New discoveries beneath the Vatican reveal the grand designs of Caligula. In a reign lasting just four years, Caligula established himself as one of Rome's most controversial emperors. Often portrayed as a cruel tyrant, he left behind a dark legacy. Yet, recent archaeological discoveries offer a different perspective: that of a visionary builder. He was responsible for titanic projects involving remarkable technical feats, such as aqueducts ike the Aqua Claudia. This episode redefines Caligula as a visionary of Roman engineering, highlighting projects such as the transformation of a temple, the transport of a colossal Egyptian obelisk to Rome, and the construction of aqueducts.
Explore Caligula's floating palaces--giant ships of luxury lost for centuries. At the heart of a volcanic lake near Rome lay one of antiquity's greatest mysteries where the sheer scale of Caligula’s extravagance is revealed: two vast pleasure ships--veritable floating temples featuring lavish decor. Known as the Ships of Nemi, these floating palaces vanished for centuries before a dramatic 20th-century excavation under Benito Mussolini brought them to light. Their opulence and scale reveal the spectacle and symbolism behind an emperor's quest for divine power. Modern tech and 3D reconstructions revive their grandeur, revealing the emperor's audacious vision and engineering genius.