Life Of Caesar

<p>It's August 70 CE, and the siege of Jerusalem is entering its apocalyptic final act. In this episode, Cameron and Ray pick up where the last one left off — starving rebels launching desperate sorties against exhausted Roman legionaries, Titus ordering his men to burn down the silver-coated temple gates to finally crack open the last Jewish stronghold, and the mounting pressure on one of the ancient world's most sacred structures. Before the walls even fall, Cameron takes a deep dive into the remarkable cast of Jesuses and Ananiases haunting Josephus's account of the war — including a wild-eyed plebeian prophet named Jesus son of Ananias, who spent seven years and five months wandering Jerusalem's streets howling "Woe to Jerusalem!" until a Roman siege engine stone ended his career mid-prophecy. Cameron draws pointed connections between this forgotten street-prophet and the Gospel accounts of Jesus of Nazareth, noting that the Gospel of Matthew — written around 75–80 CE, after Jerusalem had already fallen — may owe more to Josephus's war stories than to genuine prophecy. Then history's most consequential act of arson takes centre stage: against Titus's explicit orders, an unnamed Roman soldier — dubbed "Carl" by Cameron and Ray in an extended bit of comedy gold — hurled a burning torch through a golden-framed window of the Temple, setting in motion a conflagration that consumed one of the ancient world's greatest buildings while Titus himself was still inside the Holy of Holies. The looting that followed was so spectacular it caused a gold glut across Syria, halving the price of the metal. Titus freed roughly 40,000 non-combatants into the smouldering ruin of their city — good news delivered alongside very bad news. The end of the siege is now finally within sight.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/goddamn-it-carl-vespasian-17/">Goddamn it, Carl! – Vespasian #17</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>It's 70 CE, the walls of Jerusalem are crumbling, and the city is eating itself alive — literally. In this episode of Life of Caesar, Cameron and Ray wade deep into Josephus's harrowing account of the final, grinding assault on the Antonia Fortress and the Temple Mount, where the siege of Jerusalem has reached a level of horror almost beyond comprehension. Titus is still trying to take the city intact, still offering surrender terms that rebel leader John of Gischala keeps refusing, even as 600,000 corpses have been thrown out of the gates and the starving population has been reduced to eating dung, leather belts, and — in one unforgettable episode — a widow named Mary from Perea who roasts and eats her own infant son, leaving even Jerusalem's most hardened killers staggering into the street in shock. Meanwhile, the Roman assaults keep producing their own gruesome catalogue of disasters: brave volunteers like Sabinus the Syrian and the Abian centurion Julian charge the walls in spectacular solo acts of courage, only to be undone by the cruel physics of hobnailed caliga boots sliding out on blood-slicked marble floors. A trumpeter and sixteen centuries break into the Antonia in a daring pre-dawn raid, a legionnaire named Longus cuts his own throat rather than surrender or burn, and a soldier called Artorius survives a sixty-foot jump by landing on — and killing — his tentmate Lucius, who had agreed to catch him in exchange for his inheritance. Through it all, Josephus insists it wasn't the Romans but God himself who condemned the Jews, a theological contortion Cameron links to the writing of the Gospel of Mark and the birth of Christianity from the ashes of the Temple. There's also a lengthy and highly entertaining detour into medieval witch trials, broomsticks, and the surprisingly pharmaceutical origins of flying — Cameron has been reading Carlo Ginzburg, and he has things to tell you about salves and sticks that will change how you watch *Wicked* forever.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/slip-trip-and-slit-vespasian-16/">Slip, Trip, and Slit – Vespasian #16</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-13-titus-likes-it-tight/">Vespasian #13 – Titus Likes It Tight</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/gallienus-the-pragmatist-who-kept-rome-alive/">Gallienus: The Pragmatist Who Kept Rome Alive</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-7-birds-betrayal-and-the-birth-of-christianity/">Vespasian #7 – Birds, Betrayal, and the Birth of Christianity</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-6-bitumen-blood-and-bias/">Vespasian #6 – Bitumen, Blood, and Bias</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-5-circumcision-sabbath-and-salt/">Vespasian #5 – Circumcision, Sabbath, and Salt</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-4-marc-hyden-author-emperor-titus/">Vespasian #4 – Marc Hyden, author, “Emperor Titus”</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-3-the-sticky-wicket/">Vespasian #3 – The Sticky Wicket</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-2-big-dick-imperium-vespasians-real-power-brokers/">Vespasian #2 – Big Dick Imperium: Vespasian’s Real Power Brokers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vespasian-1-welcome-to-vespasian/">Vespasian #1 – Welcome to Vespasian</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vitellius-20-despite-everything-i-was-your-emperor/">Vitellius #20 – Despite Everything, I Was Your Emperor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vitellius-19-romes-civil-war-gets-horny/">Vitellius #19 – Rome’s Civil War Gets Horny</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vitellius-14-order-66/">Vitellius #14 – Order 66</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vitellius-9-strike-first-strike-hard-no-mercy/">Vitellius #9 – STRIKE FIRST, STRIKE HARD, NO MERCY</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vitellius-5-the-mule-guy/">Vitellius #5 – The Mule Guy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/vitellius-1-the-third-new-emperor/">Vitellius #1 – The Third New Emperor</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/otho-12-fortitude-and-firmness/">Otho #12 – Fortitude and Firmness</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>The Praetorians push for a fast campaign because they didn't want to spend any more time away from the comforts of Rome than necessary. Unfortunately, in letting them drive the strategy, Otho sealed his doom.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/otho-10-the-comforts-of-home/">Otho #10 – The Comforts of Home</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>In our last episode, we finished on June 9, 68. Nero was 30 years and six months old. He had ruled for 13 years and 8 months. On June 10, 68, while he was still in Spain, The Senate declared the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, northern Spain, 73 year old Servius Sulpicius Galba, to be the new Emperor. He was the first person from outside of the Julio-Claudian family to assume the throne.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/galba-1-republic-schmublic/">Galba #1 – Republic Schmublic</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>With the recent demise on our show of Nero's favourite Stoic, Seneca, we wanted to go balls deep on Stoicism. To help us out, our guest Michael Tremblay, who has a PhD in philosophy, where he studied Stoic ethics and education, came on and talk to us about the history and ideas behind the philosophy and the importance of Seneca. Here's part one of our discussion.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-32-michael-tremblay-on-stoicism-part-1/">Nero #32 – Michael Tremblay On Stoicism (part 1)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero has some freedmen executed but the stories are murky. The Parthians decide to try their luck taking back Armenia while Corbulo tries to keep the peace. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-24-the-pisonian-conspiracy/">NERO #24 – The Pisonian Conspiracy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero has some freedmen executed but the stories are murky. The Parthians decide to try their luck taking back Armenia while Corbulo tries to keep the peace. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-23-the-great-fire-of-rome/">NERO #23 – The Great Fire Of Rome</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero has some freedmen executed but the stories are murky. The Parthians decide to try their luck taking back Armenia while Corbulo tries to keep the peace. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-22-constantine-at-the-bridge/">NERO #22 – CONSTANTINE AT THE BRIDGE</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero has some freedmen executed but the stories are murky. The Parthians decide to try their luck taking back Armenia while Corbulo tries to keep the peace. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-21-promiscuous-thong/">NERO #21 – PROMISCUOUS THONG</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero has some freedmen executed but the stories are murky. The Parthians decide to try their luck taking back Armenia while Corbulo tries to keep the peace. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-20-beast-of-burden/">Nero #20 – BEAST OF BURDEN</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero has some freedmen executed but the stories are murky. The Parthians decide to try their luck taking back Armenia while Corbulo tries to keep the peace. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-19-oh-no-mens/">Nero #19 – OH NO MENS</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>This is part two of a massive two-and-a-half-hour chat we had recently Edward J. Watts, a professor of history at the University of California, San Diego, and author and editor of several prize-winning books, including THE FINAL PAGAN GENERATION, a great book about HYPATIA, a book out about the collapse of the Roman Republic, MORTAL REPUBLIC, and his latest book is THE ETERNAL DECLINE AND FALL OF ROME. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-18-eternal-decline-part-2/">Nero #18 – Eternal Decline Part 2</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Edward J. Watts is a professor of history at the University of California, San Diego, and author and editor of several prize-winning books, including THE FINAL PAGAN GENERATION, a great book about HYPATIA, a book out about the collapse of the Roman Republic, MORTAL REPUBLIC, and his latest book is THE ETERNAL DECLINE AND FALL OF ROME. This is part one of a massive two-and-a-half-hour chat we had recently. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-17-eternal-decline-part-1/">Nero #17 – Eternal Decline Part 1</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>With Seneca out of the way, Tigellinus brings down the other prefect, Rufus. To strengthen his relationship with Nero, he increases his paranoia about the two men Nero had recently exiled for being threats to his power - Plautus and Sulla. Poppaea, not happy with Nero just divorcing Octavia, makes sure she gets rid of her forever. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-16-your-filthy-little-mouth/">Nero #16 – Your Filthy Little Mouth</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>In the year 61, Nero deals with riots, treason, Stoics and the death of one of his key advisors. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-15-400-slaves/">Nero #15 – 400 Slaves</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Boudicea wins round one. But Suetonius has bloodshed and destruction on his mind. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-14-bloodshed-and-destruction/">Nero #14 – Bloodshed And Destruction</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Corbulo finishes round one in Armenia and gets a promotion. Meanwhile in Britain, a certain queen decides to take on the Romans - Boudicea. Exactly why, though, is a bit of a mystery. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-13-boudicea/">Nero #13 – Badass Boudicea</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Agrippina is dead and Nero decides to party. Tacitus disapproves. He doesn’t like Nero’s parties and he doesn’t like his poetry. But then a comet appears, and everyone assumes it means the end of Nero’s reign - so they start looking for a replacement.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-12-filthy-rabble/">Nero #12 – Filthy Rabble</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Stephen Dando-Collins is an Australian historical author, who, like me, once sold his soul to the gods of marketing and advertising but has been redeeming himself ever since. His new book is about the great Jewish - Roman war of 66CE, entitled "Conquering Jerusalem".</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-11-stephen-dando-collins/">Nero #11 – Stephen Dando-Collins</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>We examine the circumstances and theories surrounding the death of Agrippina. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-10-all-manner-of-depravity/">Nero #10 – All Manner Of Depravity</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Tacitus shares some Salacious Stories from Nero's Rome in the year 58 CE - mostly about ambitious women. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-7-salacious-stories/">Nero #7 – Salacious Stories</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero starts his own Fight Club. Apart from that, the years of 56 - 58 were pretty good. Nero made some wise decisions (no doubt with the help of Seneca), showing moderation and generosity. He was turning out to be an emperor of the calibre of Augustus. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-5-fight-club/">Nero #5 – Fight Club</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>This is where the story becomes really weird. Nero, up until now the golden child, suddenly becomes a cold murderer with the murder of Britannicus. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-4-nero-the-murderer/">Nero #4 – Nero The Murderer</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>In the first year of his rule, Nero was a big hit. He built a wooden amphitheatre in the Campus Martius, flooded it, and held a naval battle with sea monsters. In his gladiator shows, nobody died, not even criminals. But then… Nero fell in love. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-3-nero-in-love/">Nero #3 – Nero In Love</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Nero becomes emperor on the murder of his step-father. He’s 16 or 17 years old. Why didn’t the Senate stop him? It might have something to do with Seneca and Burrus. Seneca wrote him a speech where he promised to be nice. And, indeed, the first five years of his rule seemed to go well. His mother, Agrippina, ruled by his side. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-2-nice-guy-nero/">Nero #2 – Nice Guy Nero</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>This is the story of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Known to us as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. Or just “Nero”. On this episode, we ask - how is it possible that a man tutored and guided by one of the most famous Stoic philosophers, Seneca, would end up with the reputation as one of history’s worst tyrants?</p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/nero-1-the-last-og/">Nero #1 – The Last OG</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Messallina decides the time has come. She has a poison expert released from prison and they prepare a special dish of mushrooms for Claudius’ last meal. But the mushrooms weren’t enough and so they had to finish him off - with a feather. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/claudius-15-a-mushroom-a-feather/">Claudius #15 – A Mushroom & A Feather</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Claudius builds the world’s biggest tunnel and puts on a huge show to celebrate. But things don’t go to plan. Nero gets married and starts to build his political profile - he is only 16. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/claudius-14-digging-tunnels/">Claudius #14 – Digging Tunnels</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Claudius and Agrippina get hitched despite the fact that she was his niece. She immediately starts to get rid of her enemies, reward her supporters, and prepare the ground for the next stage of her plan to make her young son, Nero, the emperor. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/claudius-13-roman-incest/">Claudius #13 – Roman Incest</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>It's 48 CE. Messalina is dead. So now Claudius needs a new wife. There are several candidates, including Julia Agrippina, the daughter of Germanicus, making her Claudius' niece. Conveniently, her rich husband had recently died. She is also the mother of a young boy called Domitius Ahenobarbus - but who will soon change his name to Nero. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/claudius-12-lips-that-grip/">Claudius #12 – Lips That Grip</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo - brother-in-law of Caligula - is sent by Claudius to Germany to deal with some rebellious tribes. But he's TOO successful, so Claudius calls him home. Messalina decides to get married again - while still married to Claudius. Surprisingly he isn't too happy about it when he finds out. So she has a date - with a sword. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/claudius-11-deviant-behaviour/">Claudius #11 – Deviant Behaviour</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>

<p>Messalina starts killing off men who refuse her sexual advances or who just have something she wants. Meanwhile, Claudius keeps being a nice guy and the people feel sorry for him. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com/claudius-10-santa-claudius/">Claudius #10 Santa Claudius</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifeofcaesar.com">Life Of The Caesars</a>.</p>