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
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Page 58
... began with the revival of the obnoxious trials for maiestas ( treason ) . Maiestas , the crime of treason , had ... began to pass more and more into the hands of one man the meaning of maiestas minuta ( lessened dignity , literally ) or ...
... began with the revival of the obnoxious trials for maiestas ( treason ) . Maiestas , the crime of treason , had ... began to pass more and more into the hands of one man the meaning of maiestas minuta ( lessened dignity , literally ) or ...
Page 155
... began but then handed over to Eprius Marcellus , the second accuser who began a second tirade against the long - suffering Thrasea . The speech of Eprius followed well - trodden paths . Thrasea now faced charges of lack of allegiance ...
... began but then handed over to Eprius Marcellus , the second accuser who began a second tirade against the long - suffering Thrasea . The speech of Eprius followed well - trodden paths . Thrasea now faced charges of lack of allegiance ...
Page 197
... began to be recognized as an individual group with a special political significance of its own . Caius Gracchus formally established the class of Knight by excluding senators from its ranks : this had the obvious effect of creating two ...
... began to be recognized as an individual group with a special political significance of its own . Caius Gracchus formally established the class of Knight by excluding senators from its ranks : this had the obvious effect of creating two ...
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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