbrow gossip column.' 'Had there been bestseller lists in second-century Rome, Suetonius's Lives of the Caesars would undoubtedly have been on them,' said Stuart Proffitt, publishing director at Penguin Press. Holland says the reach of The Rest Is History will have helped the book's sales. The podcast released four episodes on Suetonius and the same month had 17.5m downloads. Holland cites several reasons for the continued fascination. Rome has 'always' been the ancient civilisation that people in Britain and the west have been most interested in, partly because Britain was part of the Roman empire, and the English alphabet is Latin. 'We feel closer to the Romans, perhaps, than we do to the Egyptians or the Assyrians.' The Guardian
Euronews
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
2,000-year-old Roman gossip book makes UK bestseller charts
Who knew ancient Roman emperors could be so relatable? In 'The Lives of the Caesars', written by the scholar Suetonius in the second century, we're treated to juicy tales of political missteps, outrageous sex scandals, and eccentric behaviours, all chronicled with a remarkable eye for detail. Now, 2,000 years after it was first penned, this sensational gossip fest is making waves again, thanks to a new translation by Tom Holland - co-host of 'The Rest Is History' podcast - not the Hollywood actor. This version of the classic, published on 13 February, has landed on the Sunday Times' hardback nonfiction bestseller list, marking a major achievement for Penguin Classics, which notes that it's the first time one of their hardback nonfiction classics has appeared on the chart. Holland thinks the book's popularity has something to do with its timely themes. 'Our understanding of power derives from Rome more than anywhere else,' he told The Guardian. "The US Republican system was modelled on ancient Rome [...] there's always been this anxiety that a Republican system may [also] end up as an autocracy.' Suetonius's 'The Lives of the Caesars' (aka The Twelve Caesars) offers us vivid and often gossipy portraits of the first 12 Roman emperors, from Julius Caesar to Domitian. It's a absolute page-turner, with Holland describing it as 'ancient Rome's Popbitch,' due to its salacious details and sharp psychological insights. 'Had there been bestseller lists in second-century Rome, Suetonius's book would undoubtedly have been on them,' says Stuart Proffitt from Penguin Press. The book's release comes 18 months after ancient Rome was thrust into the pop culture limelight, thanks to that all-important social media post that went viral: how often do men think about the Roman empire? Holland believes we're so fascinated by Rome because of its long-lasting influence on Western society: "We feel closer to the Romans, perhaps, than we do to the Egyptians or the Assyrians," he explains. So, next time you're reaching for a book, here's one that has stood the test of time.
The Guardian
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
2,000 year old book about Roman emperors enters bestseller charts
A gossipy account of the lives of Roman emperors has entered the bestseller charts – 2,000 years after it was written. Sex scandals and foreign policy failures don't only beleaguer the modern politician, it turns out: in the early second century, the scholar Suetonius chronicled the dramas of the first set of Roman emperors, and now, their indiscretions and eccentricities have been dug up in a new translation which is proving popular in bookshops. The Lives of the Caesars, translated from Latin by The Rest Is History podcast co-host Tom Holland, made the Sunday Times hardback nonfiction chart this week. Publisher Penguin Classics said that the book is the first of their hardback nonfiction classics to appear on the list. The book is a collection of 12 biographies covering the rule of Julius Caesar and the first 11 Roman emperors. On hearing that it was in the charts, Holland was 'delighted for Suetonius, to see the lad is capable of getting on the bestseller list after two millennia'. The book, published on 13 February, comes 18 months after ancient Rome became the centre of a major internet pop culture moment, when women began asking men how often they think about the Roman empire, and posting their responses online. Holland cites several reasons for the continued fascination. Rome has 'always' been the ancient civilisation that people in Britain and the west have been most interested in, partly because Britain was part of the Roman empire, and the English alphabet is Latin. 'We feel closer to the Romans, perhaps, than we do to the Egyptians or the Assyrians.' However, 'it's also partly because our understanding of power derives from Rome more than anywhere else'. The US 'Republican system was modelled on that of ancient Rome, but the [Roman] Republic ended up becoming an autocracy, and so in America, there's always been this anxiety that a Republican system of government may end up an autocracy, and I guess that at the moment, that anxiety has a particular salience.' Suetonius wrote The Lives of the Caesars, commonly known as The Twelve Caesars, in the early second century AD during the reign of Hadrian. 'I think the reason that it's always been popular is the fact that it is full of the most sensational gossip. It is kind of ancient Rome's Popbitch. It is full of scandal, and extraordinary detail, but it is also very psychologically astute,' says Holland. 'It has the quality of a very highbrow gossip column.' 'Had there been bestseller lists in second-century Rome, Suetonius's Lives of the Caesars would undoubtedly have been on them,' said Stuart Proffitt, publishing director at Penguin Press. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion Holland says the reach of The Rest Is History will have helped the book's sales. The podcast released four episodes on Suetonius and the same month had 17.5m downloads. He compared the process of translating Suetonius' work to a marriage. 'You spend a long time, a long period with someone who you think you're going to enjoy the company of, so it's always good to discover that actually you do.'
