A sensational narrative about the lives of Roman emperors has made its way onto the bestseller lists, two millennia after it was penned.
Biography of Caesars
It appears that sex scandals and foreign policy missteps are not just issues facing contemporary politicians; even in the early second century, the historian Suetonius documented the exploits of the initial Roman emperors. Their misbehaviors and peculiarities have now been rediscovered in a newly translated work that is gaining popularity in bookstores.
The book comprises a series of 12 biographies that detail the period of governance of Julius Caesar and the initial eleven Roman emperors. When he learned that it was on the charts, Holland was “thrilled for Suetonius, glad to see the young man has managed to make it onto the bestseller list after two thousand years.”
Holland mentions several factors that contribute to the ongoing intrigue with Rome. It has consistently been the ancient civilization that captivates those in Britain and the West, in part due to Britain’s historical connection as a part of the Roman Empire and the use of the Latin alphabet in English. He suggests that there is a stronger sense of connection to the Romans than to civilizations like the Egyptians or the Assyrians.
Appeal of Ancient Rome
Nonetheless, “our perception of power is significantly influenced by Rome more than any other source.” The US “Republican system was inspired by that of ancient Rome; however, the Roman Republic eventually fell into autocracy. Consequently, there’s always been a concern in America that a Republican form of government could lead to autocratic rule, and it seems that this concern is particularly relevant right now.”
In the early second century AD, during Hadrian’s reign, Suetonius authored “The Lives of the Caesars”, often referred to as “The Twelve Caesars”. According to Holland, its enduring popularity can be attributed to its abundance of sensational gossip. He compares it to a highbrow gossip column from ancient Rome, filled with scandal and remarkable detail, while also displaying keen psychological insight.
Read “The Twelve Caesars”