With his distaste for dealing with the senate and extreme paranoia. It was here Tacitus references Tiberius mental state “Though three years had lapsed since the destruction of Sejanus, neither time, in treaties, nor sated gratification which have a soothing affect on others softened Tiberius or kept him from punishing doubtful or forgotten offenses as most flagrant and recent crimes”. Tacitus attributes Sejanus’ actions as part of the emperor’s mental state, but he seems to believe that Tiberius himself has caused this condition when he states “Although I have followed most historians in attributing the cause of his retirement to the arts of Sejanus, still, as he passed six consecutive years in the same solitude after that minister’s destruction, I am often in doubt whether it is not to be more truly ascribed to himself, and his wish to hide by the place of his retreat the cruelty and licentiousness which he betrayed by his actions. Some thought that in his old age he was ashamed of his personal appearance. He had indeed a tall, singularly slender and stooping figure, a bald head, a face full of eruptions, and covered here and there with …show more content…
Control over who lives and dies, control over the freedom of thought held by the Roman people and yet ironically no self-control whatsoever. The absolute power Tiberius held corrupted him absolutely and he lost control of his desires, Sejanus, and his own sanity desperately clinging to the control he had over his empire and the control he once had over his life. So Tacitus us of the dangers an empire brings and of the dangers of over indulging in one’s desires while ignoring one’s obligations. Tacitus certainly had no love for Tiberius, but he saw an example to make of what happens when a man never meant to rule suddenly inherits an empire, let’s another man run that empire, and devolves to a life of seclusion and