This alone ensured that the Senate and its members remained relevant and important. The Roman Senate started life as an advisory council, filled entirely with patricians. In the last two centuries ...

It was graphic way for Caligula to express his contempt for the Roman Senate. It was a way of proving that he could not merely bend the Senators to his will, but he could humiliate them as well.

Over time, the Senate would be open to Roman citizens from outside Italy. By the end of the first century, even the emperor himself would be born abroad.

second to first centuries B.C., Museum of Roman Civilization, Rome Photograph by Art Archive The Senate met again and passed a decree calling on the consuls to defend Rome against any attack.