Character Assassination Through Silk Garments. Caligula, Commodus and Elagabalus as exempla of improper Roman Emperors.

Abstract

This thesis focusses on Caligula, Commodus and Elagabalus and their negative portrayal by the ancient authors, resulting in their character assassination. Particular attention will be paid to their usage of silk garments as a means to damage their reputation. While the ancient sources recount both good and bad emperors as having worn silk, the specific (positive/negative) context in which these men did so, according to the social norms of the time, determines whether one was a good emperor or not.