Claudius Quotes Flashcards

1
Q

What does Josephus say about the Senate wanting to return Rome to the republic?

A

Josephus, Jewish Antiquity 19: “a return to senatorial government was totally unrealistic”

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2
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ accession?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 10: calls Claudius’ accession “an extraordinary accident”.

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3
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ gift to the Praetorians after his accession?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 10: once Claudius became emperor he “promised every [Praetorian Guard] 15 000 sesterces, which made him the first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops”.

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4
Q

What does the Aureus of Claudius show?

A

Minted AD 41 - 42. The reverse shows Claudius and a Praetorian soldier shaking hands, “with the praetorians having been received”.

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5
Q

What does Suetonius say about the Invasion of Britain?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 17: “Claudius’ sole campaign was of no great importance”

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6
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ relationship with his freedmen and wives?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 25: “…he practically obeyed their whims rather than his own judgement”

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7
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ freedmen and senators/equestrians?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 29: lists a series of Claudius’ actions carried out at the request of his freedmen, including the execution of 35 senators and 300 equites.

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8
Q

What does Suetonius say about Polybius?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 28: “who often walked between the two consuls”.

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9
Q

What does Suetonius say about Pallas and Narcissus?

A

Suetonius Claudius 28: Claudius was “devoted to his secretary Narcissus and his treasurer Pallas”.

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10
Q

What does Pliny the Elder say about Claudius’ freedmen?

A

Pliny the Elder, Natural History 33: Callistus, Pallas and Narcissus had “even greater wealth than Crassus”.

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11
Q

What does Suetonius say about Messalina?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 29: Claudius “signed the contract of the dowry with his own hand” leading to her execution.

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12
Q

What does Tacitus say about Messalina?

A

Tacitus: suggests that Sillius and Messalina wanted to usurp Claudius but was prevented by Narcissus, who informed Claudius and led troops to end the attempted coup.

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13
Q

What does Suetonius say about Agrippina?

A

Suetonius: “Agrippina served the drug to him with her own hand in mushrooms”.

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14
Q

What does Seneca say about Claudius’ accession and the state of Rome?

A

Seneca, On the Shortness of Life: upon Claudius’ accession there was only seven or eight days’ food supply remaining.

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15
Q

What does the Dupondius of Claudius show?

A

Mintedin the beginning of his reign, the reverse shows Ceres holding corn and a torch, commemorating Claudius’ supervision of the corn supply.

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16
Q

What is the Inscription on the Freedman Procurator of Ostia?

A

Its a short inscription that reiterates Claudius’ use of his imperial freedmen to oversee key areas of adminstration.

17
Q

What does Pliny say about the completion of the Anio Novus and Aqua Claudia?

A

Pliny the Elder, Natural History 36: “commenced by the Emperor Gaius and completed by Claudius”

18
Q

What does Tacitus say about the completion of draining the Fucine lake?

A

Tacitus: it was “carelessly completed”.

19
Q

What does Suetonius say about the completion of the draining the Fucine lake?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 20: he is impressed by the sheer scale of the works, using some 30 000 men.

20
Q

What does Suetonius say about an attempted assassination on Claudius?

A

Suetonius: “A man of the commons was caught near [Claudius’] bedchamber in the middle of the night, dagger in hand”.

21
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ relationship with the Equestrians BEFORE he was emperor?

A

Suetonius, Claudius 6: “When Claudius appeared at public shows, the entire equestrian order would rise and take off their cloaks as a mark of honour”

22
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ relationship with the Plebs? (largesse)

A

Suetonius, Claudius 21: Claudius lavished largesse and entertainment upon the people.

23
Q

What does Suetonius say about Claudius’ relationship with the Plebs? (based on a rumour)

A

Suetonius, Claudius 12: tells us about a rumour that Claudius was killed on the Ostia road. “the people were horror stricken”