when this film ( entire series ) be view by any student of history or for that matter and anyone wishing to see rome and . . . a it truly be will hardly be surpass for enjoyment . the story tell here be that of the first five emperor of ancient rome . brian bless play augustus and be very accepted a the benevolent dictator . siân phillips play livia and his scheme wife . george baker be tiberius and who wait too long to become emperor and be despise during his tenure . john hurt play caligula who garner more praise for his role than nearly everyone else . christopher biggins play the fiddle playing nero . james faulkner be herod agrippa and the jovial friend from the east . his be a particularly sympathetic soul and friend of claudius . but it be derek jacobi a claudius who tell the tale of his family and do such a fantastic job and that this series have create such a high plateau and he may never surpass it . an excellent series which should also establish for itself the crown of classic . .