Caligula and Other Classics

Lew Rockwell has run an entertaining article today about ancient fools. The implied parallel to President Bush is a bit shrill and the nutshell summaries of Stoicism and Epicureanism are a little misleading, but it's still entertaining. Link. Excerpt:

Claudius had ascended the Roman throne following one of history's greatest maniacs. Officially, Caligula's name was Gaius and he reigned from 37 AD until 41 AD. Reading the adventures of Caligula is quite accurately a trip into depths of megalomania. Among the titles he bestowed upon himself were "Pious," "Son of the Camp," "Father of the Army," along with "Best and Greatest of Caesars." He also "insisted on being treated as a god ”“ sending for the most revered or artistically famous statues of the Greek deities (including that of Jupiter at Olympia), and having their heads replaced by his own."

Caligula also seemed to have a royal complex towards the Roman gods and goddesses. "When the moon shone full and bright he always invited the Moon-goddess to ”¦his bed; and during the day would indulge in whispered conversations with Capitoline Jupiter, pressing his ear to the god's mouth, and sometimes raising his voice in anger. Once he was overheard threatening the god; 'If you do not raise me up to Heaven I will cast you down to Hell.'"