The story of nero's is an arc of decline, from promising a young prince t to corrupt and dissipate a tyrant. His coin portraits also show him kind of young and angular and promising, and getting fat and jowdy as his reign declines. But he thought he was doing something clever there. There must be some sort of henry the eighth, like appeal to solidity and anroyal splendour going on that to us just looks misplaced. And could i just say that at the time that the film was originally released, it was possible to go to the department stores and buy versions of nero shorts in eight fiery colours? I've never found them. They're such
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life of Nero (37-68 AD) who became Emperor at the age of 16. At first he was largely praised for his generosity yet became known for his debauched lifestyle, with allegations he started the Fire of Rome, watching the flames as he played the lyre. Christians saw him as their persecutor, an anti-Christ, and the number of the Beast in the Book of Revelation was thought to indicate Nero. He had confidence in his own artistry, took up acting (which then had a very low status) and, as revolts in the empire grew, killed himself after the Senate condemned him to die as a slave, on a cross.
With
Maria Wyke
Professor of Latin at University College London
Matthew Nicholls
Fellow and Senior Tutor at St John’s College, University of Oxford
And
Shushma Malik
Lecturer in Classics at the University of Roehampton
Producer: Simon Tillotson