I Claudius episode 8 (2/6) "Zeus by Jove"

Thanks to all for being patient, here is the 8th episode of the series "I Claudius"

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Claudius
• Caligula
• mesalina
• murder
• mother
• suicide
• herod
• rome
• emperor
• cesar
• zeus
• by
• jove
• crazy
• insane
• god

[jonwiley]

Finally, an opinion of reason. The purposes of both "Rome" and "I, Claudius" are to ENTERTAIN. They are based on historical events, not meant to be taken literally has history. Are some viewers really that credulous that everything they see must be literal and true?

[verkaforever]

I couldn't agree more! This is the performance of John Hurt's career.

[sqccccccccc]

Calligulla's psychotic.

[3baxcb]

@supertrouper2 One program put the idea that Caligula added a sweetener called defrutum to his wine which was mixed in a lead bowl. His excessive drinking would have damaged his health, resulting in his near-death experience.

[womanofnoimportance]

@paisabombom2133 Have actually watched and understood any of the stuff you say you've watched? Claudius is far from "retarded". He has a limp and he stammers, but he is highly intelligent.

[supertrouper2]

I read somewhere that the Emperor Caligula actually suffered from a brain tumor.

.

[paisabombom2133]

did claudious have some mental illness cuz everytime i c in the movie caligula or any rome series and they always put a retarded guy as claudious

[3baxcb]

@Coleburg The one benefit of a proscription. Tiberius' stepfather Augustus knew that well when he was know as Octavian and did the same to anyone he and Antony believed murdered Caesar or sided with Brutus and Cassius.

Make a list of political opponents with great wealth. Label them as traitors, murderers, enemies of the state, etc. Forgo due process of the time. Kill them and anyone else you see fit. Compensate their wealth and leave their families impoverished.

[3baxcb]

@deriter64 Another theory was that Caligula suffered lead poisoning due to a sweetener that was made in a lead bowl to retain the flavour and add to wine. Caligula drank a bit excessively and damaged his brain as a result. That and with the fact he was at Tiberius' mercy as he family died at the emperor's orders, he likely had a warped regard for human life in general.

[3baxcb]

@jonwiley True, especially for I Claudius. He was a moderate ruler but becomes more sympathetic figure if the other emperors are shown with such negative characteristics (likely exaggerated) and especially with Caligula. How can we emphasize with Claudius if we show Augustus' graceful rule, Tiberius stern focus on economics, Caligula's appeal to the common people and legions and Nero's love of theatre and arts to the Eastern provinces? Not as much I say.

[deriter64]

Caligula was as bent as many Roman emperors from the get go but in fairness his worst atrocities occurred after he survived what may have been encephalitis, which can be the equivalent of putting a brain in microwave. Whatever the truth it can't detract from John Hurt's brilliant performance.