It was one of his chief entertainments to observe the activities that ensued; each booth was open at the front, so that Caligula might seat himself there and watch. One part of the brothel was set aside for boys, the sons of eminent men whose loyalty to him Caligula doubted. The boys were well looked-after, fed on good food, their bodies regularly exercised, bathed and coiffured, their genitals shaved and their bottoms well-greased for the clients’ pleasure. It was rumoured, though I never actually saw it, that Caligula sometimes participated, having himself dressed, or rather undressed, as one of the pretty boys offered for sale, or even dressed as a woman, his body shaved and painted and perfumed. One of the girls who attended such a session said that Caligula insisted that the client br
