Nero: The Man and the LegendThe author introduces a character with whom the reader is already familiar and about whom he probably has preconceived ideas. There is no intent here to moralize about the character of Nero, but merely the desire to present an honest biography in which truth is unravelled from the skein of myth and falsehood which has surrounded the fifth Emperor of Rome. Drawing mainly upon Tacitus, the author chronicles the life of Nero from his birth to his death, focusing on those personalities -- Agrippina, Seneca, Petronius, the unhappy Octavia -- close to the Emperor, and never sacrificing truth to sensationalism. The author has paid attention to the background of the persecution of the Christians in 64 A.D. and uses much material from the Epistles of the New Testament. The conclusion that the author reaches about certain aspects of the burning of Rome and the persecution of the Christians may well surprise many readers. [Book jacket]. |
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Page 61
... Octavia had long ceased to be anything but a shadow , but the Roman people re- tained her obstinately in their affections and would tolerate no insult to Octavia . One of Octavia's champions in high places was Burrus , prefect of the ...
... Octavia had long ceased to be anything but a shadow , but the Roman people re- tained her obstinately in their affections and would tolerate no insult to Octavia . One of Octavia's champions in high places was Burrus , prefect of the ...
Page 69
The Man and the Legend John Bishop. to confess to adultery with Octavia and to plotting the over- throw of Nero : by this deft anticipation of what they felt was likely to happen any way , they could dispose of Octavia before harm was ...
The Man and the Legend John Bishop. to confess to adultery with Octavia and to plotting the over- throw of Nero : by this deft anticipation of what they felt was likely to happen any way , they could dispose of Octavia before harm was ...
Page 189
... Octavia show a genuine crowd reaction speaking directly to us . It suits Tacitus to show them thus and we see their horror clearly . It is easy to imagine the sympathy that would be engendered for the luckless Octavia , especially as ...
... Octavia show a genuine crowd reaction speaking directly to us . It suits Tacitus to show them thus and we see their horror clearly . It is easy to imagine the sympathy that would be engendered for the luckless Octavia , especially as ...
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Common terms and phrases
accused Agrippina alleged Antistius Antium appear Armenia army Augustus Baiae banished began behaviour believed Boudicca Britannicus Burrus Caligula chapter charge Christians Claudius Claudius's clear conspiracy conspirators Corbulo crime death Dio Cassius Domitian dramatic Empire entertainment Epicharis Epistles evidence exile fact Faenius Rufus fire Fire of Rome freedman friends future Emperor Galba Greece Greek historian honour Imperial knew legend lived loyalty Lucan matricide Messalina Milichus mother murder Naples Natalis Nero Nero's reign night Octavia once Otho Parthians passion performance perhaps persecution Piso Piso's Pisonian Conspiracy Plautus plot poison political Poppaea popular praetorian guard probably reader realized reason revolt Roman Rome rumours Scaevinus seems senate Seneca Silanus slaves soldiers sort sources stage story Subrius Suetonius suicide Tacitus Tacitus's tells temple Thrasea throne Tiberius Tigellinus Tiridates told took Vestinus villa Vologases wife woman young