Do you think Caligula was schizophrenic?

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Let me say this, he was defently out of wack, and he may have made love to his sisters, he was espeically fond of Drusilla. But he in my eyes either had schizophinea or some kind of personality disorder.

I was thinking the same thing


Why? Because he's been mad he can't had be a asperger? Such behavior are certainly not common among aspies, but this is not common among NTs either. I don't see how being aspie will prevent someone from "madness".


Now, the problem with the stories on Caligula, is that most informations we got on him had been written by his ennemies. Which mean that is "madness" could greatly had been propaganda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula#Historiography

Caligula was f***ing out of control. A sociopath and a psychopath. Nero was somewhat that way too, but Nero deluded himself into thinking he had Talent.

ruveyn

He was a spoiled army brat, who from the earliest age was made to feel he was the saviour of the Roman Army. His father died when he was young, and there was nobody to counter the impression he was given that the sun shone from his arse. So, he was raised by a doting mother, and the men who had most influence on him were soldiers who'd put him on a pedestal from the age of three upwards. I think being a mascott of a regiment probably had the worst effect on him, combined with no discipline.

Add to that the strong possibility that he picked up vd in his sexual explorations, that might explain the increasing crazies... it's possible he had neuro syphillis, which would explain why his behaviour was so completely chaotic and off the wall.

He certainly wasn't aspie. A narcissistic spoiled brat though, who went completely insane as time went on.

I also think that he wasn't very bright. I mean, have you read his "speeches"?

Absolutely corrupt power topic

^^ and an STD, like syphilis. All those Roman emperors were paranoid. And that damn number system.

I think Caligula..as "crazy" as he was may have also been mocking the senate. That is, he got kicks off the crazy stuff he did. There very well could've been other factors as well buth leadership at the time was already corrupted.

The ruler before him, Tiberius could also be pointed out as crazy with what he did. However, he was much more inconspicuous about than Caligula. Let's also not forget that Tiberius was his role model while Caligula's childhood was spent in watching his family imprisoned and killed. Rome was in itself corrupt and he made a good example of its infrastructure after its all powerful leader came into power.

History shows a great many leaders who were just as crazy as Caligula who had absolute power. So I don't see him being an extreme case of "schizophrenic" or mentally ill when compared to multitudes who have actually suffered mental illnesses. However his "mental illness" could be a combination of that and the way he was brought up.


BTW, anyone seen that movie Caligula with Malcolm Mcdowell?

That's one crazy movie especially if you watch the unedited version though I don't believe it's too historically accurate....

I saw a 'soft porn/European' version of Caligula back in the 70s or 80s...I remember people buried up to their necks being decapitated by mechanical blades...among other things...yeesh..

That was the most gruesome scene!! !

And then killing the very guy who put him in power (and is historically accurate). Yeah the guy was crazy....

I don't think off-the-wall behavior constitutes mental or neurological issues.

It might just be a cult of personality thing.

Any more details?

Consider lead poisoning. The Romans made sweet fish sauce from lead.

Also Roman wine goblets were soldered with lead. The wine in the goblets would have dissolved the lead from the solder joints and entered the blood of the drinker.

ruveyn

Pompey revisited topic

I just read a recently published book about Pompey, and it it apparently the commercially prepared fish sauce (which was used in all non-dessert dishes) would ferment for a time before it was sold for consumption, and much of it was rancid. It would have absorbed the lead from the earthenware in which it was stored. Absolutely nauseating. Those Romans must have had strong stomachs. As you mentioned, the wine would contain lead particulate for the same reason. And their water pipes, as well.

Lead has nasty effects on brains, especially with regard to developing children.

Right on! Just look at the gun lobby.

Most ammo is copper or steel jacketed. Lead is the last thing the shot person experiences.

ruveyn

I was not referring to the targets.