Mushrooms are the Food of the Gods

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The Emperor Claudius as Jupiter, Vatican Museums

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On October 13th in the year 54, the emperor Claudius died, having reigned for almost fourteen years. 

He was succeeded by Nero (r. 54-68), who is said to have acclaimed mushrooms as the food of the gods, as Claudius died after eating such a dish and was later deified.

Nero's remark would not have gone down well with his mother Agrippina the Younger (15-59), who was also the wife (and niece) of Claudius, as she was widely suspected of having added poison to the mushrooms. 

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