Commodus: An Emperor at the Crossroads

Description

The emperor Commodus (AD 180-192) has commonly been portrayed as an insane madman, whose reign marked the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Indeed, the main point of criticism on his father, Marcus Aurelius, is that he appointed his son as his successor. Especially Commodus behaviour as a gladiator, and the way he represented himself with divine attributes (especially those of Hercules), are often used as evidence for the emperor s presumed madness. However, this political biography will apply modern interpretations of the spectacles in the arena, and of the imperial cult, to Commodus' reign. It will focus on the dissemination and reception of imperial images, and suggest that there was a method in Commodus madness." Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations Introduction The historiographical tradition:Cassius Dio, Herodian and the Historia Augusta Sending out messages: Visual programmes and ideology Being another? Association, assimilation and identification Hercules, an ambiguous divinity Part one: Ruling the empire 1. Adoptive emperors and a purple-born princeps The political 'system' of the adoptive emperors Born to rule Promoting a prince The revolt of Avidius Cassius The aftermath of the revolt 2. Commodus' sole reign The first few years A province beyond the Danube? Choosing to return The peace settlement Commodus' return and the Lucilla conspiracy Change and continuity in government The years of the two great 'regents' Perennis The Bellum Desertorum Cleander All the emperor's men The final years The final conspiracy The provinces Amici, advisors, and the emperor Part two: Representing the rule 3. Images of divinity Coining an image Princeps Iuventutis Commodus Pius Felix A divine emperor and his gods Statuary and the message from the coins Commodus, Janus, Jupiter and Sol Commodus-Hercules Herakliskos-Commodus The Capitoline bust The Colossus of Commodus Lysippus' Hercules The gladiatorial haircut Mercury and Mithras, the invisible identification Representing the emperor 4. An emperor on display Gladiatorial games: spectacles of power Commodus the gladiator The games and their spectators 5. Images and understanding Commodus and the soldiers Provincial attitudes Local coinage and imperial policy Celebrating the emperor: the Kommodeia Opinions of private people Seeing and believing In word and deed: The literary reception Marcus Aurelius Prosenes Succeeding a god Fighting for Hercules Divi Commodi Frater Septimius Severus and Hercules Conclusion Saevior Domitiano, impurior Nerone? Appendices Commodus' buildings and statues Ridicule and criticism Bibliography Index List of figures Figures