I Livia: The Counterfeit Criminal (Colored - New Edition)

A historical tradition of Roman origin represents Livia Drusilla the third and much-beloved wife of Caesar Augustus as a conniving Borgia-like criminal. This view of Livia maintains that to promote the political career of her son by her former husband Livia killed or incapacitated Augustus descendants through his previous wife. Author Robert Graves in his famous novel I Claudius based his fictitious rendering of Livia upon this malevolent representation of her. The conceit is patently wrong and essentially all modern scholars of Roman history reject it. But thanks to Graves immensely entertaining book and the British Broadcasting Corporation adaptation of it for television the image of Livia as a devious dynastic murderess prevails in the popular mind.I Livia: The Counterfeit Criminal aspires to correct the misconception and present an accurate assessment of this much-maligned woman. The studys comfortably readable style is intended for general audiences. The first three chapters present a biographical sketch focused upon Livias public life. Livia was accepted as an extraordinarily visible dynamic and influential political personage by a society and culture which maintained women must confine their activities childrearing and other domestic pursuits. The following two chapters demonstrate the absurdity of Livias criminal reputation and offer explanation for its development. Three subsequent chapters seek Livias private side - her habits tastes and interpersonal relationships. Livia (who suffered from colds and chronic arthritis) was an amiable soul with a self-deprecating sense of humor. She was a loving supportive forbearant wife and mother an intellectual with profound political insights an enthusiastic traveller a connoisseur of art. Although generally patient and demure she could also be impulsive assertive opinionated and especially in later life petulant. The final chapter examines how Livia became and remained a symbol of Roman imperial power. The brief epilogue describes the physical appearances of Livia and the members of her family. Also included are relevant appendices a comprehensive bibliography and color images of surviving wall paintings from her homes.