Introduction
The Great Emperor Commodus
I am Tiberius Cobb, one of the renowned biographers of Rome, here to deliver tellings of Commodus’ life and reign. While I was tasked by the emperor to write this biography of Rome’s great emperors of the past, I'm sure this isn't what he had in mind so let my writings live past the end of my existence (which might be sooner than expected). The gladiator turned emperor who single handedly renamed the city of Rome, named himself Hercules, and killed a rhino will be known all over the world for his arrogance and the lack of knowledge of what true rulers do.
And so in the next pages I will introduce to you Emperor Commodus of Rome, hated by most, I urge you reader to read on but with a critical eye to
see how this Emperor ruled with a high esteem for himself and without the intention of helping all citizens.
Figure 1: Formeri: London, Brucciani nr. 2728. Commodus (Kejser 180-192 e.Kr.). gips; Gipsafstøbning; Plaster cast. <a href="https://www.smk.dk/en/">Statens Museum for Kunst</a>, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.28338482. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.