How did his reputation become so negative so soon after his death? Well, because you find that at the end of 69, we're starting a completely new dynasty. So again, youare suggesting that neros name is black in order to keep there their reputation white? Absolutely yes. And that that happened somevery caamity toliterature. How must you go along with that, that he was blackened? I think that from what we've been discussing to day, it's quite clear that he wasn't exactly a a pure er angel,. There are all sorts of respects in which he was a deeply disturbing, deeply disturbed figure.
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