Caligula: The Corruption of Power (Paperback)

by Professor Anthony A. Barrett (Author) "WHEN THE FUTURE emperor Gaius Caligula was born, in AD 12, he came into a Roman world that had been dominated by a single individual..." (more)
Key Phrases: aes issues, maiestas trials, radiate head, Julius Caesar, Domus Tiberiana, Herod Agrippa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Making judicious use of the often incomplete and inconsistent sources from the life and rule of Caligula, Roman emperor A.D. 37-41, Barrett has succeeded in writing a detailed and full study intended to appeal to informed readers and students of Roman history. The historical significance of Caligula's reign is also examined, e.g., his treatment of Jews and plans to conquer Britain. In sum, Barrett's book offers new insights into a figure often avoided by academic biographers.
- Jackson P. Hershbell, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
'The book is founded on a comprehensive knowledge of the latest scholarship, and makes use of the most recent archaeological evidence.' - Greece and Rome --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (March 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300074298
• ISBN-13: 978-0300074291
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #132,232 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rational Biography of Caligula, June 1, 2000

By	D. A Wend (Buffalo Grove, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Taking a pragmatic look at infamous Roman emperors like Caligula and Nero may not be a popular thing to do (after all, it is more fun to think of them simply as crazy with no redeeming characteristics) but Anthony Barrett succeeds remarkably with this well-written book.

Caligula has been portrayed as a megalomaniac in films like The Robe and as seriously disturbed in "I, Claudius" and is the view people generally accept. Ancient historians were not like their modern counterparts who seek to reveal the truth behind people and events, and are not in agreement among themselves. Rather, their concern was to relate the truth as they saw it, and a bad emperor had to be bad man.

Mr. Barrett writes well and gives us a biography that can appeal to the historian and general reader. He examines the sources and archaeological evidence to provide a well-ground appraisal of Caligula's personality. The discussion is well reasoned and Mr. Barrett presents a good deal of material to support his conclusions. There is an excellent selection on the coins, inscriptions and portraits of Caligula, and a list of his victims with source citations. The personality that emerges may not be the one who slept with his sisters and thought he was Jove but a ruthless tyrant remains.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A tough, rambling read, June 24, 2003

By	Darrell Edward Ehrlick (Logan, Utah) - See all my reviews

Anthony Barrett, in his foreword, asks that scholars and academics shouldn't be too hard on him because "Caligula: Corruption of Power" is written for the popular consumption. If academics should judge him lightly, then the average reader should render a harsh verdict. This book is thick and rambling.

Barrett, sensitive to the great controversies about the life of Caligula, demonstrates that he has done his homework and provides every little detail he can. This ultimately has the effect of slowing the book down to an unimaginably slow pace and saps the life out of what should be an intriguing biography. While there are moments of pleasure one can derive from this historical sketch - for example Caligula's non-erotic relationship with his sisters - there is much that seems to be glanced over - like Caligula's relationship with the Emperor Tiberius.

The book has little sense of narrative and reads like an extended dissertation. This makes the reader feel like an outsider. We never quite grab ahold of the story, because the real story is buried under hundred of names, and equally as many side conversations.

One can appreciate that Barrett tried to present a balanced picture of Caligula; that is, he tried to put the various sources in some kind of perspective. This book is undoubtedly well reasearched and balanced. Moreover, there is very little speculating on what made Caligula tick. At least Barrett has enough respect for the reader to let them come to their own conclusions rather than over-analyzing a person in antiquity. However, while doing so he has created a book that is not fun to read and a portrait as colorless as the ancient Roman marble statues.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Paring Down of History's View On Gaius Caesar, January 6, 2005

By	Matthew P. Arsenault (SW Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In popular culture, the name Caligula has come to represent violence, madness, depravity and untold evil. However, few people have taken the time to study and wade through the many and often conflicting histories of Gaius Caesar, more readily known as Caligula.

Throughout history, Emperor Gaius Caesar, has been portrayed as the epitome of a ruthless despot, who disgustingly and savagely exploited his position of power. However, Dr. Barrett successfully attempts to pare down the historical exaggerations regarding Gaius' reign, and debunk many of the myths that were the result of grudges and prejudices espoused by antiquity's historians, most notably the famed Dio and Suetonius.

Barrett maintains that Caligula did indeed exploit his power, going so far as to force the wives of Roman nobles to enter his bedroom, flay and execute those seen as potential usurpers with little or no evidence, and occasionally fulfilling whims that can only be seen to border on madness.

Still, Barrett contends that these traits were not solely confined to the reign of Caligula. Rather, Barrett provides evidence that the unseemly behavior of Gaius Caesar was not uncommon to nearly all of the Julio-Claudian emperors.

"All of the Julio-Claudians exhibit to some degree the same combination of a passion for vulgar pursuits and a lively interest in matters of the intellect."-Barrett

Aside from Barrett's comparison between emperors, he provides enlightening insight into the works of Dio and Suetonius, perhaps the foremost historians of Caligula's reign. In his work, Barrett examines the possible flaws in the works of both Dio and Suetonius, exploring and reinterpreting much of the material in order to better understand the actual mentality of Caligula.

For example, Barrett argues that many of the tales of Gaius' debauchery could actually be rooted in the Emperor's sharp, albeit crude humor. He argues that many of Caligula's notable acts of depravity may not have occurred, but were the result of misinformation and rumor, based upon Caligula's scathing and unpredictable wit. It is contended that Caligula's words caused more upset than his actions.

Although Barrett's account of Caligula does not release the emperor of any of his infamy, it places his behavior into the realm of the less spectacular. Barrett argues that rather than epitomize an evil despot, Gaius Caesar was simply one of many emperors of the time who were corrupted by power and found themselves filling their animalistic and hedonistic desires, often at the expense of their subjects.