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Nero: some Aspects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2012

M. P. Charlesworth
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Ever since that day when Michal, the daughter of Saul, looking out from a window saw her husband, David, ‘leaping and dancing before the Lord,’ and despised him in her heart (II Sam. 6, 16), it has been orthodox to scoff at the productions or performances of royal or imperial artists. Even more does this prejudice apply to Nero, and the world has agreed to accept the verdict of the unsuccessful rebel Vindex that he was a poor artist. I come neither to praise nor whitewash him, but simply to ask you to consider with me certain aspects of his reign and personality, which have been scantily treated, and which may throw light upon certain political tendencies of his time. The topics I wish to take are (1) Nero's voice and art; (2) the Domus Aurea and the reception of king Tiridates; and (3) Nero's tour of Greece, and the survival of his memory.

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Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Roman Studies , Volume 40 , Issue 1-2 , November 1950, pp. 69 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © M. P. Charlesworth 1950. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

1 In gratitude I must mention not only the stimulating value of the chapter in CAH by Professor Momigliano, but among older books that of Pascal, Carlo, Nerone nella storia aneddotica e nella legenda, Milan, 1923Google Scholar, and among more modern writings an article by H. P. L'Orange, ‘Domus Aurea: der Sonnenpalast’, Symb. Oslo., 1942, 68, who has also some remarks about Nero in his recent book Apotheosis in Ancient Portraiture, Oslo, 1947. Some comments on L'Orange's article will be found by Dr.Boëthius, Axel, ‘Nero's Golden House,’ in Eranos XLIV, 1946, 442Google Scholar, and a notable review of L'Orange's book by Dr.Toynbee, Jocelyn in JRS XXXVIII, 1948, 160Google Scholar.

2 See Morel, W., Fragm. Poet. Lat., Leipzig, 1927, 131/2Google Scholar; Schanz-Hosius, , Gesch. d. rom. Lit. II 4, 1935, 427Google Scholar; also Bardon, H., Les poésies de Néron, Rev. Et. lat. XIV, 1936, 337Google Scholar.

3 See Bolton, J. D. P., in CQ XLII, 1948, 82–90CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

4 See above, p. 69, n. 1.

5 JRS XXXVIII, 1948, 160–3.

6 Tacitus, , Ann. xv, 42 and 43Google Scholar; Suetonius, , Nero 39. 2Google Scholar.

7 Ward-Perkins, J. B., The Italian Element in Late Roman and Early Medieval Architecture (Annua Italian Lecture of the British Academy, 1947), 6Google Scholar.

8 Riv. fil. N.S. XI, 1933, 145.

9 Ditt. Syll. 3 814 = Dessau, ILS 8794.

10 Sometimes, however, it may indicate simply the deep impress left by a formidable ruler on popular imagination.

11 This is not the place for full references, but the reader who is interested may care to consult Aarne, A. and Thompson, S., The Types of the Folk-Tale, Folklore Fellows' Communications, no. 74, Helsinki, 1928Google Scholar; Kampere, F., Kaiserprophetien und Kaisersagen im Mittelalter, Munich, 1895Google Scholar, and Fr. G. Schultheiss, Die deutsche Volksage vom Fortleben und der Wieder kehr Kaiser Friedrichs II, Berlin, 1911; E. K. Chambers, Arthur of Britain, 1927, and W. Garmon Jones, ‘Welsh Nationalism and Henry Tudor,’ Trans.Hon. Soc.Cymmrodorion, 1917-18, 1-59. Prof. A. D. Nock kindly gave me a reference to Schmidt, H., Der Mythos vom wiederkehrenden König im Alten Testament (Schriften der Hessischen Hochschulen, Univ. Giessen, 1925Google Scholar, Heft 1), which is unfortunately inaccessible to me.

12 Nerone nella storia aneddotica e nella legenda 273-286.

13 Hellenistische und griechische Elemente in der Regierung Neros, Diss. Leipzig, 1930.

14 See Walton, C. S., in JRS XIX, 1929, 38Google Scholar.