Mary Beard answers 'which Roman Emperor is Donald Trump most like?' | The Today Podcast

[@robertlees883]

We’re not in the US imperial period yet, so it’s a nonsensical question. If anything, Trump is that guy who owned Romes fire brigade, set fire to people’s houses and then told them he’d put the fire out once they gave him all their money.

[@jonathancampbell5231]

Crassus.

[@jsb331]

Wait six months; our imperial period is closer than you think.

[@soltymcmalty]

America has been imperial since its inception.

[@williamcaldwell3212]

This is all the imperial time

[@carolynekershaw1652]

​​@@jonathancampbell5231Crassus who was captured by the Parthians and allegedly executed by having molten gold poured down his throat . . .

[@alundavies1016]

I’m going with Commodus (not the movie version, the actual historical version). Though my Roman history is not great, the reliance on spectacle to keep the plebs happy rings true. His cult of deity, his ignorance, lack of guile and cowardice. Obvious Daddy issues from his far more accomplished father. He also clubbed to death cripples, which puts in mind Trump’s attitude to, just about anyone he can mock and attack. He also famously isn’t an Emperor who built a wall, so that also fits.😊

[@workingmamma5342]

Spot on! And he liked gladiators and be like one of them. This was mocked, as gladiators were considered entertainers and nothing else.

[@thealmightyaku-4153]

Good pick

[@christianstefl649]

Cowardice lol you’re balls deep into trump derangement syndrome. He’s a lot of things but calling the mf a coward shows you have so much bias against him.

[@gregputman]

Absolutely

[@waynesarf8065]

The above is all nonsense and you are therefore denied the mural crown.

[@jujutrini8412]

We need more Mary Beard history programmes. Pretty please.🙏

[@jemmajames6719]

That’s exactly what we don’t need, I’d prefer someone of the calibre of David Starkey or Andrew Roberts.

[@da90sReAlvloc]

Well here is a thought. Caligula's 4th wife was called milonia trumps 3rd wife is called Melania ,

[@april5666]

I think your on to something there with Caligula-who was reported to be extremely appetitive, doing his sisters while dining for me compares to Trump’s repulsive wish that if Ivanka wasn’t his daughter he’d definitely be dating her. I love Mary Beard.

[@madmalaga]

Caligula immediately came to mind..

[@micheleandhenrycasavant386]

Lol you've just made me and Hen google Milonia because we thought you were joking. Yep, it was a thought this is why we luv reading YT comments. lol

[@TheHoveHeretic]

​​@@madmalagaCaligula was murdered by senators who didn't fancy another four years being humiliated by a narcissistic psychopath. No parallels to be drawn there .... move along now ....

[@slyasleep]

@@april5666appetitive, great word! 😁

[@gerardvila4685]

Mary Beard saying "the Romans (or the study of history in general) make us rethink ourselves" is also true of travel - not piling up air-miles but living in a different country and discovering that their "normal" and your own homeland's "normal" are not the same. Mind-broadening, to coin a phrase.

[@TheIgdrasil1]

I am used not to be suprised by anything. Why should I travel? If I am tolerant so much that even if I were sitting next to cannibal, I would be totally ok with that? Nothing suprise me, no one can shock me or disturb me. I know how people have lived and how are living now, there is no need to travel to slums in Africa to truly see that.

[@panchopuskas1]

- but people don't do that. More often they go somewhere else, probably on an organised tour, live like tourists for a few weeks, and get nothing of what it's like to live in the place they visited..... hence memes like : "Been there, done that, got the T shirt".....or : "it's Tuesday...this must be Brussels."

[@sroycze9284]

@@TheIgdrasil1 you arent surprised by anything because your mind is so closed off to the variations that could be. you speak like the typical frog that stays in its well and thinks itself in the purview of all there could be .

[@Sgt.chickens]

​@TheIgdrasil1 Your missing the finer points. You cannot truly understand a culture without going to it. And what's more, who says you must go to some Slum in Africa? Come perhaps to Australia, or perhaps Britain, walk through an ancient woodland, a thousand year old church yard. Breathe the air and meet the people, I challenge anyone to Travel like that and Not be changed in some way

[@Ketowski]

@@TheIgdrasil1 It’s not about being tolerant, it’s about having perspective.

[@alexcanduci3824]

I don't wish to disagree with Professor Beard (I love her passion and am in awe of her knowledge of Roman history), but there is one ancient Roman whom Trump (through his actions) does resemble a great deal - Catiline. A man who felt entitled to the Consulship, who raged that the voters wouldn't acknowledge his greatness by voting for him, who traded on the back of his family's history, who believed the election was stolen from him, and who tried to organise a coup against the state to wrest the consulship for himself. Vainglorious, overpampered, a chip on his shoulder - sound familiar?

[@Karlthegreat84]

Yes, Catiline is the only one that comes into my mind as well. Every Roman general, emperor, commander, etc. always had his own vanity in mind, of course, but also the glory of Rome itself (I wouldn't use patriotism as a term, since that would be an anachronism), with Catiline being the only exception I can think of.

[@waynesarf8065]

Was Catiline the victim of cheating EvilDemocrats(TM) who rigged elections the way the the Democrats in Bucks County are attempting to do right now?

[@dub604]

Well obviously the famous Emperor Littleus Dickus (he had a wife you know).

[@darylwilliams7883]

Incontinentia Buttocks, as in?

[@dub604]

​@@darylwilliams7883 😆👍🧡

[@micheleandhenrycasavant386]

🤣👍One of the most creative insults yet

[@dub604]

@@micheleandhenrycasavant386 🍄😂

[@l.e.m.friedman5965]

@@dub604 Tiny Vienna sausage the ones in the can

[@kc4cvh]

The man who would be emperor of Rome who Trump most closely resembles is Mussolini.

[@2MuchPurple]

His theatrical mussolini face is part of his act.

[@gregmiller9710]

..i was thinking pope Leo X....^^

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

This. I've been saying this for years.

[@ulexite-tv]

I agree.

[@ladyflimflam]

Cheetolini has been a common epithet for him.

[@EileenHall-j9f]

Chill. She is just pointing out it’s absurd to compare Trump with any Roman Emperor, but we appear not to learn from history in general.

[@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n]

Nope, not at all!

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

In the sense that emperors had not to convince people to vote for them - but she did point at Elagabalus as the closest thing in character. It was a better choice than Caligula.

[@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n]

@@MariaMartinez-researcherYeah, Caligula was emperor for only four years before he was assassinated by the Pretorian Guard!

[@waynesarf8065]

@@ElizabethMcCormick-s2n He was fun while he lasted, though.

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Best Roman equivalent would be the sponge on a stick cleaner, not any emperor.

[@jabbermocky4520]

The common loo shared by peasants in public. That's the ancient Roman feature Trump is most like.

[@thejeffinvade]

Elagabalus? The mom's boy from Syria? Trump hates anyone from Syria.

[@debhurd8898]

LoL😅😅😅😅😅 I love it! Right you are😅😅

[@MomentsGap]

And an orange one at that :D

[@jenniferstone2975]

A gomph stick! I too see the resemblance.

[@stefiz]

Mary Beard is a treasure ❤️

[@jemmajames6719]

She’s definitely not.

[@goulasleves12]

I’d been wondering how Trump compared with figures from the ancient world! I’m glad it led me to click on this fun video. I love Mary Beard’s videos on KZbin and have learned a lot from her. Thanks for this lovely conversation ☺️

[@kellydalstok8900]

Funny, Elagabalus was also the emperor that came to my mind. Thanks to Horrible Histories I know what an immature young man he was, even considering the tender age at which he became emperor.

[@Dan_Ben_Michael]

Elagabalus was the first Emperor to come to my mind too. Just a spoilt rich brat who had absolutely no decorum and was only interested in satisfying his ego and greed.

[@l.e.m.friedman5965]

He got his guests good and drunk in a large canopied tent that held tons of rose petals he let the tent cord go and every one in the court was smothered to death. The Academic Painter Was Laurence AlmaTatima Dutch and English desent

[@l.e.m.friedman5965]

Did a spectacular painting of the scene sometime before 1905 I did a long Art History Paper of his work in College work in Art History His second wife was a painter in her own right Laura AlmaTatima There was a family scene of the AlmaTatima children playing Attributed to Laurence AlmaTatima who always used Opus numbers on the back of the canvases like you would do for music .An Idiosyncrasy of His .The Denver Art Museum Had to change their attribution back to Laura AlmaTatima because they were wrong no Opus No. On the back of that Canvas.

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@l.e.m.friedman5965 actually Alma Tadema was of Dutch (Frisian) descent only. He was born in Dronrijp, about 8 kilometers from where I live, where you’ll find the family home and a statue of Laurence.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Has OJ offered a bounty for a sex change? Not that the cheapskate would pay up of course ....

[@RobertWF42]

The worst is not people comparing Trump to a Roman emperor but rather drawing parallels between the U.S. and the declining Roman Empire: being invaded by barbarians, decadent and sinful, etc.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

100%. It’s the hallmark of a lazy mind trying to force history to support their dogma or agenda. They’re not much different than “end times” Bible fundamentalists, torturing the text of the Bible to make it say what they want.

[@svena.halstensen5699]

the US is more akin to the late republic.

[@Karlthegreat84]

@@svena.halstensen5699 No, the late Republic was an oligarchy. You can now say that is the case for the US as well, but not quite. The Roman oligarchs participated in politics themselves unlike most of the current rich guys who just select proxies.

[@hughjass8430]

"He's not Nero guys!" Only because the system contained his worst impulses. Would anyone like to give Trump full autocratic power?

[@mediapartners9950]

Yes. The Supreme Court!

[@wordscapes5690]

Nero was highly educated, artistic, and fond of literature. No way a Trump.

[@jimplummer4879]

Thank God for that.

[@wordscapes5690]

@@jimplummer4879 Which god? The one of the OT (a Caligula) or the god of the NT (a Claudius)?

[@captainpandabear1422]

Nero had reasonable excuses. He had a crazy power-hungry, abusive mother, he was a kid, and he actually DID have redeeming qualities. Trump is old enough to know better and has no redeeming qualities.

[@marclegarreta]

Mary is so lovely!!

[@hm5142]

I cannot think of anything any Roman emperor did that Trump would not do, given the slightest opportunity.

[@Karlthegreat84]

Not quite, Roman emperors, most of them at least, had not only their own personal gain in might, but in some, often twisted way, also the survival of the empire itself. Some were more competent at it, some way less. T*** is only interested in one thing, himself.

[@phillipcollins1103]

See this comment should be added to…because the emperors of Rome presided over the biggest and most successful empire ever which continued on later in Constantinople (Istanbul now)

[@waynesarf8065]

You are merely projecting your own evil impulses and desires upon Trump. This is why we shall never permit you to be Emperor or even consul.

[@dsantamaria713]

Love Mary!! ❤❤❤ I've learned so much from all her brilliant videos, and talks..

[@markhayward7400]

No Roman Emperor ever cheated at golf the way Trump does😂

[@SmilingIbis]

Might explain why they built a wall at the Scottish border.

[@phillipcollins1103]

Did they have golf?

[@elainemunro4621]

As a 75 year old American woman, having lived through 14 elections, I can tell you that the groundswell of enthusiam for Kamala reinforces belief in our democracy and our “live and let live” ideals. I have great hope for renewal here on many levels.

[@scott2452]

With all due respect, I am amazed that anyone can think Kamala ‘reinforces belief in democracy’ when she was anointed as the candidate without any votes from the demos…

[@lilycarnation4950]

We voted for Biden Harris in 2020 and in the 2024 primaries, with the full knowledge that if something happened to Biden, she would succeed him.

[@scott2452]

@@lilycarnation4950 2+2 does not equal 5. Similarly, someone who was selected in back-room deals to represent a Party, despite winning zero delegates in either 2020 or 2024, is not ‘good for democracy’.

[@Visherex]

Thank you for the wisdom 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@Visherex]

Cope harder boyo, trump is a threat to democracy in the flesh

[@marksimons8861]

What I like about Mary Beard is that she makes me feel clever.

[@janetstevenson7234]

What do you mean by this comment- ambiguous…

[@paulbailey1894]

​@@janetstevenson7234He won't know because he does not know what ambiguous means.

[@badfairy9554]

I have her book on my bed side table to look clever😁

[@olddogsleeper5313]

A Cambridge educated classicist professor with a PHD makes you feel clever? La de da

[@94granny]

I know that I will never be as clever as the professor, but she is probably the only academic who is relatable to us lesser mortals. I would love for her to be my personal guide around some of the ancient Roman sites.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Mary is a national treasure. I wish she was Danish. You guys need to protect her at all costs.

[@Myrcella_Rykker]

The Kennedy "Ich bin ein Berliner" is a social oppsie. Both my german grandfather and High School German teacher who was born and raised in Germany said "he called himself a pastry". Certain things don't translate well. With a exchange student, all in the class had to ask her a question in german. I ask her if she had a bird. She and the teacher started cracking up. Then my teacher explained I had just asked if she was crazy.

[@terenzo50]

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter made a comprison to Octavian (before he became Augustus) saying to the Roman Senate "Give me the power and I will fix it" or words to that effect -- back when Trump first ran in 2015.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

“And I’ll make the Etruscans pay for it.”

[@donaldwhittaker7987]

Definitely Commodus. Hands down.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Ooh ... Good call.

[@noelleggett5368]

What German dictator is Donald Trump most like? 😝

[@stevenwilgus5422]

The one wo died one year and forty five days before he was born.

[@micheleandhenrycasavant386]

Not a clue...😛😆

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Armenius? Set upon and murdered by his own family, outraged at his increasingly unpredictable behaviour in 21CE

[@stevenwilgus5422]

@@TheHoveHeretic That does not seem like Trump. Arminius had accomplishments. He destroyed an entire Roman Legion. On the other hand, ETTD.

[@kleinweichkleinweich]

his imperial highness Wilhelm II but Kaiser Bill pissed off everyone for 25 years befor the whole world faught a war against him Trump would be faster, so much faster, he's a really fast guy fastest ever

[@KathieAnderson-lt4cj]

Caligula

[@stevedavy2878]

Yep, he was one sick puppy

[@KatharineOsborne]

Caligula HATED that name, in the same way that Trump hates being laughed at. Caligula meant ‘little boots’.

[@maggiefranks6849]

Exactly my thoughts

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Hmm lets see..... Sexual pervert. ✅ Incestuous. ✅ Ashamed of his baldness and tried to hide it. ✅ Dodged military service ✅ (but at least Caligula seemed aware of the expectation). Survived assassination. ✅ Aristocratic ❌ Killed many of his relatives ❌ Made his horse a senator ❌ Not obsessed with wealth for it's own sake but what it could do. ❌

[@dominichailstone]

Did Amol just call Shakespeare indolent otiose nonsense? Or was he himself being an indolent otiose fool for saying Shakespeare instead of Shakespearian?

[@andrewneve8723]

I presume he was criticising a type of journalism that might refer to any modern situation, for example Biden stepping down from being the Democrat candidate, being Shakespearian in the nature of the “story”. However the point wasn’t articulated well or carried through with example.

[@dominichailstone]

@@andrewneve8723 Yeah, that's kind of my point. Presenter trying to sound clever but actually describing himself. Saying 'Shakespearean' IS lazy, but he seemed very vitriolic about it, overly so, and the fact he was using words that have fallen out of general parlance made it seem like he was aiming it at the bard. I'm more amused at the own goal than anything though.

[@pfhastie]

That's what sucked me in. I think they fill the BBC studios with gas of some kind. His point made no sense, yet they all LOVED it. How peculiar.

[@dominichailstone]

@@pfhastie Yeah, my ears went straight up. What a weird thing to say. I've come across a couple of people in my lifetime who hate Shakespeare and they both veered into sheer fantasy with their arguments. I think it's an ego thing.

[@pfhastie]

@@dominichailstone Exactly what it is. I'd love to hear Shakespeare's thoughts on this trio.

[@christopherflux6254]

Well not Marcus Aurelius, that’s for sure!

[@mshotz1]

He is most like the rarely known Emperor Flatulence Maximus.

[@davisoaresalves5179]

She is the highest authority about ancient Rome.

[@TheHoveHeretic]

One of. I'd love to see her and Darius Arya co-present something, sone day.

[@oronjoffe]

American presidents, Trump and others, had to recruit the *public’s* support. Roman rulers had to get the support of *politicians*, not at all the same thing.

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

"An emperor they hadn't heard of." Like Stultus?

[@johnransom1146]

Reminds of the American refrain “I’m an American citizen “ when they break laws in another country.

[@VilcxjoVakero]

He's often expressed an affinity for Rudolfus Julius Noveboricanus

[@onemoonbeam3590]

Why did I immediately think of Caligula.

[@renater.540]

So did I - and a bit of Eliogabalus, too. In any case: sick....

[@yippeeyokai5750]

Trump is like commodus

[@stoobydootoo4098]

If Crooks had been successful, the answer is simple - all of them.

[@timholder6825]

Commodus. Certainly not El Gabel who was transexual. That element of his character can't be ignored when discussing Elagabalus when it comes to his behaviour and thinking. Commodus is a better fit although Trump's father, unlike Commodus' was not a great man.

[@jeromesullivan4015]

Ok, Mushroomis HORRIBULIS 😂 there are more…but I just can’t..

[@judithbg5588]

Trump is actually more like one of the Roman rich guys. I’ll nominate Crassus - who ended up defeated in battle. The winner poured molten gold into his dead mouth…..

[@francisbramhill159]

Caligula surely. Stormy would agree probably.

[@SuzzieMarie0130]

Caligula was bats_. _t crazy; however, unlike Trump, Caligula did it with style

[@michaelobrien8661]

Why should one hate that question? There were so many emperors of Rome, each one retrospectively earning his place in history in Rome's attempt at an occasional Republic. Trump is leading my country further from democracy. Surely, one of those ancient emperors embodies that decline in an appropriate way. I think you're cleverly dodging the question by making it more complicated than it is. You do seem to admit there were basic similarities... i.e. the question of citizenship. We weren't so different from "classic Romans". We certainly are exactly the same species of hominid, prone to struggling with the difficulties inherent in maintaining a democratic Republic. Is it that you're afraid to make a comparative statement that would be viewed as being condescending towards Trump? If so, that alone ought to remind one of the similarities within our different times.

[@petergaskin1811]

One of the 69CE "year of 4 Emperors" mob perhaps? Galba, Vitellius, or Otho? One of the 193CE "year of 5 Emperors"... One of the 238CE "year of 6 Emperors"...

[@timelordvictorious]

That guy in the middle sounded very keen on himself .What’s wrong with saying something Shakespearian.

[@frasegfunk9790]

Hes woke

[@tommoncrieff1154]

He’s an embarrassment, far less intelligent than he judges himself.

[@madaug4389]

It is over used.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

You can say something is Shakespearean, but chances are you’re not saying anything. What meaning are you trying to impart by using the adjective?

[@heathereley9749]

Well, Elagabalus was a teenager, and Trump has a teenage mindset, so. . .

[@richardstewart6900]

It'd be an interesting question to ask DT, just to see him squirm while he tries to work out how he can evade the question. MY guess is he just likes the idea of having what he perceives as the power of an emperor as well as being worshipped as a deity. Whether his perception matches what the reality was is a whole other question. I wonder whether he'd say Caesar ... 🤔🤫🤐🤭🤣

[@jeromesullivan4015]

Downhillis Pompadourus😂 came to mind as well sorry, kills me

[@philpaine3068]

I thought of Elagabalus the second the question was asked.

[@sarawoods1450]

Brilliant

[@ravenshadowz2343]

I wish that the news reporters who ask Trump questions would stop asking softball questions, unlike the rugby questions by the U.K. reporters.

[@SmithMrCorona]

I'm not sure how it was worse a few thousand years ago. With climate change, and people like Trump/MAGA that actively fight against environmental precautions... the ramifications are tremendous, not just for this generation of people, but for many down the line.

[@Voitan]

He's virtually Aurelian.

[@Reevesy791]

Definitely the early reign of Nero comes to mind.

[@davidgardiner4720]

Would one of the reasons for the longevity and strength of the Roman empire be its acceptance of multiculturalism? Even a slave from a conquered country could, if fortunate, become a Roman citizen.

[@myriamickx7969]

And they were open to all religions. Until the Christians, that is. And why? The Romans did not mind the coexistence of all sorts of religions, but the Christians had the audacity to claim that their religion was the only true one, and had no tolerance for the others.

[@freebornjohn2687]

The comments here are seem to be missing the point - they are having fun talking about the nonsense that journalists make in asking for comparisons to the ancient world. Chill out for gods sake.

[@paul-andregravelle]

Trump is obviously Caesar, not exactly an emperor, but the model of his successors.

[@eltonmottley9316]

Caligula😂

[@pynn1000]

I googled Elagabalus, not having watched Spartacus or Ben Hur, or studied Rome after Junior School.

[@macrosense]

Donald Trump is just P.T. Barnum. Barnum was smart enough to not run for president.

[@jesusgonzalez-acton8045]

Yarvin has already answered this question. Not an emperor but Gracchus

[@dereks1264]

What did the Romans ever do for us?

[@stephfoxwell4620]

The aquaduct?

[@missano3856]

That goes without saying, who but the Romans is going to build the aqueduct?​@stephfoxwell4620

[@michaellewellyn9080]

Cement, central heating , was a bit of a big deal for a few decades @missano3856

[@KristineMaitland]

Flush toilets.

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@michaellewellyn9080 yeah, but apart from those, what have they done for us?

[@robertmines5391]

Rather a shallow discussion I thought. I would have thought that the cultural tradition and framework of ancient rome would have lots to teach the modern world. Also, the much mentioned Cicero used the concept ' humanitas' which I think is relevant here.

[@andrewashdown3541]

nihil novi sub sole

[@tednruth453]

Apart from every piece of technology and scientific discovery....

[@andrewashdown3541]

@@tednruth453 fundamentals dear boy fundamentals

[@stoobydootoo4098]

Reminds me - I'll need to get Factor 50 for my Tenerife trip next month.

[@AnBreadanFeasa]

Noli illegitimi carborundum 🏛

[@bavariancarenthusiast2722]

Which was never true..

[@patdainel9037]

Marcus Aurelius

[@johannesnicolaas]

Yes, Tr*** is like him a lot.... and now I have a fit of gigling... going on and on...

[@badfairy9554]

She ls so cool.

[@claudermiller]

Nero had a private theater (Maralago) where he performed music, plays, etc. He also performed in public. Much like Trump, I believe who constantly thirsts for attention. The whole fiddle while Rome burned thing, I think, was an allusion to the way he ignored pressing problems because he was so busy attention seeking.

[@oaktreet4335]

Augustus

[@fransbuijs808]

The Roman emperor who is most like Trump is, of course, Probus.

[@TullaRask]

Don't hitch up with a guy like Anthony 😂😂

[@christoffellner84]

hahahahahahahahahahaha. Poor Eleagabalus though.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

I would pick Didius Julianus, except he did have experience as a provincial governor. His fate should be a warning.

[@richardscanlan3419]

be in the running,but first nomination has to be Crassus.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

@@richardscanlan3419 They did say emperor…

[@richardscanlan3419]

@@Joanna-il2ur yeah,fair call.

[@erinrising2799]

of course he's not like Nero, Nero could at least play a fiddle

[@Michael-b7h]

Caligula , who else

[@2MuchPurple]

Hes not as intelligent as Caligula. But he's just as manipulative, mostly through fesr.

[@BrixtonTone]

It's a toss up between Caligula and Mussolini ( 😉)

[@cathywithac]

Which roman emperor? The one with no clothes on.

[@leaf1131]

Trump fiddled around, but Nero couldn't have because the fiddle wasn't invented until 1,500 years after his death.

[@myriamickx7969]

He played the lyre.

[@charliesmith4072]

Caligula comes to mind...

[@rursus8354]

Elagabalus? OK, got it right there. We actually don't know the veracity of all the rumors of the Roman emperors, but ... just let's say we aren't very much helped by the not-so-neutral Roman historians, so Trump matches our image of Elagabalus in ineptness and scandalousness, even though Trump didn't elect his horse as a senator, a story repeated for all allegedly "mad emperors".

[@patriciawalsh3027]

Caesar definitely. Busts the republic

[@jeromesullivan4015]

Oh my, I’ll get thrown off this if I actually type it…😂

[@ericamacs3875]

Nowt wrong with the term Shakespearean. Also we've not yet seen what Donald Trump is capable of.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

What does it mean to you? If a thing is Shakespearean, what qualities does it have that is different from a thing that is not Shakespearean? Amol’s point was that it’s a lazy adjective that doesn’t clarify meaning most of the time. If one were discussing a work of text, what does one mean by Shakespearean. Clever word play? Plotting? Flowery language? Creative metaphor? Character interaction? Really, a text would need all these things to qualify as “Shakespearean”. Shakespeare was a genius and his works continue to influence English Literature to this day; one might argue that Shakespeare has been the greatest influence on modern prose of all time. But when the term Shakespearean gets thrown around I’m rather unclear what the speaker or writer actually means.

[@petergaskin1811]

By the look of it we seem to have dodged that bullet.

[@ericamacs3875]

@@petergaskin1811 I hope so..

[@johnthetrekker]

Bloatus.

[@magnusmcgee993]

Trump is like Nero.... He's always on the fiddle 😅 😊

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

Caligula. Loved his Daughter..... Didn't react from descent to his actions. Both Stable Geniuses ... Never tried to manipulate Congress ? Donald isn't know as a horse botherer ... so far

[@jeromesullivan4015]

His Roman namus will get me banned 😂

[@victorhiggins2118]

Claudius

[@nbell63]

(Ohhh!) - is the pronunciation SIS'ero or KIK'ero? 😯

[@VilcxjoVakero]

Berlusconi. Duhhhhhhhh

[@2MuchPurple]

Nero was a would be artist. He was very serious about that, although how much actual talent he had is unknown. Trump wouldnt know art or culture if he tripped over it (can't say hit him in the face any more). Trump is a plebeian!

[@mb3503-o4e]

The conversation starts by dimwitted sneering at Shakespeare

[@pintpot]

Not sneering at Shakespeare at all, obviously.

[@maryanneslater9675]

No. What he was referring to is the people who call everything Shakespearean. They followed it up with a quip about people saying President Biden was like King Lear for dropping out as a candidate for the November elections and endorsing VP Harris. Ooh, so Shakespearean! No, that's a stretch and a half.

[@DSAK55]

Is Nero too obvious ?

[@matthewdunham1689]

Commodus.

[@richardshiggins704]

Probably Tiberius .

[@brendankenny1332]

Simple; Caligula!!!!!

[@noam65]

The whole question is offensive. We don't have emperors.

[@gregputman]

Commodus

[@1.2718]

He is Caligula

[@chrisoneill3999]

Elegabalus was very young. I suppose that is what makes him like Donald Trump.

[@kellydalstok8900]

The childishness does. Elagabalus was very immature and his awful pranks were really bullying.

[@chrisoneill3999]

@@kellydalstok8900 Most of the bad stuff we hear about Elagabalus comes from the Historia Augusta, which was licenced by Theodosius 1. Think of what the 32nd century might think about Barack Obama if all they had to go on was the works of Dinesh D'Souza.

[@stevedavy2878]

Was Elegabalus still in Diapers ?

[@maryanneslater9675]

Immature and incompetent.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Emotionally and morally a toddler?

[@myriamickx7969]

I find Mary Beard very shallow when she says "Everybody knows about Rome nowadays, everybody has seen Gladiator, Spartacus and Ben Hur”. That's not Rome, that's Hollywood’s idea of a narrow period of the Roman Empire. I am Belgian, I studied Latin for 6 years between the ages of 12 and 18, and then went on to get a law degree. One of our most important classes in 1st year was Roman law, because it's still largely the basis of most of our European legal systems. Latin teaches you to structure your thought in few words.

[@felixron1432]

caligula's horse