Biographical sketches of the "five good" Roman emperors: Nerva,
Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, as well as
the "bad emperor" Commodus. These short biographies are followed by
an allegorical exercise in the form of imaginary letters from
emperor to emperor that reveal a progression in their characters
that parallels the moral development of a single individual. To
simplify: from shrewdness (Nerva) to activity (Trajan) to knowledge
(Hadrian) to virtue (Antoninus Pius) to wisdom (Marcus Aurelius).
How could Marcus Aurelius' son Commodus (the bad guy in "Gladiator"
and "Fall of the Roman Empire") surpass his excellent predecessors?
According to history, he didn't. He broke the string of good
emperors and his reign began an unrelenting decline in the Empire.
However, he certainly tried to outdo all previous rulers - by
attaining god-consciousness. He proclaimed himself to be the
reincarnation of Hercules and the "son of God." This book is not a
serious reappraisal of Commodus, but it may give a greater
understanding of his aspirations in light of his predecessors and
his father's values and advice (as shown in selected passages from
the famous "Meditations"). By the author of "Great Women of
Imperial Rome," "Roman Empresses," "Bulla Felix: The Roman Robin
Hood," and "Vipsania: A Roman Odyssey."
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