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A bust of emperor Caligula. Source: Aaron Rutten / Adobe Stock

The Mad Emperor Caligula Declared He Was God

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Caligula was one of Rome’s most tyrannical emperors. His reign from 37-41 AD was filled with murder and debauchery at levels even his infamous nephew Nero could not reach. He was also mad. Aside from trying to make his horse a consul in the Roman Senate and naming it an offence punishable by death to talk about goats in his presence, Caligula also elevated himself to the status of God.

Caligula was only 25 years old when he became the emperor of Rome in 37 AD. Finally freed from being the “pampered prisoner” of his father’s murderer, Caligula was a loved and welcomed emperor. He granted bonuses to those in the military, eliminated unfair taxes, and freed those who had been unjustly imprisoned. He also hosted lavish chariot races, gladiator shows, and plays. But in the latter years of his life, his behavior became so outlandish and extreme that many believe he was suffering from insanity.

One of Caligula’s most egregious acts was in declaring that he was a living god. He ordered the construction of a bridge between his palace and the Temple of Jupiter, so that he could meet with the deity. He also began appearing in public dressed as various gods and demigods such as Hercules, Mercury, Venus, and Apollo.

Caligula tried to make his horse consul in the Roman senate, a clear sign of his madness! ( Lunstream / Adobe Stock)

Caligula tried to make his horse consul in the Roman senate, a clear sign of his madness! ( Lunstream / Adobe Stock)

Caligula began referring to himself as a god when meeting with politicians and he was referred to as Jupiter on occasion in public documents. Caligula had the heads removed from various statues of gods and replaced with his own. Two temples were erected to worship Caligula the god in Rome. The Temple of Castor and Pollux was connected to the imperial residence and dedicated to Caligula. He would appear there on occasion and present himself as a god to the public.

As Caligula’s actions became more outrageous, the people of Rome began to hate him, and wished to remove him from power. At one point, Caligula declared to the Senate that he would be leaving Rome and moving to Egypt, where he would be worshipped as a living god. Indeed, he was represented as a sun god on Egyptian coins.

On January 24, 41 AD, a group of guards attacked Caligula after a sporting event, stabbing him more than 30 times and burying him in a shallow grave. Far from being given godlike status after his death, as many emperors before him, the Senate pushed to have Caligula erased from Roman history – a humiliating end for Rome’s “living god.”

Read more: The Madness of Caligula: Rome’s Cruelest Emperor?

 

Comments

Sounds like many politicians today.

Hi All,

My favorite Era in History The Roman Empire.

If people really examined what went wrong with Caligula there be too many factor's.

What little I came to know about Caligula is his Father was Germanicus an a beloved Soldier Hero of The Roman People. Caligula got The name "Little Boot's" because when Germanicus came home from successful Military Campaign's little Gauis Julius Caesar would ride in his father's Chariot.

The Emperor Tiberius A Perverted Pedophile of Slave Boy's 7 to 10 year's old carted to his palace in Naples often when through with the slave boys were cast into The Rocky ledge into The Sea jealous of the people's love for Germanicus had Him Poisoned.

Germanicus widow enraged pointed fingers at Tiberius who promptly had Her imprisoned an eventually Executed Her along with her two older Son's including Caligula imprisoned.

Caligula older brother's died by Starvation Tiberius denied Them Food Caligula's Sister's were taken and married off accept for Drusilla Caligula's favorite Sister they became incestuous with each other when Caligula was 17 year's old.

It is believed by some Historians that Caligula was one of the Boy's Tiberius Sexually Assaulted repeatedly, an eventually left Caligula on some Island that was apart of The Roman Empire where nothing but, Orgies happened on an daily basis.

It was believed that either Tiberius Guard's or Caligula Assassinated Him and Caligula took the The Ring to be proclaimed The New Emperor of Rome. The People rejoiced having their Heroes Son in Power.

Caligula still kept seeing Drusilla but, later he started up relationships with his two older Sister's as well but, Drusilla was in fact His favorite.

Caligula's incestuous relationship with his Sister's most likely stemmed from Rome's Deities the same one's Caligula would say That He was Jupiter other time's Apollo other time's the goddesses.

In term's of the Roman Belief's straight out from the Greco-Roman Stories Uranus was The Sky Heaven Earth was Gaia accept Uranus was supposed to have been Gaias Son

Gaia and Uranus were married and has Children which repulsed Uranus so He locked them away within Gaia which caused such Pain in travails of labor so Gaia cries for relief and only the Youngest son Cronus in Rome Saturn using a Scythe castrate his own father to help his mother.

Well Saturn married his sister Rhea an his made King of The Race Titan's ( which did walk the Earth Bible says Nephilims), have a bunch of children but, dooming prophecy regarding his own children over throwing Him.

So He swallows Them accept the Youngest Son Zeus or Jupiter
saved by his mother an his gotten away to Crete.

It's possible Caligula believed later on in life he was Jupiter because that's what happened too Him His family was destroyed by Saturn aka Tiberius all he had left were his 3 Sister's remember Tiberius made his brothers die by Starvation his mother imprisoned but his fathered a Hero in his Eyes was Poisoned due to Tiberius Jealousy of how popular Germanicus was with The Roman People.

Everything started out great when He first sat on the Throne Ruling The Empire then a Mysterious Illness that No one Really know"s what happened after He seemed too have gotten better from his illness He went Deranged.

All the insane thing's he Survived in Life sone Time after his recovery Drusilla died which sent him straight into mourning and He made the Empire Mourn with Him.

There are so many factors He could have had all Three VD's Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B or C, and Syphilis because the guy had Sex with Everybody Slaves, Free, Prostitutes both Sexes Senator's Wives/Senator's Husband's.

The only Political Group that had the Power to remove Caligula was The Protorians Guard's who stabbed Him 36 Time's.

Some people don't know how too Die reportedly After his State Execution his Ghost was heard walking in the area where he was murdered his two sister's took his bones and gave him a proper Funeral an when that was complete The Mysterious Walking an sounds were heard No more.

So that's the basis I'm aware of with Caligula.

Okay now until next discussion Everyone Goodbye!

Hi All,

My favorite Era in History The Roman Empire.

If people really examined what went wrong with Caligula there be too many factor's.

What little I came to know about Caligula is his Father was Germanicus an a beloved Soldier Hero of The Roman People. Caligula got The name "Little Boot's" because when Germanicus came home from successful Military Campaign's little Gauis Julius Caesar would ride in his father's Chariot.

The Emperor Tiberius A Perverted Pedophile of Slave Boy's 7 to 10 year's old carted to his palace in Naples often when through with the slave boys were cast into The Rocky ledge into The Sea jealous of the people's love for Germanicus had Him Poisoned.

Germanicus widow enraged pointed fingers at Tiberius who promptly had Her imprisoned an eventually Executed Her along with her two older Son's including Caligula imprisoned.

Caligula older brother's died by Starvation Tiberius denied Them Food Caligula's Sister's were taken and married off accept for Drusilla Caligula's favorite Sister they became incestuous with each other when Caligula was 17 year's old.

It is believed by some Historians that Caligula was one of the Boy's Tiberius Sexually Assaulted repeatedly, an eventually left Caligula on some Island that was apart of The Roman Empire where nothing but, Orgies happened on an daily basis.

It was believed that either Tiberius Guard's or Caligula Assassinated Him and Caligula took the The Ring to be proclaimed The New Emperor of Rome. The People rejoiced having their Heroes Son in Power.

Caligula still kept seeing Drusilla but, later he started up relationships with his two older Sister's as well but, Drusilla was in fact His favorite.

Caligula's incestuous relationship with his Sister's most likely stemmed from Rome's Deities the same one's Caligula would say That He was Jupiter other time's Apollo other time's the goddesses.

In term's of the Roman Belief's straight out from the Greco-Roman Stories Uranus was The Sky Heaven Earth was Gaia accept Uranus was supposed to have been Gaias Son

Gaia and Uranus were married and has Children which repulsed Uranus so He locked them away within Gaia which caused such Pain in travails of labor so Gaia cries for relief and only the Youngest son Cronus in Rome Saturn using a Scythe castrate his own father to help his mother.

Well Saturn married his sister Rhea an his made King of The Race Titan's ( which did walk the Earth Bible says Nephilims), have a bunch of children but, dooming prophecy regarding his own children over throwing Him.

So He swallows Them accept the Youngest Son Zeus or Jupiter
saved by his mother an his gotten away to Crete.

It's possible Caligula believed later on in life he was Jupiter because that's what happened too Him His family was destroyed by Saturn aka Tiberius all he had left were his 3 Sister's remember Tiberius made his brothers die by Starvation his mother imprisoned but his fathered a Hero in his Eyes was Poisoned due to Tiberius Jealousy of how popular Germanicus was with The Roman People.

Everything started out great when He first sat on the Throne Ruling The Empire then a Mysterious Illness that No one Really know"s what happened after He seemed too have gotten better from his illness He went Deranged.

All the insane thing's he Survived in Life sone Time after his recovery Drusilla died which sent him straight into mourning and He made the Empire Mourn with Him.

There are so many factors He could have had all Three VD's Gonorrhea, Hepatitis B or C, and Syphilis because the guy had Sex with Everybody Slaves, Free, Prostitutes both Sexes Senator's Wives/Senator's Husband's.

The only Political Group that had the Power to remove Caligula was The Protorians Guard's who stabbed Him 36 Time's.

Some people don't know how too Die reportedly After his State Execution his Ghost was heard walking in the area where he was murdered his two sister's took his bones and gave him a proper Funeral an when that was complete The Mysterious Walking an sounds were heard No more.

So that's the basis I'm aware of with Caligula.

Okay now until next discussion Everyone Goodbye!

Joanna Gillan's picture

Joanna

Joanna Gillan is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. 

Joanna completed a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree in Australia and published research in the field of Educational Psychology. She has a rich and varied career, ranging from teaching... Read More

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