Vespasian is my favorite Roman Emperor. So many anecdotes about him.
Yet another case of "physiognomy is real."
One time, a bureaucrat introduced his "brother" to Vespasian, who had actually just paid him to get a position.
Yet another case of "physiognomy is real."
One time, a bureaucrat introduced his "brother" to Vespasian, who had actually just paid him to get a position.
Vespasian asked to see the applicant alone, where he asked the man how much the corrupt bureaucrat had requested from him & offered him the same deal, minus the intermediary. The deal done, Vespasian called the bureaucrat back in & told him: "You're fired, he's now my brother."
Vespasian never took the official state religion, of imperial deification upon death, seriously.
On his deathbed, he quipped to his courtiers, "I think I'm becoming a god."
On his deathbed, he quipped to his courtiers, "I think I'm becoming a god."
