Nero Quotes

Question 1

What does Tacitus say about Agrippina and Nero’s relationship?

Answer 1

Tacitus, Annals 14: alleges that Agrippina used sex as a means to control Nero.

Question 2

What does Tacitus say about Nero’s plot to kill Agrippina?

Answer 2

Tacitus, Annals 14: describes his plans of killing her through using a fake boat. She was told about his plans and survived the fake boat collapse, but was murdered anyway.

Question 3

What does Josephus say about Nero’s wife Poppaea?

Answer 3

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities: Poppaea “pleaded with him on behalf of the Jews”.

Question 4

What does Tacitus say about Nero’s wife Poppaea?

Answer 4

Tacitus, Annals 14: Poppaea accuses Nero of being a puppet ruler under Agrippina and is manipulating him, giving her credit as being able to influence and persuade Nero.

Question 5

What does Tacitus say about who conspired to kill Nero in AD 65?

Answer 5

Tacitus, Annals 15: “senators, equestrians, soldiery and even females” were involved.

Question 6

What does Tacitus say about the victims of Nero’s execution after discovering the plot in AD 65?

Answer 6

Tacitus, Annals 15: lists the victims of this purge, including Nero’s adviser Seneca.

Question 7

What does Suetonius say about Nero’s involvement in the Great Fire of Rome AD 64?

Answer 7

Suetonius, Nero 38: “…he brazenly set fire to the city” and claims that Nero sang about the fall of Troy while the fire happened.

Question 8

What does Tacitus say about Nero’s involvement in the Great Fire of Rome AD 64?

Answer 8

Tacitus: claims Nero was at Antium during the fire, explaining why he couldn’t stop it, but Tacitus is still suspicious of his involvement - he also records the rumour of Nero singing about Troy.

Question 9

What does Suetonius say about Nero’s response to the aftermath of the Great Fire of Rome?

Answer 9

Suetonius, Nero 38: Nero opened a fire relief fund but insisted on contributions from provincials and private citizens.

Question 10

What does Pliny the Elder say about Nero’s Domus Aurea

Answer 10

Pliny, Natural History 36: Describes the Domus Aurea as “nothing less than a house of gold.”

Question 11

What does Suetonius say about Nero’s Domus Aureus?

Answer 11

Suetonius, Nero 31: There was a huge statue of himself that was 120 feet high and stood in the entrance hall of the Domus Aureus.

Question 12

What does Tacitus say about Nero’s redesign of Rome in AD 64?

Answer 12

Tacitus, Annals 15: Nero gave back land to people after reconstructions had taken place. Nero rebuilt the rows of streets properly surveyed and with height limits.

Question 13

What does Tacitus say about Nero’s attitude to Christians?

Answer 13

Tacitus, Annals 15.44: emphasises how Nero scapegoated Christians following the Great Fire of AD 64.

Question 14

What does the Aureus of Nero show?

Answer 14

Minted AD 50 - 54. On the reverse it shows a ladle above a tripod and an augur wand, establishing himself as a worthy successor to Claudius with religious association.

Question 15

What does Tacitus say about Nero’s relationship with the Senate?

Answer 15

Tacitus, Annals 14: senators came to meet Nero in “festive garb” following the announcement of Agrippina’s death.

Question 16

What does Tacitus say about Thrasea Paetus leaving the Senate after Nero announced the death of his mother?

Answer 16

Tacitus notes that this “provided grounds for danger to himself, but did not present the others with an entry to freedom”.

Question 17

What does Dio say about Thrasea Paetus leaving the Senate after Nero announced the death of his mother?

Answer 17

Dio, Roman History 62: Paetus chose to walk out of the meeting “since he could not say what he would, and would not say what he could”

Question 18

What is Tacitus’ opinion of Tigellinus?

Answer 18

Tacitus is scathing of him, claiming that he corrupted Nero and introduced him to every kind of depravity before deserting him by supporting Galba.

Question 19

What does Suetonius say about Nero’s relationship with the Plebs?

Answer 19

Suetonius, Nero 11: records that Nero provided an immense variety of entertainments.

Question 20

What does the Sestertius of Nero show?

Answer 20

Minted in AD 64, it shows Nero and the prefect of the grain dole, commemorating Nero’s grants of the corn dole.

Question 21

What does Suetonius say about the Plebs’ opinion of Nero and the grain dole?

Answer 21

Suetonius, Nero 45: “he aggravated popular resentment by profiteering in grain, which was already priced far too high”.

Question 22

What does Suetonius say about the Revolt of Vindex?

Answer 22

Suetonius, Nero 40: sees the revolt as “divine retribution” for Nero’s mismanagement of the empire.

Question 23

How does Dio present Vindex?

Answer 23

Dio, Roman History 63.22: presents Vindex as a suitable heroic figurehead, “a man strong in physique and shred in intelligence”

Question 24

What does the Denarius of Vindex show?

Answer 24

Minted in AD 68, the obverse shows Victory standing on a globe, “the salvation of the human race”, presenting the rebellion as being for the benefit of the whole Roman world.

Question 25

What does Dio say about Vindex and his want for power?

Answer 25

Dio, Roman History 63.23: notes Vindex wasn’t after supreme power but supported Galba.

Question 26

What does the Denarius of Galba show?

Answer 26

Minted in AD 68 - 69, the reverse shows a pileus cap between two daggers. This is very similar to a coin minted by Brutus after the assassination of JC, seeming like Galba “freed” Rome from slavery (Nero)

Question 27

What does Dio say about Nero’s final words?

Answer 27

Dio, Roman History 63.29: “Jupiter, what an artist perishes in me!”.