MAD TYRANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 492, 23 October 1928, Page 9

MAD TYRANT

Quest of Caligula's Galleys DRAINING A LAKE (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) ROME, Monday. ; Tho Prime Minister, Signor Musso- ; lini, to-day set in motion the electric i pumps which are to drain the historic Lake Nemi and thus uncover the sunken Caligula’s galleys. Water is now pouring from the lake. It will take from two to three months to drain the 110 feet of water necessary to cause the galleys to emerge, as springs are continually replenishing the waters. Lake Nemi, in the Alban Hills, is 3a miles in circuit, 110 feet deep, and 70 acres in extent. Of great beauty, it was called the Mirror of Diana, whose temple was in a neighbouring grove. It is still drained by a tunnel excavated by the Romans. The remains of two state barges of Caligula’s time have been recovered. Caligula, who reigned A_D. 37-41, was a mad and ruthless tyrant. His real name was Gaius Caesar, Caligula being derived from the caligae or soldiers’ boots which he wore as a boy in the army in Germany. At one public entertainment, when annoyed with the populace, he expressed the wish that the Roman people had only one neck, which might be cut through with one blow. / On one occasion Caligula lead an army to the north coast of Gaul, as if for an invasion of Britain, and when it reached the seashore ordered the soldiers to pick up shells, to commemorate a supposed victory over the ocean. He made his horse, Incitatus, a consul, and proclaimed himself a god. At last a conspiracy was formed against the crazy emperor, and he was murdered by Cassius Chaerea, tribunne of a pretorian cohort. IChaodar