Nero 20 Marker prep

Question 1

Nero Senate Good

Answer 1

Tac 12
- Let Italy and the public provinces take their stand before the judgement-seats of the consuls
- a display of leniency towards Plautius Lateranus,​ degraded from his rank for adultery with Messalina
- emperor, who pledged himself to clemency

Question 2

Nero Senate Bad

Answer 2

Revives maiestas in 62 - killing of former consul then ‘large enconium’ (laudative speech) to emperor from senate (Tac 14)

Dissidence of Thrasea leading to senate voting with the ‘imperial displeasure’ (Tac 14)
- Robbing family estates if not giving them enough (Suet 32)

Question 3

Nero influenced

Answer 3

• When the tribune made his report in the presence of Poppaea and Tigellinus — the emperor’s privy council in his ferocious moods — Nero demanded…’ (Tacitus, Book 15)
• On killing octavia - the head was amputated and carried to Rome, where it was viewed by Poppaea.
• Poppaea, dominating Nero first as an adulterer, then as a husband - 14 (62ad)
• Bradley: ‘With the help of the low-born Praetorian prefect Tigellinus, whose cruelty and debauched activities offended all dignified Romans, Nero’s artistic activities and extravagances increased

Question 4

Nero character

Answer 4

Tac 12 “He would not constitute himself a judge of all cases,
‘Nero vetoed an offer of effigies in solid gold or silver to himself;

‘His insolence, lust, extravagance, greed and cruelty he at first revealed only gradually and secretly; but even then there could be no doubt that these were the faults of his character - Suet 26

Question 5

Bias of sources

Answer 5

Tacitus says nero loved children and wife but suet says nothing of that - disparity between sources
Tac not always biased

Question 6

Nero plebs

Answer 6

Suet 11 - extravagant shows and chariot races, plays dedicated to his rule
Suet