Classical Studies 3450E Lecture Notes - Lecture 46: Ab Epistulis, Tiber, Apotheosis

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 3450E
• Professor: Debra Nousek

Document Summary

Streamlining the administration: centralized control of imperial business, created several scrinia headed by freedmen, departments, ab epistulis. Preparing for the future: after marrying agrippina, claudius looks to the succession, his daughter octavia to wed agrippina"s son. In 50 ce: claudius adopts him, now known as nero, praetorian guard recognizes nero as heir, sextus afranius burrus, prefect, philosopher-advisor-tutor for nero, l. annaeus seneca, both appointments are cronies of agrippina. Death of claudius: october 54 ce, died from mushrooms at a feast, poisoned, apocolocyntosis, pumpkinification, parody of apotheosis", deification, possibly written by seneca, hugely entertaining short play. Accession of nero: succession goes smoothly, agrippina, seneca and burrus are in charge, nero fulfills duties, donative to praetorian guard, 15 000 hs, speech, written by seneca, tacitus has no love for nero. Emperors so far: augustus, 27 bce 14 ce, 41 years, tiberius, 14 37 ce, 23 years, caligula, 37 41 ce, 4 years, claudius, 41 54 ce, 13 years.