Rethinking Domitian: the emperor is celebrated in Rome

There’s some poetic justice in the new temporary exhibition set up at the Villa Caffarelli branch of the Capitoline Museums: the display, under the name “Domiziano Imperatore. Odio e amore” (“hate and love“), celebrates the assassinated emperor in the very place he helped rebuild: the cornerstones of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus are right below the museum!

Because indeed, it was actually Domitian who ordered the rebuilding of the many parts of Rome destroyed by the terrible fire of 80 AD.

And yet, we know very little about the last of the Flavia gens, as he was not only murdered by some of what we would now describe as his collaborators, but he was also condemned to oblivion, with his face and name erased by plaques and statues.

Domitian: Why the hate?

Last year Villa Caffarelli housed the exhibition on the Torlonia marble collection: with that one currently in Milan, the Capitoline Museums can now tell visitors another lesser known story about Rome.

“Domiziano Imperatore. Odio e amore” is not only an impressive archaeology exhibition (more than 100 artifacts are on show, including those on loan from international museums or never before seen by the general public): it is also an important historical-scientific research, which manages to finally acknowledge Domitian’s achievements.

A generous emperor, a vain man

Despite having one the empire’s longest reigns, Domitian was constantly criticized. The Senate would have loved to have his brother Titus in his place, but his untimely death forced them to choose someone they deemed unworthy of being the emperor just out of respect for his lineage. He lasted this long only because he spent long stretches of time away from Rome!

Domitian was not handsome nor charismatic: the historian Suetonius mocked him by calling him “Nero with a wig” because of his precocious baldness. Although he was a reformer who helped rebuild fire-ravaged Rome, with a good rapport with the army and the people, his person was character by his contemporaries, and the exhibition at the Capitoline Museums today helps restore him to prominence.

“Domiziano Imperatore. Odio e amore” will be until January 29, 2023. Tickets can be also bought online at this address.