TY  - BOOK
AU  - Hekster,O.
TI  - Commodus: An Emperor at the Crossroads 
T2  - Dutch Monographs on Ancient History and Archaeology
SN  - 9789004502321
AV  - DG299 
U1  - 937/.06/092 23
PY  - 2002///
CY  - Leiden; , Boston
PB  - BRILL
KW  - Emperor
KW  - Emperors
KW  - Rome
KW  - Biography
KW  - Political aspects
N1  - Includes bibliographical references and index
N2  - The emperor Commodus (AD 180-192) has commonly been portrayed as an insane madman, whose reign marked the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Indeed, the main point of criticism on his father, Marcus Aurelius, is that he appointed his son as his successor. Especially Commodus' behaviour as a gladiator, and the way he represented himself with divine attributes (especially those of Hercules), are often used as evidence for the emperor's presumed madness. However, this 'political biography' will apply modern interpretations of the spectacles in the arena, and of the imperial cult, to Commodus' reign. It will focus on the dissemination and reception of imperial images, and suggest that there was a method in Commodus' madness
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004502321
ER  -