The Roman historian Suetonius (70 AD – 130 AD) belonged to the Roman aristocracy and wrote colorful and spirited biographies of 12 Roman rulers from Julius Caesar to Domitian. One of his raciest and most lively accounts is of famous fiddler Nero (actually Nero played not the fiddle but a small harp called the lyre), who, at age 17, was proclaimed emperor of Rome. Below are quotes from Suetonius along with my comments.

“It appears to me proper to give a short account of several of the family, to show that Nero so far degenerated from the noble qualities of his ancestors, that he retained only their vices; as if those alone had been transmitted to him by his descent.” --------- The Greco-Romans put great emphasis on ancestry and how one inherits strength of character from parents and grandparents. One senses Suetonius shaking his head as he relates the sad story involving a man of abysmal character. And to add icing to this bad character cake, Suetonius relates how, on being told he had a son, Nero’s father said: "That nothing but what was detestable and pernicious to the public could ever be produced of me and my wife Agrippina."

Suetonius goes on to say how Nero’s father died and “he was sent to live with his aunt Lepida, in a very necessitous condition, under the care of two tutors, a dancing-master and a barber.” ---------- In addition to inheriting strength of character from one’s ancestors, the Romans knew how a youngster should have good teachers providing a solid education in the philosophical virtues. Once again, one can imagine Suetonius shaking his head when he reflects on the future leader of the world learning lessons of life from a dancer and a barber as opposed to a philosopher and a historian.

The author recounts some of the benefits Nero bestowed on the empire, but then says: “I have brought these things into one view, in order to separate them from the scandalous and criminal part of his conduct, of which I shall now give an account.” ---------- I’ll spare the reader the more vicious, cruel and sadistic episodes. What follows are instances of egotism so bloated and out-of-control there is an element of comedy.

“Among the other liberal arts which he was taught in his youth, he was instructed in music; and immediately after his advancement to the empire, he sent for Terpnus, a performer upon the harp who flourished at that time with the highest reputation. Sitting with him for several days following, as he sang and played the harp, he began by degrees to practice upon the instrument himself. Nor did he omit any of those expedients which artists in music adopt, for the preservation and improvement of their voices. He would lie upon his back with a sheet of lead upon his breast, clear his stomach and bowels by vomits and clysters, and forbear the eating of fruits, or food prejudicial to the voice. Encouraged by his proficiency, though his voice was naturally neither loud nor clear, he was desirous of appearing upon the stage, frequently repeating amongst his friends a Greek proverb to this effect: "that no one had any regard for music which they never heard."” ---------- Hey, Nero. You are the Roman emperor. Why don’t you try ruling your empire instead of learning to play the harp and sing on the stage. Ah, the calling of the muses!

Nero chose young men of the equestrian order and more than five thousand robust young fellows from the common people, on purpose to learn various kinds of applause which they were to practice in his favor, whenever he performed. ---------- Now there’s a performer who knows his show biz – not only learning to play the harp and sing but training thousands of his audience in the art of applauding him.

During the time of his musical performance, nobody was allowed to stir out of the theater upon any account, however necessary; insomuch, that it is said some women with child were delivered there. Many of the spectators being quite wearied with hearing and applauding him, because the town gates were shut, slipped privately over the walls; or counterfeiting themselves dead, were carried out for their funeral. ---------- Evidently, Nero could knock ‘em dead.

That no memory or the least monument might remain of any other victor in the sacred Grecian games, he ordered all their statues and pictures to be pulled down, dragged away with hooks, and thrown into the common sewers. . . . and caused statues of himself to be erected in the attire of a harper, and had his likeness stamped upon the coin in the same dress. ---------- Wow! There’s a leader who wants to stamp out history. Regrettably, such self-aggrandizement is common fare amongst tyrants, ancient or modern.

The author tells of how Nero had built “"The Golden House.” Of its dimensions and furniture, it may be sufficient to say thus much: the porch was so high that there stood in it a colossal statue of himself a hundred and twenty feet in height; and the space included in it was so ample, that it had triple porticoes a mile in length, and a lake like a sea, surrounded with buildings which had the appearance of a city . . . Upon the dedication of this magnificent house after it was finished, all he said in approval of it was, "Good. Now I can at last begin to live like a human being!"” ---------- The Roman philosophers, most notably the Stoics, put great emphasis on understanding how to live a good human life, a life lived according to nature. Suetonius’s tacit judgment here is that emperor Nero doesn’t have a clue.

“Pretending to be disgusted with the old buildings, and the narrow and winding streets, he set the city on fire so openly, that many of consular rank caught his own household servants on their property with tow, and torches in their hands, but durst not meddle with them. . . . his fire he beheld from a tower in his house, and "being greatly delighted," as he said, "with the beautiful effects of the conflagration," he sung a poem on the ruin of Troy, in the tragic dress he used on the stage.” ---------- Not only to set your own city on fire; not only to enjoy the spectacle as a stage performer; but then to deflect anybody pointing fingers, you accuse members of an obscure cult of the crime!

Since, as Suetonius says, “There was no person at all connected with him who escaped his deadly and unjust cruelty.”, there came a time when enough was enough. After ruling for 14 years, Nero, age 31, received the news he was to be publicly whipped to death. Fearing intense pain, he ended his life by suicide. Nero’s last words: "What an artist is now about to perish!"



Suetonius available on-line: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6400/6...

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The Roman historian Suetonius (70 AD – 130 AD) belonged to the Roman aristocracy and wrote colorful and spirited biographies of 12 Roman rulers from Julius Caesar to Domitian. One of his raciest and most lively accounts is of famous fiddler Nero (actually Nero played not the fiddle but a small harp called the lyre), who, at age 17, was proclaimed emperor of Rome. Below are quotes from Suetonius along with my comments.

“It appears to me proper to give a short account of several of the family, to show that Nero so far degenerated from the noble qualities of his ancestors, that he retained only their vices; as if those alone had been transmitted to him by his descent.” --------- The Greco-Romans put great emphasis on ancestry and how one inherits strength of character from parents and grandparents. One senses Suetonius shaking his head as he relates the sad story involving a man of abysmal character. And to add icing to this bad character cake, Suetonius relates how, on being told he had a son, Nero’s father said: "That nothing but what was detestable and pernicious to the public could ever be produced of me and my wife Agrippina."

Suetonius goes on to say how Nero’s father died and “he was sent to live with his aunt Lepida, in a very necessitous condition, under the care of two tutors, a dancing-master and a barber.” ---------- In addition to inheriting strength of character from one’s ancestors, the Romans knew how a youngster should have good teachers providing a solid education in the philosophical virtues. Once again, one can imagine Suetonius shaking his head when he reflects on the future leader of the world learning lessons of life from a dancer and a barber as opposed to a philosopher and a historian.

The author recounts some of the benefits Nero bestowed on the empire, but then says: “I have brought these things into one view, in order to separate them from the scandalous and criminal part of his conduct, of which I shall now give an account.” ---------- I’ll spare the reader the more vicious, cruel and sadistic episodes. What follows are instances of egotism so bloated and out-of-control there is an element of comedy.

“Among the other liberal arts which he was taught in his youth, he was instructed in music; and immediately after his advancement to the empire, he sent for Terpnus, a performer upon the harp who flourished at that time with the highest reputation. Sitting with him for several days following, as he sang and played the harp, he began by degrees to practice upon the instrument himself. Nor did he omit any of those expedients which artists in music adopt, for the preservation and improvement of their voices. He would lie upon his back with a sheet of lead upon his breast, clear his stomach and bowels by vomits and clysters, and forbear the eating of fruits, or food prejudicial to the voice. Encouraged by his proficiency, though his voice was naturally neither loud nor clear, he was desirous of appearing upon the stage, frequently repeating amongst his friends a Greek proverb to this effect: "that no one had any regard for music which they never heard."” ---------- Hey, Nero. You are the Roman emperor. Why don’t you try ruling your empire instead of learning to play the harp and sing on the stage. Ah, the calling of the muses!

Nero chose young men of the equestrian order and more than five thousand robust young fellows from the common people, on purpose to learn various kinds of applause which they were to practice in his favor, whenever he performed. ---------- Now there’s a performer who knows his show biz – not only learning to play the harp and sing but training thousands of his audience in the art of applauding him.

During the time of his musical performance, nobody was allowed to stir out of the theater upon any account, however necessary; insomuch, that it is said some women with child were delivered there. Many of the spectators being quite wearied with hearing and applauding him, because the town gates were shut, slipped privately over the walls; or counterfeiting themselves dead, were carried out for their funeral. ---------- Evidently, Nero could knock ‘em dead.

That no memory or the least monument might remain of any other victor in the sacred Grecian games, he ordered all their statues and pictures to be pulled down, dragged away with hooks, and thrown into the common sewers. . . . and caused statues of himself to be erected in the attire of a harper, and had his likeness stamped upon the coin in the same dress. ---------- Wow! There’s a leader who wants to stamp out history. Regrettably, such self-aggrandizement is common fare amongst tyrants, ancient or modern.

The author tells of how Nero had built “"The Golden House.” Of its dimensions and furniture, it may be sufficient to say thus much: the porch was so high that there stood in it a colossal statue of himself a hundred and twenty feet in height; and the space included in it was so ample, that it had triple porticoes a mile in length, and a lake like a sea, surrounded with buildings which had the appearance of a city . . . Upon the dedication of this magnificent house after it was finished, all he said in approval of it was, "Good. Now I can at last begin to live like a human being!"” ---------- The Roman philosophers, most notably the Stoics, put great emphasis on understanding how to live a good human life, a life lived according to nature. Suetonius’s tacit judgment here is that emperor Nero doesn’t have a clue.

“Pretending to be disgusted with the old buildings, and the narrow and winding streets, he set the city on fire so openly, that many of consular rank caught his own household servants on their property with tow, and torches in their hands, but durst not meddle with them. . . . his fire he beheld from a tower in his house, and "being greatly delighted," as he said, "with the beautiful effects of the conflagration," he sung a poem on the ruin of Troy, in the tragic dress he used on the stage.” ---------- Not only to set your own city on fire; not only to enjoy the spectacle as a stage performer; but then to deflect anybody pointing fingers, you accuse members of an obscure cult of the crime!

Since, as Suetonius says, “There was no person at all connected with him who escaped his deadly and unjust cruelty.”, there came a time when enough was enough. After ruling for 14 years, Nero, age 31, received the news he was to be publicly whipped to death. Fearing intense pain, he ended his life by suicide. Nero’s last words: "What an artist is now about to perish!"



Suetonius available on-line: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6400/6...

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