Caligula Quotes

Question 1

What does Suetonius say about Gaius’ accession?

Answer 1

Suetonius, Gaius 13: “Gaius’ accession seemed to the Roman people…like the answer to their prayers”.

Question 2

What does the Denarius of Gaius show?

Answer 2

Minted AD 37. Obverse shows the head of Gaius and the reverse shows the head of Germanicus. This could be an attempt to gain popularity with the military.

Question 3

What does Suetonius say about Caligula’s character?

Answer 3

Suetonius, Gaius 22: “So much for Gaius the Emperor, the rest of this history must needs deal with Gaius the monster”

Question 4

What does Dio say about Caligula’s character?

Answer 4

Dio: “He had seemed at first so democratic” … “yet he became most autocratic”.

Question 5

What does Seneca say about Caligula’s character?

Answer 5

Seneca: Gaius was a “mad beast” and that “brutalities were his daily bread and butter”.

Question 6

What does the Quadrans of Gaius show?

Answer 6

Minted AD 39. The obverse shows a pileus cap and the reverse says “RCC”, remission of the 0.5% auction tax.

Question 7

What does Pliny the Elder say about Caligula’s building programme?

Answer 7

Pliny the Elder, Natural History 36: Constructed public aqueducts, including the Anio Novus.

Question 8

What does Dio say about Caligula’s character (Taxation)?

Answer 8

Dio, Roman History 59.28: says he even introduced new and more severe taxation measures, resulting in the plebs storming the Circus maximus.

Question 9

What does Suetonius say about Caligula’s character through his building programme?

Answer 9

Suetonius, Gaius 19: Gaius built a bridge of boats at Baiae, as well as pleasure barges on Lake Nemi.

Question 10

What does Dio say about Caligula and his accepting of honours?

Answer 10

Dio: “he took in one day all the honours which Augustus had with difficulty been induced to accept”.

Question 11

What does Suetonius say about Caligula’s relationship with the equestrians?

Answer 11

Suetonius: “he constantly tongue-lashed the equestrian order”.

Question 12

What does Suetonius say about Caligula’s relationship with the plebs?

Answer 12

Suetonius: Gaius publicly spoke out negatively about his people. “let them hate me as long as they fear me”. “I wish the Roman people had but a single neck”.

Question 13

What does Dio say about Caligula’s relationship with the plebs?

Answer 13

Dio: records Tiberius telling Gaius “show no affection for any of them…they all hate you…they all pray for your death”.

Question 14

What does Dio say about Caligula’s attitude towards religion?

Answer 14

Dio: “in every respect he wanted to appear more than just a human being an emperor”.

Question 15

What does Dio say about Caligula building temples?

Answer 15

Dio: “built in Rome itself two temples of his own, one that had been granted him by vote of the senate”.

Question 16

What does Josephus say about Caligula accepting honours?

Answer 16

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 19.4: “claiming from his subjects honours no longer appropriate for mortal men”.

Question 17

What does Josephus say about Caligula’s attitude towards religion?

Answer 17

Josephus: “he aspired to be, and to be seen to be, superior to the laws of gods and man”

Question 18

What does Suetonius say about Caligula’s building of a shrine?

Answer 18

Suetonius: “He established a shrine to himself as God…with a life sized golden image”.

Question 19

What does Dio say about Caligula’s assassination?

Answer 19

Dio, 59.29: “everybody kept stabbing him savagely, even though he was dead”.

Question 20

What does Seneca say about Chaerea’s motive for assassination Caligula?

Answer 20

Seneca, On Firmness of Purpose: claims the ultimate motive for Chaerea to assassinate Gaius was due to his constant insults towards him for effeminacy.