Caligula-Psychiatric Report

Caligula- Psychiatric Report

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, commonly known as Caligula, was one of many problematic emperors of Rome. After conducting my research with various individuals in Rome, they mainly target Caligula’s cruelty, sadism, extravagance and sexual perversity.

After studying these sources, I have written a psychiatric report which I intend to send anonymously the current emperor of the Imperial Palace and other historical writers.

Key personality traits and possible mental illness

• Arrogant- Caligula ‘publicised’ his laws by writing them in small, illegible writing and putting them up on high pillars. He then enjoyed feeling superior by punishing them for a crime they weren’t aware of committing.

• Excessively

self-indulgent- In a campaign in Britain, he ordered his soldiers to throw their spears into the sea, as if they were attacking it, and then to bring back seashells as if they were spoils of war. He did this as a declaration of war on Neptune, god of the sea.
• Self-absorbed- Caligula was said to be very conscious of his early baldness and declared a capital crime for anyone to look down on his bald spot from high above. He also ordered people with desirable hair to shave it.
• Incestuous- Caligula had an incestuous lust for all his sisters, especially Drusilla. There are accounts of him obsessing over her so much that he daily covered himself in a mixture of honey and her saliva.
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) - People who suffer NPD show little empathy towards others and believe they need to be admired and given importance by all. This is supported by events in Caligula’s lifetime such as parties involving executions and sex, and the more disturbing claim where he was said to have swallowed the foetus of his pregnant sister (and lover), Drusilla, to mimic the Jupiter myth.

Events impacting on actions and motives
• Lead poisoning- In Caligula’s time, wine was made with ‘sapa’ (grape syrup) in lead vessels.

The lead was used to enhance the flavour of the wine and make it last. It is highly likely that Caligula consumed a large amount of wine, and with lead poisoning, it could’ve only affected his personality disorder negatively.

• Emotional turmoil- Caligula found it hard to keep his emotions under control after finding out that his grandfather Tiberius, was responsible for the deaths of his parents and siblings. He expressed these aggressive emotions through engaging in sex with various men and women, as well as his sisters (especially Drusilla). He sometimes made the men watch as he had sex with their wives and children. Note- this happened prior to him contracting disease at the age of 37.

• Disease- At the age of 37, Caligula fell seriously ill with a disease that would change him completely. With a past of cruelty and sexual perverseness, his actions became more bizarre and unexplainable. Notable incidents were when he built a marble stable for his horse, opening a brothel in the palace when he was short of money and rumours of making his horse Consul.

Perspective of an ancient writer on personality and

actions
Many documents written by ancient writers have been lost, but the accounts of Suetonius still remain today.
Suetonius
• Referred to Caligula as a ‘monster’.
• Recorded a great deal of his incestuous relationship with Drusilla and the extremity of perversions happening on the island of Capri, most likely due to the amount of gossip that was going around at the time and the fact that Suetonius wanted Caligula to look as bad as possible.
• Wrote about Caligula’s relationship with Tiberius and how Caligula behaved in an ingratiating manner to stay on Tiberius’ good side. Suetonius also stated that Caligula would often utter ‘Let them hate me, so long as they fear me’, which he often said in the presence of Tiberius.
• Describe Caligula as having a ‘brain fever’
• Wrote multiple accounts in which Caligula enjoyed watching death.

He was said to have enjoyed watching executions during his meal times. He also would send for men who he would have killed beforehand, as if they were still alive, and then said that they must have committed suicide.

• Had a very strong belief that Caligula was unfit to be Emperor

Personal perspective on personality and actions

After researching Suetonius and other popular stories regarding Caligula, I have developed my opinion.

I believe that Caligula was an insane man. This insanity was due to multiple factors, primarily his emotional turmoil as well as other factors out of his control, such as the lead poisoning. All ancient writers stated that Caligula was mentally ill, except for Pliny the Elder.

His actions were due to his NPD and the disease he contracted. Although the things he did were strange, it is typical of people with NPD to perform cruel actions like Caligula did. Do remember that many accounts written by ancient writers may be incorrect due to the amount of gossip going around at the time.

Suggested treatment

Although NPD can’t be ‘cured’, one-on-one or group psychiatric therapy can aid to assist the individual. There are no specific medications for the disorder either, however, antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers may also be

taken.

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