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]. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 45
Page 63
... Seneca found him- self replaced by others in Nero's counsels . Men came near the Emperor who were prepared to lay charges against him , charges rooted in jealousy , but which had a curious ring when directed against the philosopher ...
... Seneca found him- self replaced by others in Nero's counsels . Men came near the Emperor who were prepared to lay charges against him , charges rooted in jealousy , but which had a curious ring when directed against the philosopher ...
Page 105
... Seneca himself . Did Seneca face to face with death deliberately model his end on the famous account of the death of Socrates in the Phaedo of Plato ? Or did Tacitus as he told the story find himself irresistibly driven to recount the ...
... Seneca himself . Did Seneca face to face with death deliberately model his end on the famous account of the death of Socrates in the Phaedo of Plato ? Or did Tacitus as he told the story find himself irresistibly driven to recount the ...
Page 106
... Seneca depended entirely on Piso's safety . Whatever the alleged reply of Seneca meant , it was enough for Nero : it demanded an investigation that would establish Seneca's guilt . So Gavius Silvanus one of that miliary group of ...
... Seneca depended entirely on Piso's safety . Whatever the alleged reply of Seneca meant , it was enough for Nero : it demanded an investigation that would establish Seneca's guilt . So Gavius Silvanus one of that miliary group of ...
Other editions - View all
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