Realising that this bias may be apparent to others, Tacitus protests that his writing is true. Caligula: Reign of Madness He died at just 28 years old, but his reign was a legendary frenzy of lunacy, murder, and lust. By the final years of his Neros rule, the Roman Empire was under great strain. So much so that during the 12-month span following Nero's death, the empire had four different rulers . [51], Tacitus writes that to remove suspicion from himself, Nero accused Christians of starting the fire. Although he has a generally bad or dim view of Nero, he speaks of others' positive reception of Nero in the East. During this speech, Nero spoke about "eliminating the ills of the previous regime". In the short term, his demise marked the end of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, which had ruled Rome since 27 B.C. Though the infamous emperor Nero ruled Rome for less than two decades, his reign. There you will find that Nero was the first that persecuted this doctrine. His turbulent rule saw momentous events including the Great Fire of Rome, Boudicca's rebellion in Britain . [58] To meet at least a portion of the costs, Nero devalued the Roman currency, increasing inflationary pressure for the first time in the Empire's history. [133] There is also no record of Nero having any offspring who survived infancy: his only recorded child, Claudia Augusta, died aged 4 months. Nero | Riordan Wiki | Fandom His armies put down rebellions in Britain and Judaea, he was an enthusiastic patron of the arts, and he was lenient toward his enemies. [134], Christian writer Tertullian (c. 155230) was the first to call Nero the first persecutor of Christians. Some modern biblical scholars[151][152] such as Delbert Hillers (Johns Hopkins University) of the American Schools of Oriental Research and the editors of the Oxford Study Bible and HarperCollins Study Bible, contend that the number 666 in the Book of Revelation is a code for Nero,[153] a view that is also supported in Roman Catholic Biblical commentaries. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Nero won every contest in which he was a competitor. [55], Houses built after the fire were spaced out, built in brick, and faced by porticos on wide roads. [5]:16 H.H. Roman sources also implicate Nero in the deaths of his wife Claudia Octavia supposedly so that he could marry Poppaea Sabina and of his step brother Britannicus. He was supported by the Parthians, who only reluctantly gave him up,[106] and the matter almost came to war. When Nero was two years old, his father died. Outside of Rome, Nero had several villas or palaces built, the ruins of which can still be seen today. Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus(AD 15 - AD 68) Nero was born at Antium (Anzio) on 15 December AD 37 and was first named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. (1990). Nero is among the best-known of all Roman emperors - but not for good reasons. Ancient Rome - Facts, Location, & Timeline | HISTORY [4]:215 A number of modern historians have noted that Agrippina's death would not have offered much advantage for Poppaea, as Nero did not marry Poppaea until AD 62. The will of the Iceni tribal King Prasutagus, leaving control of the Iceni to his daughters, was denied. [154][155] The statement concerns Revelation 17:1-18, "the longest explanatory passage in Revelation",[156] which predicts the destruction of Rome by work of an "eighth emperor" who was also one of the "seven kings" of the most extended and powerful empire ever known in the human history: according to this lecture, Babylon the Great is identified with Rome[157] which has poured the blood of saints and martyrs (verse 6) and subsequently become the seat of the Vatican State, reigning over all the kings existing on Earth. Please select which sections you would like to print: Also known as: Ahenobarbus, Lucius Domitius, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus. [22], Nero's tutor, Seneca, prepared Nero's first speech before the Senate. His wife Bruriah is one of the few women cited in the Gemara. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He fled Rome, and on 9 June AD68 he committed suicide. "[12]:231 However, David Shotter noted that, despite events in Rome, Nero's step-brother Britannicus was more prominent in provincial coinages during the early 50s. Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( / nro / NEER-oh; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 - 9 June AD 68), was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his death in AD 68. [53] According to this account, many Christians were arrested and brutally executed by "being thrown to the beasts, crucified, and being burned alive". Tiberius, in full Tiberius Caesar Augustus or Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, original name Tiberius Claudius Nero, (born November 16, 42 bce died March 16, 37 ce, Capreae [Capri], near Naples), second Roman emperor (14-37 ce ), the adopted son of Augustus, whose imperial institutions and imperial boundaries he sought to preserve. [2][28], Modern scholars believe that Nero's reign had been going well in the years before Agrippina's death. The Roman general Suetonius Paulinus quashed a major revolt in Britain led by the Iceni's queen Boudica. [55] Suetonius also mentions Nero punishing Christians, though he does so because they are "given to a new and mischievous superstition" and does not connect it with the fire. He put an end to the more odious features of the later years of Claudiuss reign, including secret trials before the emperor and the dominance of corrupt freedmen, and he accorded more independence to the Senate. His mother Agrippina was the sister of the third Roman emperor Caligula. After the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64, when rumours swirled that the emperor himself was responsible . "According to ancient Roman historian Tacitus, though, Nero was rumored to have sung about the . [17]:99[35] After public protests over Octavia's exile, Nero accused her of adultery with Anicetus, and she was executed. Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, underlining indicates an emperor variously regarded as either legitimate or a usurper, Toggle In Jewish and Christian tradition subsection, Revolt of Vindex and Galba and Nero's death, Tacitus wrote the following about Agrippina's marriage to Claudius: "From this moment the country was transformed. He is also attributed for initiating the Great Fire of Rome and then playing the Lyre while the . He wrote that, "in saying, 'For the mystery of iniquity doth already work,'[150] he alluded to Nero, whose deeds already seemed to be as the deeds of Antichrist."[103]. Her private life was chasteunless power was to be gained. For the first time, absolute power in the Roman Empire was vested in a mere boy, who was not yet 17. To continue watching video, please disable your ad blocking software and reload the . In 310, Lactantius wrote that Nero "suddenly disappeared, and even the burial place of that noxious wild beast was nowhere to be seen. [10]:54 Agrippina's involvement in Claudius' death is not accepted by all modern scholars. Background May 29, 2014 The emperor Nero ruled from 54 to 68 AD, when he lost his power and committed suicide. In the early years of his reign, Nero was advised and guided by his mother Agrippina, his tutor Seneca the Younger, and his praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, but he soon sought to rule independently and to rid himself of restraining influences. The Shadow Palace is a magical realm between the world of the living and the dead. Domitius died when Nero was 3. [88], Eastern sources, namely Philostratus and Apollonius of Tyana, mention that Nero's death was mourned as he "restored the liberties of Hellas with a wisdom and moderation quite alien to his character",[89] and that he "held our liberties in his hand and respected them". Given imperium over the eastern regions, Corbulo organised his forces for an invasion but was met by this Parthian delegation. [17]:37, According to these ancient historians, Nero's construction projects were overly extravagant and the large number of expenditures under Nero left Italy "thoroughly exhausted by contributions of money" with "the provinces ruined". This is fidelity! Tiberius | Biography, Accomplishments, Facts, & Death Nero is known as one of Rome's most infamous rulers, notorious for his cruelty and debauchery. [23]:260[44], Some Romans thought the fire an accident, as the merchant shops were timber-framed and sold flammable goods, and the outer seating stands of the Circus were timber-built. [103], At least three Nero impostors emerged leading rebellions. Although its unknown whether Nero sang and strummed his lyre while Rome burned in A.D. 64, he certainly didn't play a fiddle: bowed string instruments wouldn't appear in Europe for another 800 years. [95] Damaged portraits of Nero, often with hammer blows directed to the face, have been found in many provinces of the Roman Empire, three recently having been identified from the United Kingdom. They were joined by the Celtic Trinovantes tribe and their uprising became the most significant provincial rebellion of the 1st century AD. [17]:4142 Ancient sources were critical of Nero's emphasis on the arts, chariot-racing and athletics. Most contemporary sources describe him as tyrannical, self-indulgent, and debauched. [136] as does Sulpicius Severus. Most Roman sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign. [23]:257 One of the earliest coins that Nero issued during his reign shows Agrippina on the coin's obverse side; usually, this would be reserved for a portrait of the emperor. For the volcano, see The Beast. His nocturnal rioting in the streets was a scandal as early as 56, but the emergence of real brutality in Nero can be fixed in the 35-month period between the putting to death of his mother at his orders in 59 and his similar treatment of his wife Octavia in June 62. [4]:214 In Annals Tacitus writes that Agrippina opposed Nero's affair with Poppaea because of her affection for his wife Octavia. The shift gave rise to some of the most famous gladiators today: Spartacus, Spiculus, Marcus Attilius and more. "[135] Lactantius (c. 240320) also said that Nero "first persecuted the servants of God". Black Clover: 10 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Nero - CBR Three years later, in what the Roman historian Tacitus described as a casual outburst of rage, Nero killed Poppea with a single kick to her belly. Was Emperor Nero Really as Monstrous as History Suggests? Upon going to their chambers personally, he found them all abandoned. [23]:26566[8]:35, In 66, there was a Jewish revolt in Judea stemming from Greek and Jewish religious tension. [136][149], In 422, Augustine of Hippo wrote about 2 Thessalonians 2:111, where he believed that Paul mentioned the coming of the Antichrist. During the games Nero sang and played his lyre on stage, acted in tragedies and raced chariots. He was adopted by the Roman emperor Claudius at the age of 13 and succeeded him on the throne. Nero exhausted the Roman treasury rebuilding the city around his 100-acre Domus Aurea (Golden House) palace complex. He became infamous for his personal debaucheries and extravagances and, on doubtful evidence, for his burning of Rome and persecutions of Christians. He also made public appearances as an actor, poet, musician, and charioteer, which scandalised his aristocratic contemporaries as these occupations were usually the domain of slaves, public entertainers, and infamous persons. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). https://www.tibursuperbum.it/eng/escursioni/subiaco/VillaNerone.htm, "LacusCurtius Domus Transitoria (Platner & Ashby, 1929)", "Roman Same-Sex Weddings from the Legal Perspective", "Philip Schaff: NPNF-211. Roman architecture (article) | Ancient Rome | Khan Academy Although order was restored for some time, Nero considered abandoning the province. [41][43] The fire burned for over seven days[23]:260 before subsiding; it then started again and burned for three more. Taking advantage of the fires destruction, Nero had the city reconstructed in the Greek style and began building a prodigious palacethe Golden Housewhich, had it been finished, would have covered a third of Rome. Tacitus described the rule of the Julio-Claudian emperors as generally unjust. Following his mothers death, Nero gave himself fully to his longstanding artistic and aesthetic passions. Domus Aurea - Nero's Palace by Gary Arndt Subscribe Apple | Google | Spotify | Amazon | Player.FM | TuneIn Castbox | Stitcher | Podcast Republic | RSS | Patreon Transcript Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, known to history as just Nero, was not the best of Roman Emperors. Modeled on Greek style games, these games included musical, gymnastic, and equestrian contests. All Rights Reserved. [74], In response, Nero fled Rome with the intention of going to the port of Ostia and, from there, to take a fleet to one of the still-loyal eastern provinces. The bulk of what is known of Nero comes from Tacitus, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio, who were all of the upper classes. Anthony Barrett writes that Tacitus' account in Annals "suggests that Poppaea's challenge drove [Nero] over the brink". [8]:33. [105] Twenty years after Nero's death, during the reign of Domitian, there was a third pretender. The governor of the province, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, assembled his remaining forces and defeated the Britons. [10]:52, Nero formally entered public life as an adult in AD 51 at approximately 14 years old. Upon the death of Claudius, she at once had Nero proclaimed emperor by the Praetorian Guard, whose prefect, Sextus Afranius Burrus, was her partisan; the Senate thus had to accept a fait accompli. Nero was forced to flee Rome, and he later took his own life. Nero was the 5th emperor of Rome and the last of Rome's first dynasty, the Julio-Claudians, founded by Augustus (the adopted son of Julius Caesar). All the arrows landed in the city. 10 questions about the emperor Nero and some curious answers Nero may have started a new trend for bigger and better concrete architecture, but Roman architects, and the emperors who supported them, took that trend and pushed it to its greatest potential. With things falling apart at home, Nero took an extended tour of Greece, where he gave himself to music and theatrical performance, drove a chariot in the Olympic games, announced pro-Hellenic political reforms and launched an expensive and futile project to dig a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. Nero was popular with the members of his Praetorian Guard and lower-class commoners in Rome and its provinces, but he was deeply resented by the Roman aristocracy. Of the Twelve one will be delivered into his hands"; this is interpreted as referring to Nero. NGC Ancients: Roman Coinage of Emperor Nero - CoinWeek [72], At the Battle of Vesontio in May 68, Verginius' forces easily defeated those of Vindex, and the latter committed suicide. [11]:119 Classics professor Josiah Osgood has written that "the coins, through their distribution and imagery alike, showed that a new Leader was in the making. Did you know? Updated: June 12, 2023 | Original: November 9, 2009. He entered his political life as a senator after Nero's death and, by Tacitus' own admission, owed much to Nero's rivals. Nero - Olympics, Accomplishments & Fate | HISTORY The Senate also allowed Agrippina two lictors during public appearances, an honor that was customarily bestowed upon only magistrates and the Vestalis Maxima. Anderson, J. G. C., & Haverfield, F. (1911). When Tigranes attacked Adiabene, Nero had to send further legions to defend Armenia and Syria from Parthia. Vespasian's Colosseum, the Markets of Trajan, the Baths of Caracalla and the Basilica of Maxentius are just a few of the most impressive structures . [102] This belief came to be known as the Nero Redivivus Legend. Nero built a palace, the Golden House, which was apparently magnificent, but it was so resented by the public and by his successors that it was almost completely dismantled. "[8]:12 Britannicus was poisoned after Agrippina threatened to side with him. While in this position, Suetonius started writing biographies of the emperors, accentuating the anecdotal and sensational aspects. While directing the government themselves, Burrus and Seneca had largely left Nero uncontrolled to pursue his own tastes and pleasures. [73], While Nero had retained some control of the situation, support for Galba increased despite his being officially declared a "public enemy". [60] According to Tacitus, many conspirators wished to "rescue the state" from the emperor and restore the Republic. He saw to it that assistance was provided to cities that had suffered disaster and, at the request of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, gave aid to the Jews. [18][19] Modern historians, though, note that the period was riddled with deflation and that it is likely that Nero's spending came in the form of public-works projects and charity intended to ease economic troubles. [111], Nero studied poetry, music, painting and sculpture. [2]:22 Miriam T. Griffins suggests that Nero's decline began as early as AD 55 with the murder of his stepbrother Britannicus, but also notes that "Nero lost all sense of right and wrong and listened to flattery with total credulity" after Agrippina's death. It is believed that he did this out of regret for his killing of Poppaea. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images, https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/nero. Fabius Rusticus, Cluvius Rufus and Pliny the Elder all wrote condemning histories on Nero that are now lost. He describes Nero as a spoiled, angry and unhappy man.[122]. He wrote, "Examine your records. [87] Galba began his short reign with the execution of many of Nero's allies. [37][38][39][40], The Great Fire of Rome began on the night of 18 to 19 July 64, probably in one of the merchant shops on the slope of the Aventine overlooking the Circus Maximus, or in the wooden outer seating of the Circus itself. Profile of the Roman Emperor Nero - ThoughtCo [104] Sometime during the reign of Titus (7981), another impostor appeared in Asia and sang to the accompaniment of the lyre and looked like Nero, but he, too, was killed. Nero (originally known as The Nero Anomalous Research Agency until 1907) is a secret world agency whose primary objective is to locate, contain, and research all forms of anomaly, from dimensional rifts to entities that stray from the norm of biology. According to Suetonius the gymnastic contests were held in the Saepta area of the Campus Martius. He had bribed organizers to postpone the games for a year so he could participate,[112] and artistic competitions were added to the athletic events. [82], With his death, the Julio-Claudian dynasty ended. She was also able to convince Claudius to replace two prefects of the Praetorian Guard (who were suspected of supporting Claudius' son) with Afranius Burrus (Nero's future guide). He both sang and played the cithara (a type of lyre). Updates? A coronation ceremony was held in Italy AD 66. Letter from Apollonius to Emperor Vespasian, Philostratus II. By this account, Nero raped the vestal virgin Rubria.[128]. These first histories, while they still existed, were described as biased and fantastical, either overly critical or praising of Nero. [80] According to Sulpicius Severus, it is unclear whether Nero took his own life. Suetonius reports that the text of this speech was later found in Nero's writing desk, but that he dared not give it from fear of being torn to pieces before he could reach the Forum. At first Nero hated signing death sentences, and the extortions of Roman tax collectors upon the populace led him in 58 to unrealistically suggest that the customs dues should be abolished. [98], Otho overthrew Galba. Learn more about the life of Nero here. [75], Nero returned to Rome and spent the evening in the palace. Secrets of the Dead: The Nero Files follows internationally renowned criminal psychologist Thomas Mller and a team of scientists and historians as they investigate the new evidence in order to. [12]:231, Claudius died in AD 54; many ancient historians claim that he was poisoned by Agrippina. 11 Roman Emperors Who Helped Mold the Ancient World - HISTORY The provision of such entertainments made Nero popular among lower-class citizens, but his performances undermined the Imperial dignity. The historian Tacitus claims the Roman people thought him compulsive and corrupt. However, he still could not bring himself to take his own life, but instead forced his private secretary, Epaphroditus, to perform the task. But Nero had learned his mothers lessons well: Brittanicus soon died under dubious circumstances, and in 59, after a failed plot to drown her in a collapsible boat, Nero had Agrippina stabbed to death in her villa. [71] In an attempt to gain support from outside his own province, Vindex called upon Servius Sulpicius Galba, the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, to join the rebellion and to declare himself emperor in opposition to Nero. Nero was just 30 years old when he fled Rome and committed suicide. At private events beginning in 59, he sang and performed on the lyre and encouraged members of the upper classes to take dancing lessons. [100] Vitellius overthrew Otho. There is, however, disagreement as to where and by whom it was administered. [115] Nonetheless, these lost primary sources were the basis of surviving secondary and tertiary histories on Nero written by the next generations of historians. Travelling in disguise, Nero and four loyal freedmen, Epaphroditus, Phaon, Neophytus, and Sporus, reached the villa, where Nero ordered them to dig a grave for him. Cassius Dio (c. 155229) was the son of Cassius Apronianus, a Roman senator. [79], When one of the horsemen entered and saw that Nero was dying, he attempted to stop the bleeding, but efforts to save Nero's life were unsuccessful. [138] These expelled "Jews" may have been early Christians, although Suetonius is not explicit. Perhaps the most infamous of Romes emperors, Nero Claudius Caesar (A.D. 37-68) ruled Rome from A.D. 54 until his death by suicide 14 years later. For example, Nero promoted the exploration of the Nile river sources with a successful expedition. Fifty years later, the historian Suetonius reported Neros final lament: What an artist dies in me!. Seneca urged Nero to use his autocratic powers conscientiously, but he obviously failed to harness the boys more generous impulses to his responsibilities. Nero Facts | Britannica We strive for accuracy and fairness. Diocletian | Biography, Empire, Definition, Persecution, & Reign Some modern historians question the reliability of the ancient sources on Nero's tyrannical acts, considering his popularity among the Roman commoners. The emperors old advisor Seneca was caught up in the affair and forced to commit suicide. [145], The Sibylline Oracles, Book 5 and 8, written in the second century, speak of Nero returning and bringing destruction. [139], The first text to suggest that Nero ordered the execution of an apostle is a letter by Clement to the Corinthians traditionally dated to around AD 96. Peter is first said to have been crucified specifically upside-down in Rome during Nero's reign (but not by Nero) in the apocryphal Acts of Peter (c. [21] As Pharaoh of Egypt, Nero adopted the royal titulary Autokrator Neron Heqaheqau Meryasetptah Tjemaahuikhasut Wernakhtubaqet Heqaheqau Setepennenu Merur ('Emperor Nero, Ruler of rulers, chosen by Ptah, beloved of Isis, the sturdy-armed one who struck the foreign lands, victorious for Egypt, ruler of rulers, chosen of Nun who loves him'). [65] Nero went into deep mourning; Poppaea was given a sumptuous state funeral, divine honors, and was promised a temple for her cult. [84], According to Suetonius and Cassius Dio, the people of Rome celebrated the death of Nero. Even later Nero was capable of conceiving grandiose plans for conquests or the creation of public works, but for the most part he used his position simply to gratify his own personal pleasures. Nero is known as one of Rome's most infamous rulers, notorious for his cruelty, debauchery and madness. A generation later those years were seen in retrospect as an exemplar of good and moderate government and described as Quinquennium Neronis by Trajan. [63] Nero's previous advisor Seneca was accused by Natalis; he denied the charges but was still ordered to commit suicide, as by this point he had fallen out of favor with Nero. [8]:12 Nero, who was having an affair with Acte,[v] exiled Agrippina from the palace when she began to cultivate a relationship with his wife Octavia. Gaia Squarci Joshua Levine; Photographs. This brings to light potential theories about the identity of Secre. [117] There were also pro-Nero histories, but it is unknown who wrote them or for what deeds Nero was praised.[118]. . [17]:186[91], Nero's name was erased from some monuments, in what Edward Champlin regards as an "outburst of private zeal". The notorious emperor appears to have been the subject of a smear campaign. He won a 10-horse chariot race, despite being thrown from the chariot and leaving the race. The emperor Neroknown for his debauchery apparently collected the things. His most lasting artistic legacy, though, was his re-creation of Rome following the fire that destroyed most of the city. The legend of Nero's return lasted for hundreds of years after Nero's death. At last, the sound of approaching horsemen drove Nero to face the end. [66], In 67, Nero married Sporus, a young boy who is said to have greatly resembled Poppaea. Artistic pretensions and irresponsibility, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nero-Roman-emperor, JewishEncyclopedia.com - Biography of Nero, Jewish Virtual Library - Biography of Nero, LiveScience - Emperor Nero: Facts & biography, Nero - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). They encouraged Nero to act independently of her, and a growing coolness resulted in Neros relations with his mother. Who was Nero? | GotQuestions.org Still, there are several references to Nero in Pliny's Natural Histories. [2][16]:417, Most of what we know about Nero's reign comes from three ancient writers: Tacitus, Suetonius, and Greek historian Cassius Dio. After the coronation, friendly relations were established between Rome and the eastern kingdoms of Parthia and Armenia. Suetonius wrote that Nero started the fire to clear the site for his planned, palatial Golden House. In his first five years as emperor, Nero gained a reputation for political generosity, promoting power-sharing with the Senate and ending closed-door political trials, though he generally pursued his own passions and left the ruling up to three key advisersthe Stoic philosopher Seneca, the prefect Burrus and ultimately Agrippina. Nero definition, (Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus) ("Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus") a.d. 37-68, emperor of Rome 54-68, known for his cruelty and depravity. [49][50] The popular legend that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned "is at least partly a literary construct of Flavian propaganda which looked askance on the abortive Neronian attempt to rewrite Augustan models of rule". Nero - Claudius, Accomplishments & Fate - Biography "[43]:5455, Nero established the Neronian games in AD 60. The accounts by Pliny the Elder, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio suggest several possible reasons for Nero's alleged arson, including his creation of a real-life backdrop to a theatrical performance about the burning of Troy. [17]:99[36], In AD 64 during the Saturnalia, Nero married Pythagoras, a freedman. Nero's Bridge Suddenly Appears, Reminding Us Some Thought He Never Died Marcus Aurelius - Biography, Meditations & Death - HISTORY In the eastern provinces of the Empire, a popular legend arose that Nero had not died and would return. [76][77] At this time, Nero learned that the Senate had declared him a public enemy. The child responded, "I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel" (Ezekiel 25:14). The first, who sang and played the cithara or lyre, and whose face was similar to that of the dead emperor, appeared in 69 AD during the reign of Vitellius.
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