CALIGULA DE-BUNKED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 21 February 1931, Page 16

CALIGULA DE-BUNKED

TTn'Ei are not likely to hear much about VV the galleys of Caligula, which were supposed to lie at the bottom of Bake Xemi. It was said that ’ the galleys contained an enormous treasure and a mass of statues and art objects, which the profligate Roman Emperor had collected and transported aboard his floating palace. In spite of the fact that Papal archaeologists sent a discreet warning to the Italian Government saying that one of the Popes, about a hundred years ago, had had the socalled gaileys at the bottom of Nemi investigated, Signor Mussolini ordered the lake to be dried up, promising the world a spectacle of the kind that came to light with the opening of Tutankhamen ’s tomb in Egypt- Caligula has always had a “bad press.” The galleys were said to have been the scenes of unheard-of-orgies, and rumour had it that they were sunk by order of the Emperor at the climax of a tremendous Bacchanal.

Searching for Galleys

The galleys are exposed to the light of day once again. The process has cost a good sum of money. And what is the result? Just another boat, or rather the wreck of it. Nothing particularly about its dimensions, construction, or luxury. With the best will in the world Caligula’s orgies could N not have been the stupendous massaffairs that have been described by various chroniclers, at any rate not on board that awkward little tub. There is ample reason to believe that Caligula has been tho victim of a deal .of calumny. The “monster” was appointed his horse Consul of Rome was possibly just another practical joker. In the meantime the debunking of the galleys, shows that maybe some other episodes in the imperial might, go tip in smoke if/ some lucky archaeological discovery ‘came to shed a tittle light. ' Why, for instance, should not the burning of Rome i by Nero have had for its object to get rid of a mass of slums to improve traffic conditions?