Hercules Secundus
Preserved but no longer current.
Commodus, the Roman Emperor (A.D. 180-92), gave himself this title. Dissipated and inordinately cruel, he claimed divine honours and caused himself to be worshipped as Hercules. It is said that he killed 100 lions in the amphitheatre, and that he slew over a thousand defenceless gladiators.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Hercules Secundus” mean?
Commodus, the Roman Emperor (A.D. 180-92), gave himself this title. Dissipated and inordinately cruel, he claimed divine honours and caused himself to be worshipped as Hercules. It is said that he killed 100 lions in the amphitheatre, and that he slew over a thousand defenceless gladiators.
Is “Hercules Secundus” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.