Lunchtime Lecture - ‘Domitian: the tyrant’

Part of our 'Imperial Lives' Lunchtime Lecture series. Hear about the life of the Roman Emperor Domitian

The Roman Emperor Domitian was the final Emperor of the Flavian dynasty, who ruled the Empire during the late 1st Century AD.  Succeeding his father Vespasian and his brother Titus, who were both much loved by the people, Domitian's reign was tainted by fear, murder and suspicion.  Although now not as infamous as Emperors such as Caligula or Nero, Domitian had a reputation during the Roman period for his cruel and unpredictable acts.  After his death, his memory was damned and his name stricken from the record.  Domitian has a connection with Lincoln, as it was during his reign that Lincoln was granted the important title of 'Colonia'.  This lecture will examine the life of Domitian using the classical authors to try to ascertain whether he really was as evil as his enemies made him out to be.

This lecture will be delivered by our Collections Access Officer (archaeology).  The lecture begins at 12.30 and will last approximately 30 minutes, in The Collection's auditorium, and is FREE.  There is no need to book in advance.

This lecture is part of a series of six Lunchtime Lectures entitled 'Imperial Lives: Six Roman Emperors with British connections'.  The other lectures in the series are:

15 August 2014 - 'Claudius: the idiot'

12 September 2014 - 'Domitian: the tyrant'

10 October 2014 - 'Hadrian: the traveller'

14 November 2014 - 'Septimius Severus: the popular dictator'

12 December 2014 - 'Carausius: the usurper'

16 January 2015 - 'Constantine the Great: the convert'