. Rome : its rise and fall ; a text-book for high schools and colleges. heatre of of of of of of of of of Castrense. CHAPTER XVII. THE EMPIRE UNDER COMMODUS AND THEBARRACK EMPERORS. ( 180-284.) 229. Reign of Commodus ( 180-192). — Under thewise and able administration of the preceding five goodemperors, the Roman empire had reached its culminationin power and prosperity;now, under the en
. Rome : its rise and fall ; a text-book for high schools and colleges. heatre of of of of of of of of of Castrense. CHAPTER XVII. THE EMPIRE UNDER COMMODUS AND THEBARRACK EMPERORS. ( 180-284.) 229. Reign of Commodus ( 180-192). — Under thewise and able administration of the preceding five goodemperors, the Roman empire had reached its culminationin power and prosperity;now, under the enfee-bling influences of viceand corruption within,and the heavy blows ofthe barbarians without,it begins to declinerapidly to its fall. Commodus, son ofMarcus Aurelius, andthe last of the Anto-nines, was a most un-worthy successor of hisillustrious father. Forthree years, however,surrounded by the ablegenerals and wise counsellors that the prudent admin-istration of the preceding emperors had drawn to the headof affairs, Commodus ruled with fairness and lenity, 37i. Commodus (as Hercules). (From bust found in the Horti Lamiani, Rome.) 372 ROME AS AN EMPIRE. •when an unsuccessful conspiracy against his life seemed suddenly to kindle all the slumbering passions of a Nero. He secured the favor of the rabble with the shows of the amphitheatre, and purchased the support of the praetorians with bribes and flatteries. Thus he was enabled for ten years to retain the throne, while perpetrating all manner of cruelties, and staining the imperial purple with the most detestable debaucheries and crimes. Commodus had a passion for gladiatorial combats. Heeven descended into the arena himself. Attired in a lionsskin, and armed with the club of Hercules, he valiantly setupon and slew antagonists arrayed to represent mythologi-cal monsters, and armed with great sponges for rocks. Thesenate, so obsequiously servile had that body become, con-ferred upon him the title of the Roman Hercules, vo
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