O. Hekster, Commodus: an Emperor at the Crossroads (Dutch Monographs on Ancient History and Archaeology 23). Amsterdam: Gieben, 2002. Pp. vi + 250, 19 pls. ISBN 90-5063-238-6. €68.00.

Abstract

P r o e f s c h r i f t T ER V ER K R IJG IN G VAN DE G RA A D VAN D O C TO R a a n d e Ka t h o l i e k e U n i v e r s i t e i t N ij m e g e n , V O LG EN S B ESLU IT VAN HET CO LLEG E VA N D ECA N EN IN HET O PEN B A A R TE V ERD ED IG EN O P W O EN SDthe memory of Thomas Wiedemann P r e fa c eThe mad monarchs of Roman history, with all their peculiarities and the countless anecdotes that surround their lives, form a fascinating topic of research. This book focuses on one of those 'insane despots'. The emperor Commodus was the first purple-born Roman emperor, and according to our literary sources an evil tyrant -Hollywood style. Dramatic stories about his life are easy to find. This 'political biography', however, aims to extend beyond mere trivia, though some spectacular details have been included. Anecdotal evidence, after all, can be fun. But anecdotes only form a small part of our understanding of the Roman world. Epigraphic, numismatic and sculptural sources are easily as relevant. They should be crucial to any analysis of Roman emperors' lives -or to other aspects of ancient history, for that matter. This study tries to mobilise different types of evidence, to come to a better understanding of the reign of Commodus.Whether I have succeeded in drawing together diverse categories of research, and sketched a convincing picture of Commodus' reign, is not for me to say. But if I have somehow managed to avoid the pitfalls of interdisciplinary day-tourism, others owe praise for that. First and foremost my gratitude goes to Luuk de Blois, whose enthusiasm, trust and diligence have been a constant motivation for me, from the very first day that I started to get interested in ancient history. Eric Moormann saved me from many factual and methodological errors -and patiently corrected the text again, and again, and again. Two careful supervisors is as much as anyone could hope for. But I have been more fortunate still, with many others who have helped me along the way.Fergus Millar must have repeatedly regretted the day that I became a member of Brasenose College, as it heralded the beginning of endless visits to his room, with questions, or work to read, often unannounced. He never complained or showed annoyance, which I took as encouragement to infringe upon his time even more often. I even usurped his secretary, Priscilla Lange, who, wonderful as she is, agreed to create a bibliography from the chaotic files which I provided her with, possibly without knowing what she was letting herself into. My apologies for that. Similarly, Jas Eisner, Bert Smith and Margareta Steinby were extremely generous with their time, and made me feel more at ease at Oxford than I had thought possible. Their support was topped only by the astounding willingness to help by everyone in the Heberden coin room in the Ashmolean museum. Discussions with Cathy King are always inspirational. Volker Heuchert and Cristopher Howgego surpassed any possible expectation, and gave me, besides good advice, access to the immense database of their for...