Construction workers in Italy made an incredible discovery recently – a 2,000-year-old garden that once belonged to a Roman emperor. The garden, with its travertine walls, overlooks the banks of the Tiber River and sits east of Vatican City. As workers were building a new overpass at Piazza Pia, they unearthed the ruins, leading to this remarkable find.
Archaeologists working on the site found a lead water pipe with an inscription that read “C(ai) Cæsaris Aug(usti) Germanici.” After careful examination, researchers concluded that this inscription referred to Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, also known as Caligula. Caligula, who was infamous for his tyrannical rule and cruel behavior, assumed the throne in A.D. 37 and was assassinated by the Praetorian Guard in A.D. 41.
The discovery of this ancient garden is significant for several reasons. The location of the garden, near the “Horti Agrippinae,” the garden of Caligula’s mother, Agrippina the Elder, suggests a familial connection. Additionally, the presence of Roman-era pottery and terra-cotta figures at the site provides insights into the decoration and lifestyle of the time.
The find also sheds light on a historical event described in the ancient text “On the Embassy to Gaius” by Philo of Alexandria. The text recounts a meeting between Caligula and a representative of the Jewish community in Alexandria at a large garden along the Tiber. Despite the tensions between the Jewish and Greek populations at the time, Caligula sided with the Greeks, rejecting the Jews’ requests for religious autonomy.
Overall, this discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of Rome’s most notorious emperors and adds to our understanding of ancient Roman history. It highlights the importance of archaeology in uncovering the secrets of the past and connecting us to our historical roots.
