Suetonius nero summary

Why does Suetonius say he will give an account of several members of Nero's family?

To show that though Nero deviated from the good qualities of his ancestors, he replicated all their vices.

Who was Nero's grandfather? What scandalous thing did he do that Nero later copied? What thing did he do that was particularly cruel?

Domitius. While a praetor and consul, he brought Roman knights and matrons on the stage to act a farce. He held a very horrible gladiatorial show.

Who was Nero's father?

Domitius (junior).

Nero's father was horrible. What did he do to his freedman? What did he do to a boy in a village on the Appian Way? What did he do to a Roman knight?

He slew him for refusing to drink as much as he'd ordered. He ran him over on purpose. He gouged his eyes out in the forum for chiding him too much.

Before the death of Tiberius, what was Nero's father charged with?

Treason, as well as acts of adultery and incest

When Nero was born, were the vibes good or bad?

Bad - his father said that anything born from him and Agrippina was going to be "abominable"

When Seneca began to tutor the 11 year old Nero, who did he dream he was tutoring instead (which turned out to be prophetic)?

Caligula

How old was Nero when he became emperor?

17

How did Nero show piety when Claudius died?

He gave Claudius a magnificent funeral, spoke his eulogy, and deified him.

What watchword did Nero give to the tribune on guard when he first became emperor? What was Agrippina in charge of?

"The Best of Mothers." Suetonius says she was in charge of "all public and private business"

When Nero became emperor, which other emperor did he say he wanted to copy? What did he do to the "more oppressive sources of revenue"? How many sesterces did he give to each man? What did he give to poor, distinguished senators?

Augustus. He abolished them. 400. An annual salary.

What kind of entertainment did Nero put on? Who took part in the Juvenales?

The Juvenales, chariot races in the Circus, stage-plays, and a gladiatorial show. Old men of consular rank and aged matrons.

What kind of presents did Nero give to the people?

"A thousand birds of every kind each day, various kinds of food, •tickets for grain, clothing, gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, paintings, slaves, beasts of burden, and even trained wild animals; finally, ships, blocks of houses, and farms."

Who did he compel to fight in the arena?

400 senators and 600 Roman knights.

Who would perform pantomime scenes like Pasiphae having sex, Icarus etc? What would happen at the end of the performances?

Greek youths. They would get Roman citizenship.

What was the Neronia? Did he win the prizes in Latin verse and lyre-playing?

A contest in three parts, after the Greek fashion, that is in music, gymnastics, and riding. Yes!

After the king of Armenia had supplicated Nero, what did he do?

He gave him a seat at his right hand and closed the 2 doors of the temple of Janus.

Were sons of freedmen allowed to enter the senate (for a long time)?

No.

Who was punishment inflicted upon especially?

The Christians, "a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition."

Did Nero want to expand the empire? What did he think about giving up?

No. Britain - he didn't in the end cos he didn't want to ruin Claudius' legacy.

What did Nero do to make himself the best lyre player?

He used to lie upon his back and hold a leaden plate on his chest, purge himself by the syringe and by vomiting, and deny himself fruits and all foods injurious to the voice.

Where did Nero make his debut (at the lyre)? Who did he employ to learn the Alexandrian style of applause cos he liked it so much?

Naples. Young men of the order of knights and more than 5000 young commoners.

When did Nero first sing in Rome? Did he appear in public from time to time?

At the Neronia, which he moved forward so he'd have an excuse to do so. Yes.

What would Nero sing about? Who did the masks look like?

Orestes, Oedipus, Hercules. They looked like himself or whoever he fancied at that time

Why did Nero love Greece so much? Where did he go to show off his skills in the lyre and chariot racing?

"The Greeks were the only ones who had an ear for music and that they alone were worthy of his efforts." Achaia.

While he was singing, was anyone allowed to leave? How would people escape? Did women give birth during performances? Was he two-faced to his opponents?

No. They would leap from the wall or feign death. Yes. Yes - such a bitch.

How did Nero obliterate the memory of all victors in the games?

Their statues and busts were all destroyed.

Why would Nero never address the soldiers except by letter or in a speech delivered by another?

To save his voice

What would determine whether you were a friend or enemy of Nero?

How enthusiastic your applause was.

Were his naughty acts at first secret? Did people think they were due to his age? What malicious pranks would he perform at night?

Yes. No - they could tell he was wicked. He would beat men and stab them if they resisted

(Dorian Gray vibes)

What did Nero openly begin to do?

he used to party from midday to midnight, and would be waited on by prostitutes and dancing girls.

Who was the freedwoman Nero loved and married? Who was the boy Nero castrated and married, pretending he was a girl? Were was it rumoured that Nero and Agrippina had incestuous relations?

Acte. Sporus. In the litter (he also had a concubine who looked very like Agrippina).

Which freedman did he marry?

Doryphorus

What are the most ridiculous things Nero spent money on - what did he fish with? How many carriages did he need at a minimum when he went travelling? Why did he admire Caligula?

A golden net. 1000. Cos he got through Tiberius' money at lightning speed.

What was in the Golden House? What did Nero famously say about it? How did he finance it?

A massive statue of emperor, a huge pond like a sea, buildings to represent cities.

"He deigned to say nothing more in the way of approval than that he was at last beginning to be housed like a human being."

He took 5/6 of freedmens' estates and all the estates of anyone who was ungrateful to him.

How did Nero boast about his part in Claudius' death? How did he kill Britannicus?

He admitted he'd been a part of it and said mushrooms were "the food of the gods." Poison.

Why did Nero begin to hate Agrippina? How did he try to murder her first? How did she eventually die? How did Nero begin to act like Orestes?

She was too strict. In a collapsable boat, but she swam to safety. He convicted her of an assassination attempt and had her killed. He said he was hounded by his mother's ghost.

Did he kill his aunt?

Yes.

What happened to Octavia? What happened to Poppaea?

Octavia was banished and eventually killed on a charge of adultery. Nero kicked her to death when she was pregnant.

Who conducted the first conspiracy?

Piso

Why does Suet say he set fire to the city? What did he sing?

He thought the buildings were clapped. "The Sack of Ilium" - probably his own composition.

What was the little epigram posted about the golden house (which Nero is said to have endured)?

"Rome is becoming one house; off with you to Veii, Quirites! If that house does not soon seize upon Veii as well."

Why was Nero confident he would live to old age?

The oracle at Delphi had told him he must look out for the 73rd year.

Who revolted in 68 AD? Was Nero bothered?

The Gauls, under Vindex. No - he sat in the gymnasium instead.

Who revolted next? What did Nero do when there was any good news from the provinces?

Galba and the Spanish provinces. He gave lavish feasts and ridiculed the leaders of the revolt.

According to Suetonius, how did Nero plan to subdue the revolts?

He said he would go before the soldiers unarmed and do nothing but weep; and having thus led the rebels to change their purpose, he would next days rejoice among his rejoicing subjects and sing paeans of victory.

What did Nero do with boats that really pissed people off?

He used ships to transport sand for the arena instead of using them to transport food.

Did everyone ditch Nero at the end?

Yes.

What did Nero exclaim just before his death, according to Suetonius?

"What an artist the world is losing!"

What was Nero pronounced just before his death? How was he going to be killed?

A public enemy. Beaten with rods in the old style.

According to Suetonius, what drove Nero more than anything else?

A craze for popularity

Longing for immortality and undying fame, what did Nero call April and what did he want to rename Rome as?

He called the month of April Neroneus and was minded to name Rome Neropolis.

How old was Nero when he died?

32.

How did people react to his death?

Some were very happy and put on liberty caps. Others were very sad, and decorated his tomb with flowers

What happened when Suetonius was himself a young man?

Someone pretended to be Nero and the Parthians got very excited.