Module 10

How did Agrippina die?

she was stabbed in the womb by members of the praetorian guard, on Nero's order The historians preserve a number of variations on the death of Agrippina, but the basic story seems to be that Nero supposedly staged some sort of shipwreck (made sure the boat she was traveling in would fall apart). Agrippina survived but realized Nero was trying to kill her. She tried to make peace with him, but failed. Back at Rome, her death was presented as Nero protecting the state from a traitor. Only later, after the Fire of 64, did Nero's detractors accuse him of matricide.

What was Nero's password for the Praetorian Guard, according to Suetonius?

"best of mothers" Suetonius reports this as Nero's password with the Praetorian Guard, an indication of his close relationship with his mother at the start of his reign.

Which of the following statements best characterizes Claudius's attitude towards the assassins of his nephew Caligula?

"forgive and forget" Claudius was eager to move past the uncomfortable circumstances of his elevation to the office of princeps. Thus, we are told, he encouraged Romans to "forgive and forget" and depicted himself as repressing the urge to exact vengeance for his nephew's murder.

For how long was Vitellius emperor?

8 months Having defeated Otho, Vitellius became emperor in April of 69 CE. He was defeated and killed by Vespasian's troops in the following December, concluding his 8 month rule.

What event is depicted in the painting below?

Agrippina returning to Italy with the ashes of Germanicus This painting shows Agrippina bringing the ashes of Germanicus back to Italy from Syria, where he died in 19. Agrippina is portrayed a religiously devout, with her head covered; and as a grieving mother, surrounded by her six young children. The pathos of the painting is high.

In his guise as an artist and performer, with what Roman god does Nero identify himself?

Apollo Nero identified closely with Apollo, the god of the lyre and other performing arts.

Domitian took on this title

Dominus et deus "Master and god." By taking on this title, he put himself far over the Roman people. rather than almost on par with them, as Augustus implied when he called himself primus inter pares (first among equals). He also implied that he had control over the people as a master has over his slaves, rather than being the leader of the Roman people (as demonstrated with the titles principes or imperator).

Which emperors were subjected to an official damnatio memoriae ("destruction of memory")? Mark all correct:

Domitian Although Nero's memory was eventually tarnished, he was not subject to an official order of damnatio.

What is the main point of the Suetonius passage above?

Domitian was a sexual deviant Along with Cassius Dio, Suetonius depicts Domitian negatively with the typical tropes of a bad emperor. In this excerpt, though, Suetonius shows Domitian to be exceptionally lustful, as is a typical characteristic of bad emperors.

What role did Egypt play in Vespasian's rise to power?

Egypt declared its support for Vespasian, and threatened to withhold the grain supply from Rome Remember that the prefect of Egypt declared his support for Vespasian after his troops declared him emperor. This was a key strategic victory for Vespasian and went a long way to securing for him the imperial throne.

Why was it significant that Vespasian was able to gain the loyalty of the prefect of Egypt?

Egypt supplied Rome with a substantial amount of grain. If Egypt were to withhold this grain supply, Rome would suffer a famine. The prefect's actions had the intended effect of pressuring the Roman senate and people into supporting Vespasian.

Which of the following was NOT one of the Julio-Claudians?

Galba (Tiberius, Claudius, Nero) The term Julio-Claudian refers to the family dynasty founded by Augustus. It included him and his successors: Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.

Select the answer choice that lists the 4 emperors of 69 CE in the order of their reigns.

Galba - Otho - Vitellius - Vespasian

Why did the Praetorian Guard switch their allegiance from Galba to Otho?

Galba did not reward the praetorians sufficiently for their loyalty By this point, the loyalties of the Praetorian Guard could be bought (much as was the case with the military recruits from Marius onward in the later Roman Republic). Galba was unwilling to reward their loyalties, however, so they switched their allegiance to Otho, another Roman senator (and ex-husband of Poppaea).

How does Otho's presentation of himself and his reign differ from Galba's, at least in the surviving coinage?

Galba relies on military imagery, himself as a soldier. He also invokes the title of Pontifex Maximus, Chief Priest. Otho, on the other hand, uses the imagery of pacification and emphasized that, under him, Rome is now at peace once again. He emphasizes continuity with Nero's reign while Galba emphasizes discontinuity.

In your view, why did the Roman Senate appoint a 70 year old Galba as the next princeps? Why not a younger man? What does their choice of Galba tell us about the Senate's priorities at this time?

Galba was "one of them", first of all. In addition, the Julian and Claudian families were still powerful forces in the Senate and Galba had ties to the clan. The Senate may also have looked at Galba as a temporary fix, as a placeholder until a longer-term solution could be found.

Match the emperor with the group who elected him.

Galba: Senate Otho: Praetorian Gaurd Vitellius: The troops in Germany Vespasian: The troops in the eastern provinces

With what personified Roman virtue did Claudius advertise the birth of his son Britannicus to the Roman people?

Hope (Spes) He used the goddess Hope, whom he termed Augustan Hope--a reference to the role of the emperor in providing for the future security of the Roman Empire by producing a successor and heir.

What is the significance of Claudius advertising his connection to the Roman virtue of libertas, as he does in the previous spacer? What do you think "Augustan Liberty" means? Isn't this an oxymoron? Your Answer:

In a real way, he is appropriating the Republican virtue of libertas for the Principate, but re-defining it as the form of libertas that existed under Augustus. This is not quite the virtue for which Cato the Younger killed himself. It shows Claudius doing a very Augustus-like thing: appropriating a Republican concept or practice to his own ends.

To whom was Poppaea married when she started an affair with Nero?

Otho Poppaea was married to Otho, who would end up as one of the emperors in the year 69.

Why was Otho angry that Galba named a certain Piso as his successor?

Otho wanted to succeed Galba Otho had accompanied Galba from the western provinces, believing that he would soon succeed the old man as Rome's emperor. Galba betrayed him when he named Piso as his successor.

Briefly characterize Otho's connection to Nero and the imperial family.

Otho was Nero's favorite, although their relationship was awkward owing to Nero's love for Poppaea (who was technically Otho's wife). After Nero's death, Otho continued Nero's legacy by calling himself Nero Otho and honoring Nero's memory.

With what foreign state did Nero conduct diplomatic relations in 64 CE? Mark all correct.

Parthia Nero negotiated a peace arrangement between the Roman province of Armenia and the foreign power of Parthia. Parthia had long been a thorn in Rome's side, particularly after Rome took over the administration of Armenia. Nero was able to negotiate an arrangement by which a Parthian ruled as king of Parthia but had to come to Rome to be approved. After this diplomatic victory, Nero became very popular in the Eastern provinces.

Whom did Agrippina the Elder accuse of murdering her husband, Germanicus?

Piso, the governor of Syria Germanicus died young and under mysterious circumstances in Syria. Agrippina accused the governor, Piso, of having conspired against her husband.

Briefly compare the Victory coin of Otho to that of Vitellius. What is the most apparent difference? To what do you attribute this difference?

The primary difference is Otho's claim of the victory for himself while Vitellius claims it on behalf of the Roman people. Otho already had the support of the Roman people (at least in Rome). Vitellius was attempting to win it.

What was the rallying cry of Vindex for his troops? What is the significance of this in the broader context of Roman history from Julius Caesar-Nero?

The rallying cry was "Freedom from the Tyrant!" Once again we see the concepts of libertas and tyranny invoked to justify a revolution. Remember as well how the Senate tried to invoke this rhetoric after Caligula's death, to no avail.

How did Nero join Claudius' imperial family? With what arrangement did Claudius mark Nero out as the leading heir over his biological son, Britannicus?

The short answer is that Nero's mother, Agrippina, engineered the succession of her son. She married Claudius and pushed for Nero to be made his heir; the official reason, more or less, was that Britannicus was too young to rule (Nero came to power at age 16). Nero was married to Claudius' daughter, Octavia, which sealed the deal. Supposedly, at the time of his death Claudius was talking about changing his will to make Britannicus his successor as emperor.

How do our ancient sources shape our opinion of Nero and Agrippina? Do you think there is any way at getting at the "truth" of their relationship?

The sources are extremely hostile towards Nero and Agrippina both. This makes it extremely difficult to get at any kind of objective truth about their relationship. We can turn to other kinds of evidence, like coins. But, in the case of this relationship, it is very difficult to do anything but speculate about the truth of their relationship -- including, even, whether Nero actually killed his mother.

Briefly describe how Vespasian portrays himself with regard to the city of Rome in the two coins in the previous spacer. What role does he take on for himself? What role does Rome play?

Vespasian carefully avoids any imagery that would remind Romans that he came to power in a civil war. His triumphal imagery is reserved for his victory over Judaea. When it comes to Rome, Rome herself is the victor; but, as the first coin illustrates, Rome requires Vespasian's assistance to get back on her feet.

Who destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem?

Titus Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Jewish Temple during the reign of his father, Vespasian. This is commemorated by a relief in the Arch of Titus, which shows soldiers carrying away a menorah.

Look at the this passage from Suetonius, on the witty sayings of Vespasian. Why did Vespasian tell Titus pecunia non olet ("money doesn't smell")?

Titus thought it was disgusting to tax urine, but Vespasian explained that money was money. Vespasian is known for his infamous urine tax. This quotation is mentioned in Suetonius. See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecunia_non_olet

There was a destructive and bloody civil war in Rome in 69/70 CE.

True Although Vespasian remained in the East, his forces and those of Vitellius fought a destructive war in Rome itself. Among the many casualties were the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill. Much of Rome, which had not yet recovered from the Fire of 64, was seriously damaged during the fighting.

Nero's Domus Aurea had a dining room that rotated and featured a ceiling painted with stars and planets.

True Among other things, the Domus Aurea was a marvel of modern engineering, especially in its creative use of concrete. It was certainly elaborate, but was also meant to be a masterpiece of Roman engineering genius.

Romans believed that virtues and vices could be passed down from father to son, like a genetic trait.

True As Suetonius indicates, there existed the view that virtues and vices were genetic traits. Of course, a descendant could pervert the virtue or overcome the inherited vice--DNA wasn't destiny.

Suetonius suggests that Caligula had an incestuous relationship with his sisters.

True Caligula was close to his sisters and rumors circulated that they were more than just siblings.

Claudius demonstrated clementia towards Caligula's assassins.

True Claudius urged forgiveness towards Caligula's assassins. Recall that clementia was a virtue of Julius Caesar's (demonstrated towards those who had fought against him in the Civil War against Pompey).

Most of Vesuvius's victims were killed by the poisonous air rather than directly by the ash or lava flow.

True Contrary to the cinematic representation of the eruption in the film Pompeii, most victims were smothered, unable to get enough oxygen from the poisonous air.

Galba highlighted his connections to the Julio-Claudian family.

True Galba adopted the titles of Caesar and Augustus in his official name. He also took on the role of Pontifex Maximus and identified himself as such, just as the Julio-Claudians had done.

Domitian saw himself as a second Augustus and was interested in restoring morality.

True He appointed himself as censor in order to restore morals.

After the Senate turned against him, Nero escaped Rome in the guise of a slave, but was forced to reluctantly commit suicide.

True Instead of the noble mode of death by suicide, he was a coward who tried to escape. Then he had difficulty putting his dagger through his heart and needed a slave to help him. All this according to Suetonius, of course.

Claudius regularly sought the opinion of the Senate on various matters.

True Somewhat to the surprise and concern of the Senate, Claudius regularly sought their opinion on matters of empire. They weren't quite sure what to make of this and suspected him of dissimulation.

Suetonius traced Nero's negative traits to his father's side of the family.

True Suetonius begins his biography of Nero by tracking the vices apparent in his paternal lineage. Supposedly, his father's family was filled with men who engaged in debauchery, criminal activity, and acting, just like Nero was.

Caligula liked to have conversations with Jupiter Optimus Maximus's cult statue in his temple on the Capitoline.

True Supposedly Caligula talked to Jupiter Capitolinus (Jupiter's cult statue in his temple on the Capitoline). He whispered to him and sometimes yelled at him. This detail is clearly included by Suetonius as evidence of Caligula's madness.

Caligula completed and dedicated a Temple to Divine Augustus.

True This task was begun but never finished during Tiberius's long Principate. Caligula took it on as part of his demonstration of piety in the early days of his reign.

Vespasian was a novus homo, or "new man."

True Vespasian's family were equestrians. He was the first in his family to aspire to a political career. His family members were tax collectors and tradesmen.

What divinity does the figure shown on the reverse (right) side of the coin (pictured below) represent?

Vengeance (Nemesis) The winged figure is Nemesis, or vengeance. She comes to represent repressed vengeance, or vengeance not carried out, because of the inclusion of the winged caduceus (rod) and the dedication To Augustan Peace. Claudius is advertising his preference for peace over vengeance and (possibly) war--as happened when Octavian sought vengeance for Caesar's assassination.

This person was sent to quell Vindex's rebellion.

Verginius Rufus Verginius Rufus was sent to quell Vindex's rebellion. He was successful, but then his troops attempted to proclaim him emperor. He refused, but this set a precedent for things to come.

All of the following emperors were at some point on bad terms with the Roman Senate except:

Vespasian Caligula, after his decline, actively alienated the Senate by doing things like making his horse consul (in mockery). Nero alienated the Senate with his populist measures and was declared enemy of the state. Domitian alienated the Senate in similar ways and suffered damnatio memoriae after his death.

How did Titus come to power?

Vespasian named Titus as his heir Vespasian wanted to start a new dynasty through the Flavian line, so he named his son, Titus, as his heir. Upon his death, Titus inherited Vespasian's role as princeps without incident. This was the kind of succession that Augustus had hoped to have but did not because he outlived all of his potential successors!

Who defeated Otho in Northern Italy (at Bedriacum) to become the next emperor?

Vitellius Otho had only been in power for three months when he was defeated by Vitellius in the northern Italian city of Bedriacum. Otho committed suicide after his defeat.

What happened to establish Vitellius as the sole emperor of the Roman Empire?

Vitellius defeated Otho in civil war Vitellius defeated Otho in a civil war in Northern Italy, at the Battle of Bedriacum. It was the first time Roman soldiers had clashed on Italian soil in over 100 years.

Given the unreliability of written historical accounts of emperors like Tiberius and Caligula, what can we do to try to recover a more objective history of their reigns?

We can turn to other sources of evidence, including coins and architecture. We can also do critical readings of the historical accounts to attempt to tease out the pure invective and to separate the acts of the emperors from the historians' negative interpretations of those acts.

The construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre was paid for with:

funds from the conquest of Judaea It's initial construction, at least, was funded by the wealth taken from Judaea after Titus's sack of Jerusalem. In this respect, the Amphitheater was a kind of triumphal monument, similar to Pompey's theater or a triumphal arch.

Which of the following are provisions that Caligula made to honor the memory of his mother Agrippina the Elder? Mark all correct:

games in the Circus, annual sacrifices, a carriage to carry her image in a procession Suetonius tells us that Caligula ordered annual sacrifices, Circus games, and for her image, perhaps a statue, to be carried in a carriage in a procession.

Concordia means:

harmony

In rehabilitating and honoring the memory of his deceased mother, Agrippina the Elder, what Roman virtue was Caligula displaying?

pietas Pietas was an important virtue for the Roman emperors (you will see Domitian behaving similarly after the death of Titus). By showing such devotion to his family, he encourages Romans to see that he will also treat them with similar concern. Pietas is perhaps best exemplified by Aeneas when he carried his ailing father out of burning Troy on his back.

According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, the Senate called upon the notion of libertas after Caligula's assassination. What earlier political murder is this reminiscent of, and in what ways?

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius proclaimed that libertas was restored to the Roman people. They painted Caesar as a tyrant under whom the people did not have the freedom of free speech without punishment. In proclaiming the return of libertas after Caligula's death, the Senators were referencing his tyranny. This also hints at the desire for the end of the principate and the return of a Republican form of government.

In the early years of his reign, Caligula issued coins that connected him to which of the following people? Mark all correct.

Agrippina the Elder, Germanicus, Augustus Caligula made good use of coins to advertise his connections to Augustus as well as to remind his subjects of his illustrious parentage. He also made an effort to rehabilitate the memory of Agrippina after Tiberius had slandered her. These acts showed him embracing the Roman virtue of pietas, devotion to family and fatherland.

Briefly explain how a marriage to Agrippina the Younger would help Claudius strengthen his connections to the Julian side of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

Agrippina the Younger was the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder. Thus she was a direct descendent of Augustus through her grandmother Julia. Augustus was her great-grandfather.

Why was Nero sent to live with an aunt when he was very young (3 years old)?

Agrippina was exlied by Caligula Agrippina was sent into exile by Caligula in the same year that Nero's father died (39 CE). Nero lived with his aunt for two years, until Claudius recalled Agrippina and other exiles to Rome at the start of his reign.

Who were Nero's three guides early on in his reign?

Agrippina, Burrus, Seneca Nero's advisors were his mother Agrippina, his tutor, the Stoic philosopher, Seneca; and the Praetorian prefect, Burrus. Despite their close relationship to Nero, two of the three of these advisors died under suspicious circumstances.

Who of the following was still alive in 66 CE? Mark all correct:

All of these people were dead by 66 CE (Octavia, Agrippina, Petronius, Poppaea, Burrus, Seneca, Lucan) By 66 CE, Nero had managed to kill nearly everyone he had once trusted, including two wives, his mother, and his former tutor Seneca. Burrus died, probably of natural causes, in 62 CE.

From your reading of Josephus, how does Josephus view Titus?

Although Josephus was Jewish, he wound up having a close relationship with Titus. And he must have greatly respected him. He shows him as being a fair and just ruler in this passage and in other occasions.

What message(s) do you think Galba is trying to send by circulating a coin with this iconography (i.e. these images)?

As above, he is highlighting his role in bringing the provinces of Spain and Gaul, in particular, into line. One of the main tasks for all emperors after Nero (and, really, after Augustus) was effective management of the Roman provinces. It is interesting that Galba uses the non-specific "provinces" here when he clearly did not not have the support of, especially, the Eastern provinces.

Which previous emperor did Nero cite as his model?

Augustus In the early years of his reign, Nero was said to have modeled himself on Augustus. Augustus is also a prominent model in Seneca's De Clementia.

These emperors celebrated the Secular Games (Ludi Saeculares). Mark all correct:

Augustus, Claudius Claudius celebrated the Secular Games, as Augustus had done in 17 BC--even though it technically was not yet time to do so. Remember that they were normally celebrated to mark a new saeculum (or every 110 years). Claudius held a special games to commemorate the 800th birthday of the foundation of the city in 753 BC.

Which emperors gave equestrians especially prominent roles in their administrations? Mark all correct:

Augustus, Vespasian Augustus was the first to really tap into the utility of the equestrian class, especially as businessmen and bureaucrats. Also recall that Vespasian himself was an equestrian who rose to prominence through his military achievements under previous emperors. Caligula, Claudius, and Nero tended to prefer to use freedmen--though Vespasian was promoted to higher offices by all three of these emperors.

Is there any meaningful difference between how Agrippina and Messalina are depicted in these statues? How do their representations in these statues contradict the way that ancient historians and biographers have portrayed both women?

Both statues portray the women as pious Roman matrons -- they are both wearing head coverings. Messalina is shown holding baby Britannicus, representing her role as a mother. These statues stand in contrast with the representations in literature, which make Claudius' wives out to be scheming, immoral women, who used him to increase their own power.

Otho's suicide is reminiscent of which other "political suicides"? Mark all correct:

Brutus, Cato the Younger Otho's suicide by stabbing is very similar to the earlier suicides of two republican heroes: Cato the Younger and Brutus. In his deliberation and Stoic approach to death, he also echoes the suicide of Nero's tutor Seneca (as well as that of the poet Lucan). Otho's suicide is presented in noble terms.

Who delivered the eulogy for Tiberius at his funeral?

Caligula According to Cassius Dio, it was delivered by Caligula. No details about it are provided. This is significant in that the eulogy was generally delivered by an important male relative and heir. Tiberius had previously delivered the funeral oration for Augustus, as you read in Module 9.

Domitian's assassination was most similar to whose?

Caligula Domitian, like Caligula, was stabbed by the Praetorian Guard. However, he was stabbed in the groin...

Who were Tiberius' two heirs upon his death?

Caligula, Gemellus Tiberius named two heirs: his grandson, Gemellus, and Caligula, who had spent a considerable amount of time with him in Capri. Caligula was able to become the sole heir (and had Gemellus executed) for several reasons: he was popular by virtue of his family line; Tiberius himself was so unpopular; and Gemellus at 18 was still quite young.

Which emperor's reigns are characterized by starting out very well and ending badly? Mark all correct.

Caligula, Nero Both Caligula and Nero are portrayed as being very promising leaders whose reigns ended disastrously. In both cases, a significant part of this portrayal seems to be their alienation of the senate. In Nero's case, as a young ruler, he had the leadership of his tutors, Seneca and Burrus, and his mother, Agrippina guiding him.

Who of the following are portrayed negatively by ancient historians? Mark all correct:

Caligula, Tiberius Tiberius and Caligula are both portrayed in very negative terms. In Caligula's case, he is depicted as having some kind of psychotic break shortly into his reign. As you will see in a later part of this module, Nero was also portrayed as having gone crazy.

Prior to Galba, which other emperor characterized himself as a "liberator" of Rome and the Roman people from slavery?

Claudius Claudius also invoked this imagery--in part to reclaim it from the Roman senate who had argued for restoring Rome's libertas. Claudius countered by saying that his reign brought back "Augustan libertas".

In what emperor's reign did freedmen play a significant role?

Claudius Claudius appointed freedmen to roles such as his own imperial advisors, a move that the elite frowned upon. Nero would also make a lot of use of freedmen. Augustus turned to equestrians.

Which emperor is famous for his military campaigns in Britain?

Claudius Claudius conquered and annexed Britain, earning him the honorific, Britannicus.

This emperor was responsible for the construction of a new port near Ostia, and the completion of the aqueduct, Aqua Virgo.

Claudius Claudius created several major public works under his reign, including a new port near Ostia at Portus. He also completed the construction of two aqueducts, which had been begun under Caligula.

Which emperor's mother referred to him as "an abortion of a man, that had been only begun, but never finished, by nature"?

Claudius Claudius's mother said this, according to Suetonius, presumably in reference to Claudius's disabilities.

Which emperors funded the construction and/or renovation of aqueducts? Mark all correct.

Claudius, Augustus Agrippa, under Augustus, constructed several new aqueducts and restored older ones--bringing desperately needed water to the city of Rome. Claudius also paid a lot of attention to the food and water supply, funding the construction of a new harbor at Ostia and also the Aqua Claudia and the Anio Novus (though both were, actually, initially begun by Caligula).

Who is pictured (obverse and reverse) on the coin pictured below? Mark all correct:

Claudius, Augustus, Nero, Agrippina This coin, issued shortly after Nero took over as princeps, shows Agrippina and Nero on the obverse (left) side; and statues of Augustus and Claudius in a quadriga pulled by elephants on the reverse (right) side. It emphasizes Nero's maternal genealogy.

Which of his family members did Caligula appoint as his co-consul at the start of his reign?

Claudius, his uncle Claudius, who was physically disabled and possibly had Cerebral Palsy, had not previously participated in Roman politics. He had spent his life as an intellectual and was especially interested in early Roman history.

Briefly compare the portrayal of Claudius as Jupiter to Suetonius's description of Claudius's physical appearance.

Clearly, Claudius is being portrayed in the statue in idealized terms, as a muscular young god capable of ruling over a universe. This is a rather different image of Claudius than the one that Suetonius provides; in that description, Claudius was a weak and sickly individual with a pronounced limp.

How did the Romans finally end Boudica's revolt? What happened to Boudica? How is Boudica similar to Cleopatra?

Eventually, after some initial successes against the Romans, the celts were slaughtered by a Roman army led by the provincial Governor. Boudica is said to have committed suicide. Like Cleopatra, Boudica acted bravely, defying ancient Roman female stereotypes, to avoid being paraded in a Roman triumph and to prevent her corpse from being abused.

After the Romans suppressed this First Jewish Revolt, Jews were required to sacrifice to the Roman emperor.

False As an antique religion, they were not forced to sacrifice to the Roman emperor and were left alone to worship their god. However, Christians WERE forced to sacrifice to the Roman emperor.

Caligula did not attempt to construct any public works as emperor.

False Caligula did construct public works -- the most memorable may have been his harbors, but he also began two aqueducts which were later completed under Claudius, and the renovation of various civic buildings (including the Theatre of Pompey).

Claudius was groomed for the role of Princeps from an early age.

False Claudius was not groomed to be emperor, despite his royal pedigree. He was born with physical deformities and suffered from ill health. His family saw him as a "monster" and dull-witted, and they hid him away from public view, especially at an age at which he should have been making a name for himself on the public/political stage.

Early in his reign, Claudius avoided mention of the role that the Praetorian Guard played in elevating him to the role of princeps.

False Claudius, in fact, seems to have openly advertised the role of the praetorians.

Because of his reliance on rumor and his interest in things like omens, we should ignore Suetonius as a source.

False Even if Suetonius isn't a perfect reliable source, he's still a source! In fact, he gives us lots of information -- he tells us what was reported in his own time to have happened in Nero's time. That can tell us as much about Suetonius' Rome as Nero's Rome, such as common opinions of Nero after his death.

Caligula conducted a census of the Senate and removed those who had behaved immorally or who did not meet the wealth requirements established by Augustus.

False He actually conducted a review of the equestrian class, removing those who had behaved dishonorably. This action is indicative of the fact that equestrians continued to have an important and high profile role in Roman politics after the death of Augustus.

Claudius was awarded a triumph by the senate for the annexation of Judaea.

False He was awarded a triumph for the annexation of Britannia.

Otho distanced himself from Nero as much as possible during his reign.

False In fact, despite Nero cuckolding him, Otho advertised his connection to Nero, both in describing himself--as Nero had done--as bring peace to Rome, and also by taking the name of Nero.

The Jews were unified in their resistance to Rome.

False In fact, sectarianism ran high and hurt the Jewish cause for independence from Rome. The rivalry between the Pharisees and Sadducees was especially strong.

It was legal to empty a household's excrement out of an open window and onto a passerby on the street below only during daylight hours.

False It was legal to do so once it was dark, presumably because the dumper could not be blamed for not seeing passersby in the dark. The Romans frequently talk about how dangerous it was to walk around ancient Rome after dark--there were robbers and drunks but also the constant threat of flying pee and poop!

Claudius greatly despised gladiatorial contests and banned them during his reign.

False Quite the opposite, he greatly enjoyed them and lavished gladiators with praise.

Although a civil war was waged in Rome, the damage to the city was minor.

False Rome was devastated by this civil war. Vespasian would devote significant time and money to rebuilding the city, not unlike Augustus after Actium.

Under Vitellius, equestrians were more restricted in their access to jobs in the imperial bureaucracy.

False Since the reign of Claudius, the imperial administration had been dominated by freedmen. Vitellius re-opened many of these jobs to equestrians (probably in an effort to gain their support).

The Roman people were uniformly overjoyed at the death of Nero.

False Suetonius tells us that many Roman rejoiced in their liberty, as they had done after the assassination of Caesar; but that others decorated his grave. As well, Nero remained popular in the East. Nero was generally a popular emperor with the masses, despite some serious problems (the fire, his wives and mother, his opulence). We have to remember that it was an unsettled time, and the people were not at all fixed on a new leader to replace Nero.

Suetonius and Tacitus agree on how Vespasian's rise to power affected Rome.

False While Tacitus uses strong and negative language to show the corruption and terror of Vespasian's rise, Suetonius describes Vespasian as the long-awaited calm after the confusion.

Briefly identify two challenges to any effort to carry out a decree of damnatio memoriae for Domitian.

First of all, his lack of popularity did not necessarily extend beyond Rome, and there was no way to enforce the decree. Second, things like coinage were nearly impossible to collect and destroy in their entirety. But even statues, busts, and other monuments persisted.

What building is pictured below?

Flavian amphitheater (aka the Colosseum) This is the cavea (seating area) and sub-flooring of the Colosseum.

In taking on the title Germanicus, Domitian was also asserting a connection with Augustus's grandson -- the Germanicus who was married to Agrippina the Elder. For what was this earlier Germanicus especially famous? How might this connection have benefited Domitian early in his reign?

Germanicus, who died young and possibly under suspicious circumstances, was remembered as a great warrior -- a Roman Alexander the Great -- for his military successes in Germany, as well as his father Drusus's popularity for military exploits. Domitian may have been hoping to capture some of that reflected military glory.

What factors contributed to Nero's decline in popularity in 65 CE, when the Pisonian Conspiracy came to light? Mark all correct:

Great Fire of 64, divorce and death of Octavia By 65, Nero seemed to be losing his ability to balance support from the various factions of power in Rome. He had long lost the support of the senate, but had retained power through his military connections and the support of the praetorian guard and Roman people. By the mid-60s, he began to lose popular support as well as the support of the praetorian guard. The biggest causes were the Fire of 64, which put Rome in an economic and humanitarian crisis. And his divorce of Octavia, marriage to Poppaea (followed by her death and his very public display of grief). Agrippina had died long before and, if anything, the Parthian negotiations enhanced Nero's reputation (and he encouraged this by issuing a range of coin types commemorating his role in the peace process).

Briefly describe what Nero did at the start of his reign to demonstrate his pietas ("devotion to family").

He delivered Claudius's funeral oration; paid honors to the memory of his biological father Domitius; and was regularly seen with his mother, Agrippina the Younger, in public and on coinage.

Why did Claudius issue coinage around virtues such as spes and pietas, rather than commemorate his family lineage?

He was not a true Julio-Claudian (not related by blood to Augustus), so he was less able to rely on family ties to make his reign legitimate. Instead, he commemorated virtues reminiscent of the Pax Augustana to illustrate ways in which his reign was stable and peaceful, as it had been under Augustus.

Briefly explain what it means to "get the short end of the stick."

It means you are handed the sea sponge end of the stick, which is poop-covered. Not the end you want to be touching!

Which of the following is the best interpretation of Domitian's dream about Minerva?

It symbolized that he no longer had divine favor/right

Otho's family came from:

Italy Otho's family had a distinguished Italian heritage, with origins in Etruria.

The seated female figure pictured on the reverse (right) side of the coin below is:

Judaea The seated female is the personification of the province of Iudaea. She is in a pose of mourning.

In issuing a coin featuring Clementia, with whom is Vitellius closely identifying himself?

Julius Caesar Julius Caesar was famous for his clementia in the aftermath of his civil war against Pompey. Vitellius seems to be drawing on that when he advertises his own willingness to offer mercy to supporters of Otho.

Who of the following was NOT interred in the Mausoleum of Augustus? Mark all correct.

Julius Caesar, Julia, daughter of Augustus Julius Caesar was cremated in the Roman Forum by the mob. Augustus forbade Julia from being interred in the Mausoleum. Everyone else was in the Mausoleum, which was expansive and intended to store the ashes of a large extended family for many generations.

Briefly describe the significance of Titus's pose and clothing in this statue (1-2 sentences).

Like other emperors, Titus is depicted in military dress to celebrate his military authority and victories. Compare this statue to Augustus of Prima Porta. He is standing in the pose of the commander, a reminder of his authority.

Who is portrayed on the reverse (right) side of the coin pictured below? (guy with a spear and helmet on right)

Mars This is Mars. Vespasian issues several coins depicting Mars and crediting Mars with helping him achieve victory in the Jewish War. Remember that Augustus also had a special relationship with Mars.

According to Suetonius, who could no longer protect Domitian?

Minerva "He dreamed that Minerva, whom he worshipped with superstitious veneration, came forth from her shrine and declared that she could no longer protect him..."

In the showdown between the Senate and the Praetorian Guard over the future of Rome, the Roman people took the side of the Praetorians in arguing for the continuation of the Principate. Why do you think they would do this? Why would they feel better served by the Principate than by the (supposedly) more democratic Republic?

Most Romans would have had no personal memory of the Republic; and the memories of their relatives would have been shaped by the civil wars of the last 100 years of the Republic. As well, for less wealthy Romans, they had no less power in the Principate than they did in a Republic--a reminder of just how much the Republic served the interests of the wealthy and ignored the middle-class and poor.

Which of the following was NOT associated with the death of Agrippina?

Nero feeding her poisoned food Nero first tried to lure her onto a collapsible boat that was supposed to drown her in the Bay of Naples. however, she managed to survive. he then send the Guard after her. She welcomed her death and told them to stab her in the womb, because that was where she bore the monster that was her son. Nero justified her death by saying she had plotted against the state. Later on, Nero was called a matricide by his opponents and enemies.

According to Suetonius, how did Britannicus die?

Nero had him poisoned According to Suetonius, Nero had Britannicus poisoned. (And the reason he gives is because Nero was jealous of Britannicus' vocal abilities!) In the same passage, Suetonius also accuses Nero of having poisoned Claudius with mushrooms. Poison is a key player in Suetonius' biographies of the Julio-Claudians.

How did Nero's suicide compare to that of other famous men (for example, Cato of Utica or even his tutor Seneca)? Can we characterize it as a noble death?

Nero was hesitant when committing suicide. According to Suetonius' account, he actually required the help of his slave. A noble death, like Cato of Utica's, was when a famous figure committed suicide (usually by dagger to the heart) rather than surrender to an enemy.

Which emperors are reported to have acted on stage? Mark all correct.

Nero, Caligula Acting on stage was considered a lowly business, completely unworthy of an emperor. See the lecture Nero as well as Caligula and Claudius for discussion of both emperors as, reportedly, acting on stage.

Who were the children of Messalina and Claudius? Mark all correct:

Octavia, Britannicus The marriage produced two children, both of whom lived to adulthood: Octavia and Britannicus. Remember these names! They will reappear in the next part of Module 10.

The coin below, which was issued by Vespasian, is modeled on a coin issued by?

Octavian The coin is modeled on Octavian's famous "Victory on the prow" coin, which celebrated his victory over Cleopatra (and Antony) at Actium. It may also have been intended to celebrate his victory over Sextus Pompey.

Briefly explain why public games were such an important part of the Roman Empire. Give an example of how the games reflected Roman political or social values.

One function the games served was a chance for social order to be reaffirmed, through the seating in the theaters or amphitheaters. They brought all citizens together but also reminded citizens of their differences, especially the differences between the emperor, the senate, equestrians, and the rest of the citizens. Likewise, because women were relegated to the upper decks, they also reinforced the extent to which women were regularly excluded from Roman public life.

Briefly explain why sites like Pompeii are so valuable for scholars of the ancient Roman world. Why are they better sources of information than even Rome itself most of the time?

Pompeii is so valuable because it was as if life stopped in 79 AD. It provides an enormously rich picture of what a thriving urban town looked like. Cities that have been continuously inhabited have built on top of the ancient evidence, often after first plundering it for valuable marble, gold, and other materials.

Which empress liked to bathe in milk to keep her skin youthful?

Poppaea The legend is that Poppaea was so extravagant that she took baths in milk.

In your opinion, what does Galba mean when he describes Rome as "reborn"? Is there any truth to this claim?

Primarily, he seems to be trying to indicate a break with the Julio-Claudian dynasty. It is interesting that he also omits the Caesar Augustus from his title. It was common for a new emperor to claim that his rule marked a "fresh start." As we will see, that is especially true as emperors try to position themselves vis-a-vis the Julio-Claudian dynasty that started the Principate.

Please read this entry (Links to an external site) on Wikipedia, which discusses Vespasian's legacy. Who held the first paid professorship in Rome under Vespasian's reign?

Quintilian Vespasian recognized that professors ought to be paid for their labors...

Match the political faction in Rome with their candidate for emperor in 69:

Roman Senate: Galba Legions of the Rhine River: Vitellius Praetorian Gaurd: Otho Legions in Judaea and Syria: Vespasian Each faction had their own candidate, as did the legions in the East and the legions in the West.

According to Josephus, who set the window to the holy house on fire?

Roman soldiers "At which time one of the [Roman] soldiers, without staying for any orders, and without any concern or dread upon him at so great an undertaking, and being hurried on by a certain divine fury, snatched somewhat out of the materials that were on fire, and being lifted up by another soldier, he set fire to a golden window, through which there was a passage to the rooms that were round about the holy house..."

What event was recognized by Claudius's celebration of the Secular Games?

Rome's 800th Birthday Claudius's celebration of the Secular Games coincided with the 800th year since Rome's purported founding in 753 BCE by Romulus.

According to tradition, how far back did Rome's chariot circuit, the Circus Maximus, date?

Romulus Romans believed that the Circus Maximus and the chariot races held there were of very deep antiquity: according to legend, the Circus Maximus was the site of the Rape of the Sabine Women.

In what ways was Agrippina the Elder a good example of a strong Julio-Claudian woman?

She was stoic and faithful to her husband, Germanicus, and served as a strong mother to her children after his death in Syria. She was also involved in politics (something uncommon for a woman of her time, but not uncommon for a woman in her family) and in speaking out against individuals like Piso and Tiberius.

Briefly explain how Vitellius's advertisment of his clemency contradicts the portrait of him drawn by his biographer, Suetonius.

Suetonius depicts Vitellius as a cruel glutton whereas Vitellius's self-presentation highlights his virtues.

Briefly describe the tone of Suetonius's account of Caligula's efforts to recover the ashes of his mother and brothers and return them to Rome.

Suetonius presents Caligula's actions as feigned piety, all designed to trick the Roman people into thinking that he's a devoted son and brother.

Give a brief summary of the difficult conditions in Rome during the year 69.

Tacitus uses intensely negative language to describe the events of the year 69. There was war, chaos, and collateral damage in Rome and in the provinces. People turned to bad deeds -- bribery, robbery, betrayal.

Why did Nero have Octavia killed?

The Roman people were demanding that she be permitted to return to Rome Nero had Octavia banished so he could marry Poppaea. However, she was popular with the Roman people and they demanded for her return. Nero had her executed while in exile. This is the subject of a play supposedly written by Seneca.

Briefly describe the appearance of Vespasian in this portrait bust. Does the style seem more idealized or realistic? How does the style of Vespasian's portrait bust compare to portrait busts of Augustus in style? What about Nero?

The style here is realistic, very similar to what we see in portraits of Nero but dissimilar from the idealized images of Augustus. We might think that Vespasian preferred a more realistic image since it was part of his self-presentation as an honest, pragmatic ex-commander. It was also in keeping with artistic trends of the age.

Briefly explain why it made sense for Vespasian to levy a tax on urine in 1st century CE Rome.

There was a fairly active trade in urine. Households brought their urine collection to pots located outside of shops. The shops would use the urine for certain processes, like dry-cleaning/whitening togas or to soften leather. It was also used for fertilizer. There was a similar trade in human dung.

What were some ancient criticisms of the Domus Aurea? Did Nero intend for it to be an entirely private pleasure palace?

There were rumors that Nero started the Great Fire to clear land for the Domus Aurea, a complex that was also seen as excessively extravagant. However, Nero showed intention to open up parts of it to the public. Also, in its construction, he gave work to people after the Fire.

Caligula is an important character in the BBC series "I, Claudius." Watch this clip of Caligula interacting with the Roman senate. How is Caligula depicted in this clip? How does it compare to the sorts of things you read in the Suetonius passages?

This clip shows Caligula as a crazy emperor who wielded his power on a whim. This is played up for comedic effect and shock value. This event, of Caligula summoning leading men to what they thought was an execution but which turned out to be an impromptu dance recital, actually came from Suetonius' account (which is itself highly inaccurate and full of tabloid-style gossip and rumor).

Briefly explain Claudius's purpose in issuing the coin pictured below early in his reign.

This coin advertises Claudius role in "saving" the Roman people from Caligula's tyranny. It also acknowledges his gratitude for their support of him during the tense period after Caligula's death, when the Senate was arguing to abolish the Principate.

Which of the following emperors was NOT a victim of assassination or forced suicide?

Tiberius Tiberius died a natural death -- most likely. Suetonius reports gossip that he was murdered, but it is more likely that he died naturally. We do know that Caligula and Domitian were both assassinated by the Praetorian Guard. And Nero, after having been declared hostis by the Senate, was forced to commit suicide.

The Colosseum is named after...

a colossal statue of a sun god The Colosseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre for the family that constructed it. It was called the Colosseum after a colossal statue of a sun god that stood outside it. This statue was originally one of Nero, which stood in his Domus Aurea; after his death, Vespasian had it converted to resemble the sun god.

What does Suetonius claim was the cause of the Great Fire in 64?

a conversation between Nero and an unnamed person Suetonius provides us only with the story that Nero got the idea to remodel Rome, so to speak, and contrived the fire. Suetonius says the fire lasted a whole week, destroying irreplaceable buildings, while Nero enjoyed his music from safety. This is the source of the "Nero fiddling while Rome burns" story.

What was the Pisonian Conspiracy?

a group of Romans from all backgrounds who conspired to overthrow Nero Though our historians tell us that the members of the conspiracy came from all backgrounds, it was named after a senator. It appears to have been yet another effort of the senatorial aristocracy to try to restore the power of the Senate and the Republic.

To what did Nero respond with these words: "Though now all your hopes and wishes are for my speedy return, yet you ought rather to advise and hope that I may come back with a character worthy of Nero"?

a request from a freedman that he return to Rome to deal with business Suetonius includes this supposed direct quotation to bring home the point that Nero cared more about performing than about being emperor.

According to Suetonius, how was Messalina's plan to have the young Nero murdered foiled?

a snake scared the assassins Suetonius tells us that Nero was napping when the assassins came in to kill him; they were scared away by a snake which then shed its skin. Agrippina had a bracelet made of the snake skin as a reminder that Nero enjoyed special protection.

What is the figure holding aloft in her right hand on the reverse (right) side of the coin below? (galba on left and figure holding victory on right)

a statue of the goddess Victory The goddess Roma is holding a statue of Victory in her right hand.

What does Suetonius NOT mention among Nero's early accomplishments as emperor?

abusing banqueters severely (He did: holding games for the people, improving the city housing with porches and roofs for fire-fighting, punishing the Christians, funeral honors for Claudius, respecting the Senate) Nero starts out his reign well, by honoring Claudius as well as his parents, and by respecting the Senate. He treats the people well by lowering taxes and holding games and other spectacles for their entertainment. Nero is additionally credited with punishing Christians, fireproofing city housing, and curtailing luxury. Why do you think Suetonius mentioned his fireproofing and anti-luxury rules?

In order to increase his popularity with the Roman people, Otho: (mark all correct)

adopted the name of Nero, identified himself as the holder of tribunician power on his coinage Otho's embrace of Nero's legacy seems to have been a calculated move designed to win the support of the Roman people--many of whom still remembered Nero fondly.

Which of the following are true regarding the death of Pliny the Elder? Mark all correct:

after seeing the cloud from Vesuvius he prepared to sail across the Bay of Naples to get a better view, he launched his fleet to help people escape the eruption, he died from inhalation of the fumes, he stopped in Stabiae Pliny the Elder was stationed in Misenum, across the Bay of Naples from Vesuvius and the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. After seeing the cloud above Vesuvius, he wanted to sail across the bay to get a closer look. However, he received a message from a friend requesting his aid, so he launched his fleet to rescue people from the affected towns. He stopped in Stabiae and was waylaid there by the worsening eruption. As he tried to escape, he was overcome by the fumes, and likely suffocated to death. He was not covered by the surge of lava - as Pliny the Younger notes in his letter, his body was found intact and unharmed.

When was Seneca sentenced to death by Nero?

after the Pisonian Conspiracy Seneca, Nero's former advisor, was sentenced to death for his supposed involvement in the Pisonian Conspiracy in 65. Seneca, ever the Stoic philosopher, took his death nobly: by cutting his veins and bled to death in a warm bath. Seneca was the last of Nero's three advisors to die (the other two being Burrus, and his mother Agrippina).

Which of the following factions did NOT support the choice of Caligula as emperor?

all of these factions supported Caligula Suetonius tells us that all groups were initially enthusiastic supporters of Caligula.

Who of the following did NOT spend time in exile on the island of Pandeteria?

all of these spent time on Pandeteria Pandeteria was the island of choice when exiling a member of the imperial family.

Which of the following is NOT true about the Great Fire of 64?

all of these were associated with the Fire The Fire of 64 was likely accidental and was exacerbated due to the lack of fire codes for buildings in the crowded downtown residential areas of Rome. Nero is blamed for setting it, and also blamed for blaming the Christians for starting it. Whatever happened, it caused a social and economic crisis as many Romans were left homeless. Nero had to act to feed and house these Romans, as well as rebuild the parts of the city that were damaged.

Which of the following is NOT true about the Great Fire of 64?

all of these were associated with the Fire In many ways, the Great Fire of 64 marked the turning point in Nero's reign. This fire was a large scale disaster for Rome, as it destroyed a big part of the city, displacing citizens and causing an economic crisis. In reality, Nero had to figure out how to help the people in their time of need -- and he did so with grain distribution and a rebuilding program. However, the historians who were biased against Nero (and who were part of the senatorial elite) passed down a history in which they implicated Nero in starting the fire. Nero supposedly laid the blame on a small Jewish sect, the Christians.

On what did Nero blame Britannicus's death?

an epileptic attack Britannicus apparently had epilepsy, an ailment that seems to have run in the Julio-Claudian family. Nero tries to blame Britannicus's sudden death on an epileptic seizure, a reasonable enough explanation--and possibly even the truth.

Who do you think Domitian is imitating in this statue?

any of these answers are possible Like other emperors, Domitian is depicted in military dress to celebrate his military authority and victories. In this regard, he is continuing the high military reputation of Vespasian and Titus; compare also this statue to Augustus of Prima Porta -- note that they are both barefoot.

At what point in time did Judaea come under Roman control and begin to pay taxes to Rome?

as a result of Pompey's Eastern Campaigns Judaea was not annexed by Pompey but it became a client kingdom and began to pay high taxes to Rome. Over the years, this tax rate continued to increase as Rome needed more money in its treasury. Eventually, the Jews revolted in 66 CE and Nero sent Vespasian to deal with the situation.

With reference to the two coins in the previous spacer, how does Galba advertise himself to his fellow Romans?

as a triumphant military commander Although Galba was proclaimed emperor by the Roman Senate and people, and was a Roman governor in Spain, the iconography on his coinage shows him as Imperator.

Which of the following things were attributed to Caligula? Mark all correct:

behaving as if he were a god, cruel and unusual executions, affairs with married women, performing on stage After a good start, Caligula declined and the remainder of his reign is marked with the cruel, the perverse, and the mad. He supposedly lived in extreme luxury and thought of himself as a god. He cruelly executed those who opposed him, as well as random people. He had affairs with married women. He was taken to performing on stage and driving a chariot (things which Nero would later be criticized for).

In addition to numerous consulships, what Republican office did Domitian seize for himself?

censor Domitian, like Augustus, appointed himself censor to restore Roman morals. Suetonius has positive things to say about this, despite the fact that he also has a lot to say about Domitian's own indiscretion in later passages.

To which of the following does Saturninus attribute the Romans' willingness to tolerate Caligula's tyranny? Mark all correct:

desire for peace, laziness, fear of dying virtuously (i.e. in the process of fighting against tyranny) Near the end of his speech, Saturninus chastizes his fellow Romans for their toleration of Caligula's tyranny and praises Chaerea.

By depicting Livia instead of Augustus on his coinage, Galba was able to: (mark all correct)

distance himself from Nero, who descended from the Julians rather than the Claudians, advertise a connection to these familiar and still powerful families Here we see Galba connecting himself deliberately to the Claudian side of the Julio-Claudian clan. Remember that it was Claudius who finally deified Livia. This was also an effective way to connect himself to the previous regime, but distance himself from the final emperor, Nero, who was a Julian.

Which of the following was an event that marred Titus' reign? Mark all correct:

eruption of Vesuvius, a fire in Rome The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 and the fire in Rome in 80 occurred under Titus' short reign. He responded by mobilizing relief efforts, using funds from the Roman treasury. For this, he was seen in a positive light, especially in comparison to Nero after the Fire of 64.

What group did Claudius use to assist him in managing the bureaucracy of the Roman Empire?

freedmen (i.e. former slaves) Although Claudius attempted to involve the Senate in the management of the empire, and also relied on Equestrians, he especially relied on freedmen. Under Claudius in particular, freedmen came to have tremendous influence on Roman politics.

According to Cassius Dio, which of the following were aspects of Domitian's personality? Mark all correct.

he accepted slaves' accusations about masters, he accepted false accusations, he was quick to anger and unpredictable Cassius Dio shows Domitian to be really negative: temperamental, only liked a few women (implies sexual deviancy), accepts false accusations, especially those of slaves. This last was especially bad to the Romans because slaves were not held as credible sources. All of these tropes are often attributed to other "bad" emperors. Do you think Domitian was really like this?

Which of the following were reforms of Vespasian? Mark all correct:

he adopted the name "Imperator" (commander), he increased taxes, military recruits were stationed outside of their homelands, he taxed urine He changed the title of "princeps" to "imperator." He declared that military recruits could only be Roman citizens and were stationed outside of their homelands. He increased taxes, even on urine, but gave exemptions to doctors and educators. He also returned senators and equestrians to imperial administration. And he created many building projects, employing the lower classes.

Which of the following are ways that Vespasian established continuity with the Julio-Claudian emperors who preceded him? Mark all correct:

he adopted the title of Pater Patriae, he dedicated a temple to the deified Claudius, he adopted the names Caesar and Augustus Although Vespasian did separate himself from Nero, he was eager to create the impression of continuity with the Julio-Claudian emperors, especially Augustus and Claudius.

Why did Nero force his successful general Corbulo to commit suicide?

he believed that Corbulo was conspiring against him Corbulo had once been a favored and successful general for Nero; by 67, however, Nero had become deeply paranoid and distrustful of everyone around him. He believed that Corbulo was conspiring against him and so summoned him back to Rome and forced him to fall on his sword.

What did Claudius do to secure the loyalty of the Praetorian Guard after Caligula's death, according to Suetonius?

he bribed them with cash Claudius was the first emperor to rely on bribes to secure his succession, if we trust Suetonius and other ancient historians.

How did Otho die?

he committed suicide after being defeated in battle by Vitellius When he was defeated by Vitellius at the Battle of Bedriacum in northern Italy, he committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest.

What did Domitian do in order to associate himself with the Flavian Dynasty?

he continued and completed building projects associated with his father and brother Domitian supervised many building project at Rome, including a Temple of Vespasian and Titus in the Forum, to cement his continuation of the Flavian legacy. He also completed construction on the Flavian Amphitheater or Colosseum.

What significance does the title Germanicus, as seen on the coin below, have for Domitian?

he developed the German frontier as a military defense Domitian created the Limes Germanicus (German border) to improve border defenses. This would also have reminded Romans of the great general Germanicus, who was Livia's grandson and Tiberius's adopted son.

What did Galba do to anger the Roman military?

he did not pay them their expected cash bribe He made the mistake of not paying for the loyalty of the military and praetorian guard. By now, this was expected and Galba was seen as ungrateful for their assistance.

According to Suetonius, how did Domitian die?

he died from a planned and organized assassination Suetonius describes Domitian's death to have been performed by his servants (other sources blame the praetorian guard). He was stabbed in the groin, among other places.

What happened to Britannicus?

he died young, unclear how The best answer here is indeed we don't know how. The ancient historians, who portray Agrippina as a monster, say she poisoned him but he may well have had an epileptic fit. Epilepsy seems to have run in the Julio-Claudian family.

How did Nero manage to escape from Rome?

he disguised himself in a dirty old cloak During his prime, Nero liked to dress up like a commoner and walk through the streets of Rome unrecognized. Now he put that experience to good use by disguising himself in a dirty old cloak and riding a horse out of town. Nobody recognized him as their emperor.

Which of the following was NOT a way in which Caligula strengthened his relationship with the Senate early in his reign?

he distributed grain to the people Like Augustus, Caligula made a show of returning power to the Senate when he assumed power. He also made it clear that he would not rule like Tiberius, a figure who was disliked by the Senate and the people of Rome for his policies.

What did Nero do with Poppaea's body after she died?

he embalmed her and displayed her in the Mausoleum of Augustus Despite the brutal way that Poppaea supposedly died, Nero showed his devotion to her by giving her a lavish funeral and burial.

What did Claudius do to honor the memory of his grandmother Livia?

he had her deified Early in his reign, Claudius had Livia deified and all the honors restored to her that Tiberius had taken away at the time of her death.

Which of the following was NOT an aspect relating to Claudius' death?

he had only ruled for 4 years (Seneca parodied his death with the Apolocyntosis, he was deified, he may have been poisoned by mushrooms) Claudius died after a 14 year reign. He was deified (as Julius Caesar and Augustus had been), but Seneca did write a parody of this act, called the Apolocyntosis (Pumpkinification). According to Suetonius, he may have been poisoned by mushrooms by Agrippina.

Which of the following reflects Vespasian attempts to distance himself from Nero's regime and depict himself as the anti-Nero? Mark all correct:

he opened up the Domus Aurea to the public, he rededicated the Colossus statue of Nero as the god Sol/Helios, he took land from the Domus Aurea for the construction of the Temple of Peace Vespasian's construction of the Temple of Peace was a way in which he was like Augustus (who closed the doors of the Temple of Janus and construction the Altar of Peace).

Where was Agrippina the Elder finally interred (where did her ashes end up)?

in the Mausoleum of Augustus She was eventually brought to rest in the Mausoleum of Augustus with Germanicus and other members of her extended family.

Caligula did which of the following to restore authority to the Roman Senate? Mark all correct:

he put an end to treason trials, he published the accounts of the empire, he restored free elections, he permitted office-holders to make decisions wtihout consulting him One of the first things Caligula did, besides make an elaborate demonstration of his piety, was attempt to restore authority to the Roman Senate (to gain their trust and support).

What action did Vespasian take to decrease the potential threat of military revolts in the Roman provinces?

he required that all recruits be stationed outside of their homelands Stationing legions outside of their homelands reduced the chance of non-Italian soldiers revolting against Rome.

How did Augustus view Claudius?

he respects his intellect, but otherwise worries that he will embarrass the imperial family Augustus questions whether Claudius is fit for public life. He expresses these concerns to his wife and resolves to invite Claudius to some events, to see whether he would be suitable, or whether he should continue to be hidden away. Augustus certainly does not want his family to become a laughing stock for the public. However, after having young Claudius over for dinner, he discovers that he is actually intelligent and not a dullard.

According to the ancient sources, how did Nero's wife Poppaea die?

he stomped her to death while she was pregnant Although Nero gave her a lavish funeral and interred her in the Mausoleum, he supposedly stomped/kicked her to death while she was pregnant. Roman deaths: very high yield for this class.

How did Nero's second wife, Poppaea, die?

he stomped her to death while she was pregnant Although Nero gave her a lavish funeral and interred her un-cremated corpse in the Mausoleum, he supposedly stomped/kicked her to death while she was pregnant.

How did Nero arrange Agrippina's death? Mark all correct:

he tried to build a machine to kill her in bed, she drowned in a staged shipwreck, he ordered her death, accusing her of treason, he attempted to poison her The historians preserve a number of variations on the death of Agrippina, but one common story seems to be that Nero supposedly staged some sort of shipwreck (made sure the boat she was traveling in would fall apart). Agrippina survived but realized Nero was trying to kill her. She tried to make peace with him, but failed. Back at Rome, her death was presented as Nero protecting the state from a traitor. Only later, after the Fire of 64, did Nero's detractors accuse him of matricide.

How did Vitellius respond when he learned that his legions had been defeated by Vespasian's supporters in Northern Italy?

he tried to go into hiding Vitellius, in keeping with his presentation by Suetonius, reacted fearfully. Like Nero, he tried to go into hiding to avoid death.

According to Josephus, how did Titus react to the temple being burned?

he tried to stop it "[Titus] rose up in great haste, and, as he was, ran to the holy house, in order to have a stop put to the fire..."

What was Galba's official position at the time of Vindex's revolt in Gaul? he was a consul

he was a Roman governor in Spain Galba came from an elite and well-connected family. He was a Roman senator who had held the office of consul. At the time of Vindex's revolt, he was a governor in Spain and controlled a legion.

How did Vitellius first lay claim to being Rome's princeps?

he was acclaimed emperor by his troops Vitellius was acclaimed emperor by his troops in Germany, even though Galba was the one who had been granted the powers of office by the Senate and Roman people.

How did Galba die?

he was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard (or committed suicide under their compulsion) The Praetorian Guard was upset at Galba's adoption of L. Calpurnius Piso, so the members of the Guard conspired with Otho to assassinate Piso and Galba in January of 69 CE. The Praetorian Guard then declared Otho emperor.

Which of the following is NOT one of Vitellius's vices, according to Suetonius?

he was fond of bestiality Suetonius pulls few punches in his biography of Vitelllius, who comes down to us as a second Nero.

According to Suetonius, why did Galba fail to win the approval of the soldiers, provincials, and the Roman people?

he was greedy, miserly, and refused to reward his supporters According to Suetonius, Galba imposed heavy taxes on the provinces that had supported him, disrespected those who had served him and the imperial family, and was miserly in his public persona.

How did Caligula die?

he was killed by a conspiracy of the Praetorian Guard He was killed (stabbed to death) in a conspiracy of the Praetorian Guard, led by the prefect, Cassius Chaerea. We will later learn about another emperor, Domitian, who was also assassinated by the Praetorian Guard.

Why did Claudius not name his son Britannicus as his heir?

he was not old enough, Agrippina pressured for Nero to be named his heir Nero was secured as Claudius' heir rather this surviving son, Britannicus. One of the main reasons why this happened was that Agrippina was able to manipulate her son onto the throne. Another reason was that Nero was older than Britannicus, who had not assumed the toga virilis yet.

According to Suetonius, why does Nero enjoy watching fights, beating up strangers, and roaming the city streets in disguise?

he was of defective character Suetonius says that Nero's evil escapades only got worse as Nero grew older and more comfortable.

How did Nero react to Poppaea's death in 65 CE? Mark all correct.

he was saddened at the loss of his child, he gave her a lavish funeral, he was heartbroken at the loss of his beloved wife, he stuffed her corpse with spices and had her embalmed, he interred her un-cremated corpse in the Mausoleum of Augustus Although Nero was, we are told, responsible for the pregnant Poppaea's death, he was grief stricken. He arranged a lavish funeral and made sure that her corpse was stuffed with spices and embalmed. She was not cremated. Her remains were placed in the Mausoleum of Augustus. Besides being sad at the loss of Poppaea, he was upset to lose a possible male heir.

Which of the following did Domitian do during his reign? Mark all correct:

increase legionary pay, engage in civic patronage, embarked on defensive campaigns along the northern frontier Domitian's legacy was deeply tarnished after his death, but he did do all of these things during his rule.

Which of the following has NOT been suggested as a cause for Caligula's apparent psychotic break?

he was sexually abused Soon after he was made emperor, Caligula fell ill; whether his ensuing antics were related to his illness is unknown. Modern scholars have made arguments for various neurological and psychiatric causes for the mental instability that was portrayed in ancient accounts. Caligula certainly had a difficult childhood -- Tiberius was suspected of killing his parents and brothers -- and he had a hard job as emperor. See Boatwright p. 204 for more.

Which of the following did Domitian do that resulted in the alienation of the senate? Mark all correct:

he wore the outfit of the triumphant general into the senate, he adopted the name "dominus et deus" ("lord and god") Domitian wore the outfit of a triumphant general into the Senate and adopted the name "dominus et deus" (Caligula was the one who deified his sister and made his horse consul). The opening of the Colosseum, while a populist move, did not directly alienate the Senate.

What did Nero expect to happen when he marched to Gaul to take on the troops of Verginius Rufus and others who had joined a revolt against him?

he would cry and they would surrender. The story goes that Nero, wracked with indecision during Vindex's revolt, ran through a list of options that included killing all the Roman senators and moving to Alexandria to become a rockstar lyre player; killing all the military commanders; and killing all the Gauls in Rome.

With what did Claudius occupy himself before he accepted the duties of Princeps?

he wrote histories Claudius was an intellectual who devoted himself to the writing of histories, including a history of Augustus's reign and a history of Etruscan culture (none of which survive).

How did Octavia die? Mark all correct:

her veins were opened, she was placed in a hot bath Her veins were opened and she was put in a hot bath in order to accelerate her heart rate and blood loss. She was beheaded after her death.

What was the main cause of the Jewish revolt against Rome under Nero?

high taxes The main cause of the revolt was an increase in taxes -- which were already high -- after the Fire of 64. The Jews likely didn't love Nero, but that wasn't the main cause of the revolt.

What act is Galba advertising in the scene below? (coin with arch with horses on top)

his abolition of a tax The triumphal imagery seems odd in light of the coin's message: that Galba has abolished a tax of 2.5% for some group of people (presumably early supporters of his reign).

Which of the following were ways in which Domitian was reminiscent of Nero? Mark all correct.

his alienation of the Senate, his populist leanings, the triumphal outfit he wore in public A difference is that Domitian suffered damnatio memoriae but Nero, despite his being named an enemy of the state, did not.

How did a Roman wipe feces from himself? Mark all correct.

his bare, left hand, a stick with a sea sponge on the end, papyrus scraps, broken pieces of pottery The Romans had a variety of ways to try to clean their bums after a bowel movement.

Why was Caligula preferred to Gemellus, Tiberius's other named heir, to be Princeps? Mark all correct:

his father, Germanicus, was beloved to the Roman people, Gemellus was too young, he was a direct descendant of Augustus The primary reason that Caligula emerged as the first choice is his father Germanicus and his illustrious lineage. He was also 25 to Gemellus's 18. Neither had any political or military experience, and Tiberius revealed nothing about his own preference in his will.

What does Suetonius NOT criticize about Nero's involvement in musical competitions?

his lack of commitment (he did criticize: his poor voice, delaying his duties as emperor to participate in the music, refusing to excuse audience members, even for illness or childbirth, Nero holding the music festivals more often than they were supposed to be celebrated) Suetonius obviously feels that Nero's enthusiasm for musical competitions is inappropriate for an emperor. Suetonius accuses Nero of being too focused on his music, to the detriment of the empire.

Which of the following were ways in which Domitian was reminiscent of Nero? Mark all correct:

his populist leanings, the triumphal outfit he wore in public, his alienation of the Senate A difference is that Domitian suffered damnatio memoriae but Nero, despite his being named an enemy of the state, did not.

Who was Nero's first wife?

his step-sister Octavia Nero was forced to marry his step-sister (Claudius' daughter) in order to solidify his claim as Claudius' heir. They didn't get along very well and, eventually, Nero divorced her and had her killed.

In his description of Nero's birth and childhood, how does Suetonius foreshadow Nero's life as emperor? Mark all correct:

his tutor dreams that he is Caligula, he was raised by his aunt in the company of questionable people, his parents joke that their offspring will be evil Suetonius mentions these stories at the beginning of his work on Nero to set the stage (a stage?! oh Nero would like that!) for Nero's life story. How much is true is immaterial for Suetonius' purposes. But already at his birth, Nero's parents joke that nothing good can come out of their pairing, hinting that Nero's negative qualities are hereditary (but from the side of the family that is NOT descended from Augustus). He is also raised in poor company -- one of his "tutors" early on is an actor -- definitely not the kind of company a young noble Roman should be keeping.

Domitian's relationship with the senate is best described as:

hostile and fraught See Boatwright pp. 225-226 for details. Note that Domitian DID have a good relationship with the military as well as the Roman people.

Where was the obelisk that Caligula imported from Egypt located during his reign?

in a circus Caligula placed his imported obelisk in his newly constructed circus dedicated to himself and his deceased brother Nero. The obelisk remains standing at the site, which is now outside the Vatican in Rome.

Why was the Lex de imperio Vespasiani ("law regarding the command of Vespasian") necessary?

in order to grant Vespasian the powers necessary to do the job of princeps Given the nature of Vespasian's rise to power, it was not clear how to invest him with the powers necessary to rule the Principate. Passing along maius imperium and tribunician power were no longer seen as sufficient. The Lex institutionalized the Principate and the place of the Princeps in the Principate.

What did the Lex de imperio Vespasiani do?

it defined and legalized the emperor's powers This represented a significant shift from the Julio-Claudians, and the law has much to tell us about the nature of the emperor from a constitutional perspective. See Boatwright p. 222.

What was Domitian demonstrating by building a temple to Vespasian and Titus?

it displayed Domitian's pietas towards his family Pietas was the devotion one showed to one's family. Domitian seized on displays of pietas as a way to connect his rule with that of his father and much more beloved brother. It was a way of gaining legitimacy when he himself did not have the military or civic experience to back up his ascension.

Why was Claudius's construction of a large, artificial harbor at the mouth of the Tiber river significant?

it increased the size and weight of the ships that could use the harbor This large harbor could accommodate much larger and heavier ships, which greatly increased the amount of grain each transport ship could bring from Egypt. As well, it allowed the grain (and other imports) to come directly to Rome rather than via Sicily or Campania.

What is the primary significance of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem?

it meant that the Jews could no longer make sacrifices The temple was never rebuilt and this event led to the Jewish diaspora (scattering). It created permanent hostility between Jews and Rome as well. Interesting factoid: when Israel was created, Jews living in Rome celebrated it by walking through the Arch of Titus in the reverse, celebrating a reverse triumph and symbolically reclaiming Jerusalem for themselves.

What was true about the Domus Aurea (Nero's Golden House)? Mark all correct.

it was condemned for its opulence, its construction gave a lot of poor Romans work The Domus Aurea was Nero's luxurious palace and a sign of his tyranny according to biased biographers. However, its construction did give people work who needed it, and he did open part of it up to the public.

What was true about the Domus Aurea (Nero's Golden House)? Mark all correct.

it was condemned for its opulence, its construction gave a lot of poor Romans work The Domus Aurea was Nero's luxurious palace and a sign of his tyranny. However, its construction did give people work who needed it, and he did open part of it up to the public.

What is the meaning of Caligula's name?

little boot He was given this nickname for the miniature soldiers' boots (caligae) that he wore as a small child in his father, Germanicus' camp. His father was a great soldier, well loved by the people, who died prematurely while on campaign.

How did theatrical performances throughout the Empire encourage devotion to the emperor and his family? Mark all that apply.

local notables connected to the imperial family would pay for shows and events, religious processions (including those devoted to deified emperors) began and ended in theaters, architectural niches in scenic backdrops could hold images of the imperial family There were numerous ways that the ancient theater urged viewers to participate in imperial devotion; see Boatwright, pp. 236-239.

Which of the following did Agrippina do to strengthen Nero's position after the marriage of Claudius and Agrippina? Mark all correct:

married Nero to Octavia, daughter of Claudius and Messalina, had Nero adopted by Claudius Shortly after the marriage, while Britannicus was still too young to be named an heir, Agrippina had Claudius adopt Nero; and then strengthened Nero's position by marrying him to his step-sister Octavia.

Which of the following were motives for Rome to annex Britain? Mark all correct:

mineral wealth, slaves The two main attractions were slaves (people they captured in war) and mineral wealth. Rome went to Britain on the pretense of responding to a summons from an ally; but, in truth, it was an opportunity to Claudius to play the part of the military commander.

Which member of the Julio-Claudian family succeeded Nero as emperor?

none; Nero was the last Julio-Claudian emperor Nero was the last of the Julio-Claudians. His death led to a short civil war.

Vindex was: (mark all correct)

of senatorial rank, a Roman governor, of Gallic heritage The lines were muddied between whether Vindex's revolt was a Gallic rebellion against the Romans or a senatorial rebellion.

Where would one typically find the image below? (sketch of pelvis and phalus)

on the wall of a room that housed a toilet

After the end of their revolt, the Romans made it illegal for Jews to:

prosyletize (i.e. recruit new members to the sect). For the most part, the Romans did not subject the Jews to overly harsh conditions of peace. They did, however, make it illegal for them to proselytize. In general, though, Jews did not do this in any case: it was much more a practice of the Judaizing Christians who had broken ranks with their Jewish brethren.

Why did Claudius divorce Messalina?

she married another man Ancient historians give varied accounts of the events but it seems that Messalina conspired with another senator, Silius to overthrow Claudius. She could not have actually married him before divorcing Claudius, but seems to have planned to have Claudius killed and then marry Silius and push for him to be emperor.

Agrippina was likely most interested in the marriage to her uncle Claudius because:

she wanted to secure a political future for her young son Nero Agrippina's interest in the marriage was entirely driven by her ambitions for her son Nero.

How does the senator Saturninus think that Cassius Chaerea, who engineered the assassination of Caligula, should be treated?

showered with honors Saturninus compares Chaerea to Cassius and Brutus, only to say that--unlike them--Chaerea should be given great honors for his bold action.

The Lex de Imperio Vespasiani ...

specified the powers and rights of the emperor This Lex allowed Vespasian to rule by legal rather than personal auctoritas. The maius imperium under which the Julio-Claudians ruled did not specify the extents of their power, so they could, in essence, do whatever they wanted. In a sense, Vespasian put a block to what he could and could not do as emperor.

One of Vespasian's first jobs on the cursus honorum was to keep Rome's streets clean -- a challenging job. What did the emperor Caligula do to express his displeasure with Vespasian's performance at this job?

stuffed dung down his toga The story goes that Caligula stuffed dung down Vespasian's toga, presumably because there was too much dung on the streets.

According to the historian Tacitus, Nero's death (famously) pointed out:

that a Roman emperor could be made elsewhere than in Rome Tacitus famously commented that the real lesson of the chaos in 69 was that the Roman military was so essential to ruling the Roman empire that an empire could now be made elsewhere than Rome (as Vespasian was).

Who did Nero reportedly blame for setting the fire in Rome in 64 AD?

the Christians Nero is said to have blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, initiating the first Roman persecution of Christians. In some Christian traditions, it was this persecution that was responsible for the deaths of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Which of the following building was constructed on land that was once occupied by Nero's Domus Aurea?

the Colosseum Vespasian built the famous Roman Colosseum on land that was once part of Nero's Golden House. The Colosseum was named for the colossal statue of Nero that once stood outside of it.

Where did Nero continue to enjoy great popularity after his death?

the Eastern provinces, including Parthia After his death, and for many decades, Nero remained very popular in the Eastern provinces, especially in Parthia. This is a good reminder not to judge an emperor's popularity entirely by his reception in Rome.

Vespasian was declared emperor by __ while he was in ___. Mark all correct:

the Roman Senate/Egypt, his troops/Judaea At the time that he was declared emperor, Vespasian was not even in Rome; he was in Judaea. He also had troops in Pannonia supporting him, as well as the support of the prefect of Egypt. After Vitellius was defeated in December 69, Vespasian was also declared emperor by the Roman Senate.

Who appointed Caligula as Rome's third princeps? Mark all correct:

the Roman people, The Roman Senate Although Tiberius named Caligula one of his two heirs, he did not arrange for Caligula to be his successor. Ultimately, it was the Senate and Roman people who did this, through passing a law. Although Caligula enjoyed support from the military, largely because of his father Germanicus, there was no military intervention.

Which of the following factions supported Claudius in the immediate aftermath of Caligula's assassination? Mark all correct:

the Roman people, the Praetorian Guard The two main groups that supported Claudius--and, really, the perpetuation of the Principate--were the praetorian guard and the Roman people. The Senate (and equestrians) preferred a return to the Republic. The military did not weigh in but Claudius did have to bribe them after taking office.

Who formally declared Galba emperor?

the Senate Although it was engineered by the Praetorians, it fell to the Senate to give Galba his formal powers. Immediately after declaring Nero enemy of state, the Senate declared Galba emperor.

Who conferred on Caligula the title of princeps?

the Senate, the people of Rome The senate and the people of Rome gave Caligula the title of princeps. Recall that Caligula enjoyed their support early on his reign.

What building is portrayed on the reverse (right) side of the coin below? (weird ugly head on left and building with text all around on left)

the Temple of Janus This is the Temple of Janus, originally constructed by Numa Pompilius. The closing of the doors of the Temple of Janus signifies that Rome is at peace.

What is the primary cause of the historical bias that we find in the histories of certain emperor's reigns?

the authors of the history were senators, who felt poorly treated by the emperor The cause is, as the podcast notes, senatorial bias--that is, emperors who in some way failed to maintain the favor of the Senate throughout their reign were treated badly and portrayed as crazy lunatics by the senatorial historians.

Who was Verginius Rufus?

the commander sent by Nero to deal with Vindex's revolt When Vindex, a provincial governor, revolted against Nero, Verginius Rufus was sent to quell his rebellion. He was successful. Remember, too, that Verginius's troops tried to acclaim him as emperor but he refused, probably because he realized that he'd be stepping into a chaotic political mess.

What is damnatio memoriae?

the erasure of all images and mentions of a person Damnatio memoriae ("condemnation of memory") was enacted upon Domitian immediately after his death. It was an erasure of images and references to him, although this erasure was not complete.

What event does this painting depict?

the eruption of Vesuvius This is the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, which occurred in 79 AD under Titus.

How should we interpret the symbolism of the two clasped hands in the image below?

the harmony of Vitellius and his legions Vitellius is advertising the fides that exists between him and his legions in Germany. Note that he emphasizes his connection to Germany in the inscription on the obverse of the coin.

Vespasian's rise to power is particularly indicative of:

the influence of the Eastern provinces in shaping Roman politics Vespasian's rise to power is interesting for many reasons, not least because he managed to emerge as the final emperor in the chaotic year 69 without traveling to Italy or Rome personally. More importantly, it demonstrated the strong influence of the eastern provinces on Roman policy and politics.

Who of the following supported Vespasian despite the fact that Vitellius was alive and ruling as emperor of Rome? Mark all correct:

the legions in Judaea, the legions in Syria, the prefect of Egypt, the legions in Pannonia Vespasian did not initially have the support of "local" powers in Rome, like the Senate and people; but he had the support of important Eastern provinces and their legions as well as the prefect of Egypt, who could withhold the grain supply and cause a famine.

Who was Cassius Chaerea?

the man who killed Caligula Caligula was assassinated by a group of Praetorian Guards led by Cassius Chaerea.

What does Pax, the personification of peace, hold in her hands on the coin below? Mark all correct.

the olive branch, the caduceus (Hermes's rod) Pax holds two traditional attributes, the caduceus and the olive branch. This is a very standard depiction.

Which factions support Claudius upon his succession?

the people of Rome, the Praetorian Guard At the time of Caligula's death, the Senate was calling for the end of the Principate (recall the speech preserved in Josephus, which calls for libertas). However, the Praetorian Guard proclaimed Claudius princeps, a decision which was supported by the people. The people may have been in support because they had no memory of anything other than the Principate, under which things were relatively stable.

Why did the Pisonian Conspiracy fail to accomplish its goal?

the plot was discovered by one of Nero's freedmen and revealed to him Supposedly, the plot was discovered by a freedman who reported it to Nero. Nero then took action against anyone he suspected of being part of the conspiracy and forced many elite Romans to commit suicide.

What good deeds were associated with Caligula's early reign? Mark all correct:

the restoration of free elections, recalling those who had been exiled from Rome, permitting people to read the previously condemned writings of the historian Cremutius Cordus, permitting magistrates to render judgments on their own, without consulting him, honors for his grandmother, Antonia, and for Livia Caligula's early rule was marked by popularity and good deeds. Suetonius records the pietas that he devoted towards members of his family -- the reverence he showed towards the deceased, especially in the form of burials and honors. He also provided entertainment to the people, paid out Tiberius's legacies, stopped the treason trials. He made a great effort to reverse many of Tiberius's most unpopular administrative policies.

Which of the following was NOT a component of the Jewish Revolt under Vespasian?

the revolt of Bar Kokhba (guerilla tactics, mass suicide at Masada, infighting between Jewish sects, Titus' destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem) The revolt of Bar Kokhba occurred later under the emperor Hadrian and was the last of the three Jewish Revolts against Rome.

What event does the Arch of Titus commemorate?

the sack of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Jewish Temple during the reign of his father, Vespasian. This is commemorated by a relief in the Arch of Titus, which shows soldiers carrying away a menorah. The arch was ultimately constructed and dedicated by Titus's younger brother, Domitian.

Agrippina the Younger was...

the sister of Caligula, the great-granddaughter of Augustus, the niece of Claudius, the daughter of Germanicus All of these are true of Agrippina the Younger. She had strong family ties within the Julio-Claudian family -- even moreso than the emperor Claudius himself. This is one of the reasons that Claudius married her -- in order to gain more legitimacy for his reign.

How did the Senate respond to the news of the rebellions and Nero's flight from the city?

they condemned him as an "enemy of the state" Nero is declared a public enemy of the state, which is punished in "the ancient fashion." Nero attempted unsuccessfully to escape under the guise of a slave. Rather than be executed, he tried to commit suicide and die the noble death, but supposedly trembled as he brought the dagger to his chest, requiring the aid of a servant to finish the deed.

According to Josephus, how did Titus' commanders react to Titus' objections?

they couldn't hear/see him "But they did not hear what he said, though he spoke so loud, having their ears already dimmed by a greater noise another way; nor did they attend to the signal he made with his hand neither, as still some of them were distracted with fighting, and others with passion."

How did the Roman people respond when Nero banished Octavia to Pandeteria?

they demanded her return to Rome Octavia was much loved by the Roman people, as the daughter of the deceased Claudius. Her popularity made her threatening to Nero, and he decided that the best course of action was to get rid of her altogether. He apparently hoped that the Roman people would forget about her if she was dead.

How did the Roman people display their approval of Caligula's appointment as Rome's third princeps?

they gave him endearing nicknames (e.g. "chick" and "babe"), they sacrificed animals Apparently the Romans were so pleased at Caligula's appointment that they spent the first three months of his reign sacrificing every animal they could find!

How did the Praetorian Guard respond to Nero's request that they accompany as he fled Rome after being declared an enemy of the state? Mark all correct:

they refused to accompany him A sign of the hopelessness of Nero's cause is the refusal of the praetorians, a longtime ally, to accompany him on his flight from Rome and the Senate.

In the Principate, what primary social/cultural functions did the lavish spectacles and games have? Mark all correct:

they reminded the citizens that the emperor had control over life and death, they gave the emperor the opportunity to play the role of patron to the citizens In the first century CE, these games and spectacles were sponsored by the emperor. They reminded the citizens that the emperor was, ultimately, their patron; and provided a way for the emperor to curry favor with the Roman people. They also reminded the citizens that the emperor controlled life and death.

Why did Boudica stage a revolt against the Romans in Britain?

they tried to take all the land of her tribe, the Iceni Boudica led the revolt after the death of her husband, when the Romans did not respect the terms of his will and, instead, tried to take all the land of the Iceni. The Romans also abused Boudica and her daughters, which added fuel to the revolt.

How did the Senate and Roman people show their approval of Caligula at the start of his reign? Mark all correct.

they voted him a golden shield, to be taken to the Capitoline hill annulally on an appointed day, it was decreed that the first day of his rule be called the Parilia The Parilia was an ancient purification festival celebrated on 21 April, the day on which Rome was supposedly founded by Romulus. In calling the first day of Caligula's reign the Parilia, the Senate is indicating that they consider it a new foundation. He was also honored with the award of a golden shield, to be carried to the Capitoline annually and accompanied by a choral hymn and other festivities. There was clearly great excitement about Caligula in the early days, and great hope that he would be a second Augustus.

What was the Senate's position on governance after the death of Caligula?

they wanted the Republic to be truly restored The senate's strong desire to return to a republic is indicative of the fact that, even now, there was an ongoing sense that the principate was a temporary institution intended to stabilize Rome; but not something that would replace the republican system of office-holders.

How did senators respond to Claudius's increasing reliance on freedmen for assistance in administering the Roman Empire?

they were resentful As the podcast notes, the senators and equestrians resented losing power and influence to former slaves, whom they perceived as unsuitable for such an important task. It also caused them to think about ways to overthrow Claudius.

What is the significance of some Roman citizens putting on liberty caps after they learned of Nero's death?

this was a gesture of declaring one's freedom from a tyrant This scene is reminiscent of historical descriptions of the popular response to Caesar's assassination, at least at first. It is a sign of freedom from tyranny but does not go so far as to argue for the abolition of the Principate. It is difficult to know how widespread the negative reaction was vs the more positive response. Nero did receive a public funeral, which indicates substantial popular support that the Senate did not wish to upset.

How did Caligula show his pietas? Mark all correct.

through the use of coins, by taking the ashes of his mother and brothers and placing them in the Mausoleum of Augustus Early in his reign, Caligula enjoyed a great deal of support from the people due to his father, Germanicus', popularity. He cultivated this further by his displays of pietas towards his deceased family members -- he struck coins honoring their memory; he brought the ashes of Agrippina and his brothers (who had died in exile under Tiberius) back to Rome to be interred in the family mausoleum.

Why did Claudius adopt the names "Caesar" and "Augustus" once he became Princeps?

to legitimate his claim to the office Given that Claudius's blood connection to the Julio-Claudians was rather weak, he adopted the name Caesar and added Augustus (something that all emperors did upon taking office).

Why did Nero issue a coin depicting the distribution of grain to the public after the Great Fire of 64?

to show that he was trying to provide for the Roman people in their time of need Nero clearly wanted to advertise that he was providing for the starving Romans after the Great Fire of 64.

To whom are Pliny's letters addressed, and what is his purpose in writing them?

to the historian Tacitus, so that he can commemorate his uncle for posterity Pliny's letters are addressed to the historian Tacitus. Pliny comments in the introduction of the first letter that he is providing a description of the eruption and of his uncle's death so that Tacitus can include it in his history; and so he can honor his uncle's memory. (The elder Pliny was himself a writer and curious by nature, the author of an encyclopedia entitled Natural Histories.)

What "values" did Vespasian especially try to advertise during his reign? Mark all correct:

virtus ("courage"), concordia ("concord"), pax ("peace") Vespasian built a Temple of Peace for his forum and also associated himself with peace and stability frequently on his coinage. Concordia, or harmony, was also regularly represented on the coinage but not in public monuments in Rome.

Agrippina the Younger: (mark all correct)

was Calgula's sister, was the great-granddaughter of Livia, was the niece of Claudius, was the granddaughter of Julia Agrippina the Elder had close ties to both the Julian and the Claudian side of the family. She had the particular advantage, from Claudius's point of view, of being a direct descendent of the Julian family. She was Augustus's great-granddaughter.

Claudius' third wife, Messalina...

was engaged in a plot with a Senator to overthrow Claudius Claudius' third wife, Messalina, was supposedly a nymphomanic. She had an affair with a senator and conspired for him to overthrow Claudius. Upon discovery of this plot, both were executed.

According to Suetonius, Vespasian did what? Mark all correct:

was untainted by vice, restored peace and security to Rome "The empire, which had been long thrown into a disturbed and unsettled state, by the rebellion and violent death of its three last rulers, was at length restored to peace and security by the Flavian family... He had not only served with great reputation in the wars both in Britain and Judaea, but seemed as yet untainted with any vice which could pervert his conduct in the civil administration of the empire."

Who administered the poison to Britannicus?

we don't know The text is silent on this point. Locusta is given credit for mixing up the poison on the command of Nero. Agrippina was apparently not directly involved in the plot. Other sources say that Nero was motivated to poison Birtannicus because Agrippina was threatening to support Britannicus if Nero didn't do what he wanted him to do.

According to Tacitus, Vespasian's troops did what? Mark all correct:

were greedy for gain, killed random citizens and soldiers "When Vitellius was dead, the war had indeed come to an end, but peace had yet to begin. Sword in hand, throughout the capital... whenever they saw a man tall and young they cut him down, making no distinction between soldiers and civilians. But the ferocity, which in the first impulse of hatred could be gratified only by blood, soon passed into the greed of gain..."