CALIGULA AND THE LEGENDARY HORSE INCINATUS
"But when the spur's point ever so lightly touches its flank, a thoroughbred breaks into a gallop, generously out of proportion to the impulse of the spur. The reaction of the horse, rather than a response to an impulse, is a release of exuberant inner energies. Indeed, a skittish horse, with its nervous head and fiery eye, is a splendid image of stirring life. Thus we imagine the magnificent stallion whom Caligula called Incitatus."
--Jose Ortega y Gassett
Spanish Philosopher
Much is lengendary about Incinatus, the Emperor Caligula's favorite horse. The chroniclers of his imperial rule wrote years afterward. They were biased toward the Julian/Claudian clan and wished to make his behavior the object of ridicule. Caligula undoubtedly was guilty of much cruel and bizarre conduct, even by Roman standards. It is thought by modern scholars to have become progressively worse as he continued on the throne. He might have been the victim of a mental disease which was unknown in his day.
But if he ever loved anything, it was his horse Incinatus. His often foolish treatment of this beautiful white stallion may have been an indication of his deteriorating mental soundness.
Whatever the reason, Caligula's adored horse has passed into legend.
Some have indicated that the horse was attended to by eighteen servants, and was fed oats mixed with gold flakes; according to Suetonius, Incitatus had a stable of marble, with an ivory manger, purple blankets and a collar of precious stones. Suetonius wrote also that Caligula planned to make Incitatus a Consul. Caligula even procured him a wife, a mare named Penelope. It has also been said Caligula claimed his horse to be a 'combination of all the gods' and to be worshipped as such.
The horse would also "invite" dignitaries to dine with him, and had a house with full complement of
servants to entertain such guests.
--Suetonius, Lives of The Twelve Caesars
Caligula used to invite Incitatus to dinner, where he would offer him golden barley and drink his health in wine from golden goblets; he swore by the animal's life and fortune and even promised to appoint him consul, a promise that he would certainly have carried out if he had lived longer.
--Cassius Dio: Book 69
Incintatus meaning "impetuous in Latin, came from Spain to add to Caligula's stable of racehorses. The emperor adored Incinatus so much that after ordering a stable built of marble with a veneer of ivory , he later constructed a house and garden with servants so that this steed would lack nothing for the entertainment of his guests. There is a legend that before a race, Caligula slept by the side of his horse to be sure that no one would disturb his rest under pain of death.
Caligula shared with most of the Romans a passion for horse-racing. His family owned most of the land where St. Peter's now stands and Caligula built there a private hippodrome, which is usually known as Circo Vaticano o di Nerone. He embellished this circus by placing at its centre an obelisk. Notwithstanding his private circus, he spent a lot of time at Circo Massimo watching the races in which his horse Incitatus took part. He was so fond of his horse that no expense was spared although we do not know whether Incitatus was actually happy to be living in a marble stable or to be eating from an ivory manger. Incitatus was covered with fine cloths with red borders and from this detail historians claim that Caligula appointed his horse to the position of senator; we do know that he
was the best dressed horse in Rome.
Ruins of Circo Massimo
Banner image above is from Trumpeter, plate from Carrousels, course de tetes et de bagues, Paris, 1727/43 |
