The Emperor Caligula in the Ancient Sources

Caligula, a Roman emperor, has had a significant impact on the popular imagination, but an accurate reconstruction of his life and reign largely eludes us due to the quality of the source material. This book presents the raw material of ancient sources with over 300 translated passages, accompanied by extensive introductions and notes, to help non-specialist readers navigate contradictory and incredible material and gain a more sophisticated understanding of how scholars reconstruct events of the past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Caligula, the Roman emperor who ruled from AD 37 to 41, has left an indelible mark on the popular imagination. Despite the abundance of historical sources available, a comprehensive and accurate reconstruction of his life and reign remains elusive. This paradoxical situation arises from the quality of the evidence rather than its quantity. While ancient accounts offer vivid and entertaining narratives, they often lack a strict adherence to historical truth and can verge into fiction. Consequently, modern historians face significant challenges when presenting details without questioning their reliability.

Conducting a traditional biography of Caligula is an insurmountable task, as it can only be a subjective interpretation of a vast and often inconsistent body of material. This leaves the serious general reader in a predicament. This book aims to provide a fresh perspective by presenting the reader with the raw material of ancient sources. Over 300 translated passages of texts, drawn mainly from ancient writers but also from coins and inscriptions, are provided. These passages are accompanied by extensive introductions and notes tailored to the non-specialist, aimed at assisting such readers in navigating the often contradictory and extraordinary material. While the colorful and exotic incidents that characterized Caligula's life remain, they are presented within a context that helps the reader gain a more sophisticated understanding of how scholars attempt to reconstruct historical events.

By adopting this approach, the book seeks to bridge the gap between the general reader and the specialized academic discourse. It aims to provide a comprehensive and accessible account of Caligula's life and reign, while also offering insights into the methods and challenges of historical reconstruction. Whether you are a casual history enthusiast or a scholar seeking to deepen your understanding of this intriguing period, this book offers a valuable resource for exploring the life and legacy of Caligula.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198854579