The poisoner's garden

Botanising one of ancient Rome’s most magnificent paintings (8 minute read)

Last week, before I was distracted by 2000 year old allegations of death cap mushroom poisoning, I intended to write about the Empress Livia, wife to the first Roman emperor, Augustus. She’s another member of the imperial family who is associated with poison in popular culture. The version of Livia we most often hear about has come to us through the wor…