Rearview Mirror Chronicles

Rome's Scandalous Emperors

Keith Hockton Season 1 Episode 86

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How depraved was Caligula? More than Tiberius? How monstrous was Nero? The dark reputations of these emperors owe a great deal to the Roman writer Suetonius, whose 121 AD work, "Lives of the Caesars" offered intimate portraits of 12 rulers of Rome - from Julius Caesar to Domitian. 

Join Keith as he interviews historian and podcaster Tom Holland who has just produced a new translation of the "Lives", as he speaks about the profound influence of Suetonius' work on today's society - and whether it's an example of ancient fake news.