As an art history major/studio minor with a concentration in medieval art, I still recall reading about one of the Roman emperors (Caligula or Elagabulus?) who fancied himself something of a scribe and would use the (detached) tongues of his enemies to blot up ink and make corrections on his manuscripts.
Heh. Sure, he was ruthless and crazy, but ya gotta love his style. /rimshot
The real allegation —
Caligula used tongues to blot ink?
https://search.brave.com/search?q=Caligula+used+tongues+to+blot+ink%3F&summary=1
Caligula is reported to have forced losers in an oratory competition to erase their wax tablets with their tongues, according to ancient sources like Suetonius.
This act is described in Suetonius’ Life of Caligula, where it is listed among his bizarre and sadistic entertainments.
The anecdote highlights Caligula’s reputation for using public humiliation and cruelty as a form of amusement.
While the story is part of a broader narrative of Caligula’s erratic and tyrannical behavior, its historical accuracy is debated, as the sources are largely hostile and lack corroboration.
This specific incident exemplifies the extreme and shocking nature of the tales surrounding Caligula, though modern historians caution that these accounts may reflect political propaganda rather than verified facts.
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.