Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Caligula - the original Scrooge McDuck

This article is also available in Macedonian
- на македонски на Блогспот:  Калигула - првобитниот Баја Патак

  
In his seminal work "The Twelve Caesars," Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus described the following behavior of ancient Roman Emperor Caligula:

But when his daughter was born, complaining of his narrow means, and no longer merely of the burdens of a ruler but of those of a father as well, he took up contributions for the girl's maintenance and dowry. He also made proclamation that he would receive New Year's gifts, and on the Kalends of January took his place in the entrance to the Palace, to clutch the coins which a throng of people of all classes showered on him by handfuls and lapfuls.Finally, seized with a mania for feeling the touch of money, he would often pour out huge piles of goldpieces in some open place, walk over them barefooted, and wallow in them for a long time with his whole body.
Of course, the later is signature behaviour for Scrooge McDuck, who loves to swim in money in his Money Bin.

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