Commodus and the Five Good Emperors: History and Allegory - Couverture souple

Burns, Jasper

 
9781481196222: Commodus and the Five Good Emperors: History and Allegory
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 1481196227 ISBN 13 : 9781481196222
Editeur : CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012

Synopsis

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".

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

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".

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date d'édition
2012
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
1481196227
ISBN 13 
9781481196222
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
78
Coordonnées du fabricant
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