HI202 ROMAN HISTORY: November 17, 2004

Encountering Caligula, Claudius and Nero

Caligula (Gaius Iulius Caesar Germanicus)

• born in 12 CE, son of Germanicus and Agrippina, grandson of Drusus (brother of Tiberius) and Antonia the Younger, and thus great-grandson of Livia and Mark Antony on his father’s side; on his mother’s side, Caligula he is the grandson of Marcus Agrippa and Julia, and so the greatgrandson of Augustus.

Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus)

• born in 10 BCE, brother to Germanicus and uncle to Caligula.

Nero (L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, then Tiberius Claudius Nero Caesar, then Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus

• born in 37 CE, son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger (sister to Caligula)

If you could have dinner with Caligula, Claudius, or Nero,

• What would you ask him?
• What would you say to him, in terms of praise or scorn?

If you were Caligula / Claudius / Nero,

• How would you characterize yourself?
• How would you defend your actions throughout your life, and in particular during your principate?

Six groups:

• Interrogators of Caligula, Claudius, and Nero (3)
• Role-players: Caligula, Claudius and Nero (3)