Caligula's Roman Palace Discovered

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 8-8-2003 | Bruce Johnson

[blam]

Caligula's Roman palace discovered

By Bruce Johnston in Rome (Filed: 08/08/2003)

The ancient palace in Rome that provided the backdrop for many of Emperor Caligula's wildest depravities has been found by British and American archaeologists.

After two months of digs at the edge of the Forum close to the Palatine Hill, the group - involving Oxford and Stanford Universities, the British School at Rome, and the American Institute for Roman Culture - were confident that they had found the site.

While it had been known from ancient sources that the palace was in the area, it had never been located with archaeological proof.

Now for the first time it has been located at the foot of the Palatine Hill, at a point where it met and joined the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

The discovery confirmed the belief that Caligula - who had himself deified - had the audacity to incorporate the sacred temple into his home.

Dr Andrew Wilson of Oxford University, in charge of the excavation, said that his team had discovered evidence of the walls of the palace actually going into the temple - something that in the ancient world was "just not done".

"It would be like extending your back garden into St Paul's Cathedral," he said.

Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, head of the British School, said yesterday: "The ancient sources claim that Caligula transformed the Temple of Castor and Pollux into the vestibule of his palace. The new excavations greatly strengthen the case for supposing that Caligula's building actually came up to the temple.

"It might seem crazy to knock a doorway in the back of a temple to transform into your front door, but crazy is exactly what the sources say Caligula was."

Caligula, born in AD 12, was stabbed to death in AD 41 by the Praetorian Guard as Rome grew weary of his excesses. He believed himself to be the supreme God Zeus and made his horse a senator.

[agitator]

ping

[speedy]

Everybody should go to Rome ping. Stunning city.

[Arkinsaw]

And in other news, Bill Clinton announced a rush trip to visit the site to obtain the floor plans.

[floriduh voter]

Most likely x-42's ancestors.

[floriduh voter]

bttt & fixin' my tag line.

[NewYorker]

The Uday of his time.

[Gumption]

... and sink dimensions.

[lunatic12]

"and made his horse a senator"

...as did Bill Clinton.

[Howlin]

Was Gore Vidal there?

[donozark]

Hell, the Clinton library has been in Little Rock for....well, months? But the port-a-potties have been there for years. In fact, Klintler was still Governor when first installed.

[FreedomCalls]

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suetonius-caligula.html

[austingirl]

He only lived to be 29 - somehow I always thought of an old lecher/debaucher when I pictured Caligula.

[maestro]

.........and made his horse a senator.

?......NY...?

:-)

[Dead Dog]

and made his horse a senator.

Check it out, I found his hourse!

[DoughtyOne]

And there on the wall was this Fresco.
"Clintigula"

[Spok]

Caligula's palace...I would have given odds it was in Hope, Arkansas.

[LaMudBug]

Penthouse Magazine made and released a movie named "Caligua". Does anyone know where a tape of the movie can be obtained.

[Billthedrill]

Ah, yes, nubile Roman countesses lounging nekkid, beautiful slave girls popping grapes into one's mouth, gorgeous partician damsels at the baths, wild orgies at the Palatine, all-night gropefests at the Forum, wine flowing in the fountains, lovely hetaerae wearing nothing but body oil and gorging themselves on hummingbird tongue pate, yep, it's just another Saturday night at BtD's place.

.

.

.

.

...well, that's what's on the television, anyhow. (Sigh...)

[John Beresford Tipton]

Went to a lecture on Roman Sculpture a few months ago. One of the pieces that was discussed was a bust of "Boots" Caligula.

Was in the 42nd St. library about a week later, just off the main entrance they have busts of distinguished classical figures. Imagine my surprise, "Yo Boots, it's I, JBT"!
I'm quite sure whoever put it up didn't realize of whom it was a likeness.