ABSTRACT
The ups and downs of Claudius' reputation since his death reveal more about those who have passed judgment on it than about the regime itself. Modern writers must make allowances for this when they form their own judgments. Claudius was deified in 54 because Nero's own position demanded it, although it dangerous] y enhanced Britannicus' standing as well. Nero needed to be 'Son of the Deitled [Claudius]'. On the other hand, he needed to distance himself from a usurper whose accession and efforts to remain in power had alienated his peers. Hence on coins struck at Rome Divi filills did not survive Nero's second year of tribunician power. Even within a few days of Claudius' death Nero's eulogy, with its references to the foresight (providcntia) of the deceased Emperor, drew permissible sniggers from the assembled senators. There was a little more mirth in them than even Nero and his advisers might have wished: foresight was the quality of a princeps who made satisfactory arrangements for his succession. Commemorative coins were issued, but a temple, provided for in the senate's decree, was left incomplete and was virtually destroyed after Nero's mother's death in 59, ironically giving place to a distribution station for the Aqua Claudia. 1
Officials had to take deification at face value, and the deified Claudius received sacritlce in Arval rituals under Nero and in 69. He is given his title by the Prefect of Egypt Ti. Julius Alexander in his edict of autumn 68 and as Nero's parent even on monuments raised by private persons in Britain and Italy. Nonetheless the cult of Claudius, unlike those of the founders of the dynasty, Augustus and Livia, did not survive in the provinces-except where a city mved him a special debt of gratitude, as at Asseria in Dalmatia---- and in Thessaly the era that probably dated years from a visit to the district did not outlive him. There was nothing to be gained from maintaining it under Nero. 2
Literary men on the other hand safely ignored the deification. So clear is this that the date of Asconius' commentary on Cicero's speeches (54-7) has been inferred in part from the way he refers to C. Caccina Largus as a man who was 'consul with Claudius': no title, so the Emperor is dead; but he is not Di vus. In court circles the deitlcation was a subject of witticisms. Nero spoke of his father's ceasing to 'silly-sally' on earth, while according to Seneca's brother L. Junius Gallio, Claudius had been dragged to heaven on a hook, as criminals' corpses were dragged to the Tiber. Derision of Claudius was open enough to he recorded on paper: the splenetic Apocolocyntosis
produced for the next Saturnalia by Seneca, who was the main influence on Nero's early government and in the reaction against Claudius.'
