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 90
... least done nothing to prevent Nero's murder of Agrippina , a man who had always bowed to Nero's whims with sickening promptitude , now so far out of favour that rumours of a poison attempt were being spread . If Seneca was disillusioned ...
... least done nothing to prevent Nero's murder of Agrippina , a man who had always bowed to Nero's whims with sickening promptitude , now so far out of favour that rumours of a poison attempt were being spread . If Seneca was disillusioned ...
Page 165
... least the first search parties and give himself a chance of slipping away unnoticed later . So he put on old and shabby clothing and with one or two com- panions , among them the eunuch Sporus and his secretary Epa- phroditus , he made ...
... least the first search parties and give himself a chance of slipping away unnoticed later . So he put on old and shabby clothing and with one or two com- panions , among them the eunuch Sporus and his secretary Epa- phroditus , he made ...
Page 187
... least to some of them - he was one whose return was eagerly awaited and whose popularity was such as to attract to his name a number of impersonators . Yet again if we are to believe even the most favourable account of the origin of the ...
... least to some of them - he was one whose return was eagerly awaited and whose popularity was such as to attract to his name a number of impersonators . Yet again if we are to believe even the most favourable account of the origin of the ...
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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