WEEK 1

Note: Links to background reading on Roman culture and civilization are available on the Links page:

1. How does Suetonius use his description of Nero's ancestors to shape his portrait of Nero?
2. Suetonius uses many terms describing features of Roman social and political life.  Which terms are unfamiliar to you?
3. Can you write a brief (1 paragraph) biography of Nero.  What was his name? When and where was he born?  When, where and how did he die?  How long did he rule.  What were the major accomplishments and failures of his reign?
4. What sorts of activities did Nero enjoy?  What does this tell us about the man?.
5. How did Nero use spectacle to maintain power?

Tacitus, probably born to a wealth family in Gaul, pursued a highly successful public career in Rome (consul, governor of Asia, etc.) as well as writing several important (if incredibly difficult to read) historical works: The Historiae (A history of Rome from the death of Nero to the death of Domitian ), the Agricola (a biography of his father-in-law, the governor of Britain), the Germania (a study of he native peoples of Central Europe), de Oratoribus (a platonic dialogy about Roman oratory) and the Annales (a year by year account of the Julio-Claudian emperors, of whom Nero was the last).   Roman historians liked the annalistic form, even though it seems a bit contrived to us.  As you read the assignment try to decide how a story relates to Tacitus' depiction of Nero.

To understand Tacitus' account of the Parthian wars and palace intrigues, you may find it helpful to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica entries on:

• Corbulo
• Thrasea Paetus
• Vologeses
• Professor MacKay's lecture on Nero
• Agrippina the Younger

1. Tacitus begins his account of Nero's reign with the sentence, "The first death under the new emperor, that of Junius Silanus, proconsul of Asia, was, without Nero's knowledge, planned by the treachery of Agrippina."  What does Tacitus' literary style tell you about his moral and historical judgment of Nero?  Find three other examples where Tacitus choice of diction and use of syntax telegraph his moral judgments.

 
2. Why does Tacitus think it significant that Seneca wrote Nero's speeches?  What does this analysis suggest about the qualities Tacitus thought a good emperor should have?.

 
3. How does Tacitus describe Nero's relationship with the Senate in Book 13?  Does it change over the course of his life?  How?

 
4. Compare and contrast Nero's description of Corbulo and Nero.  What conclusion do you think Tacitus wants you to draw from this exercise?
5. Consider Nero's actions as Tacitus describes them in Book 13: a) in his private life; b) with respect to palace intrigue c) with respect to the Senate; d) with respect to the courts; e) with respect to the masses; f) with respect to foreign affairs; and g) with respect to the praetorian guard.  Based on this analysis, how would you judge Nero based on the first four years of his reign?

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1. What does Tacitus think of Agrippina?  Why?  Do you believe the incest stories?  Why or why not?How do they differ from those in Suetonius?

 
2. Compare Suetonius' account of the murder of Agrippina to that of Tacitus.  How do they differ and with what results?

 
3. Consider Nero's actions as Tacitus describes them in Book 14: a) in his private life; b) with respect to palace intrigue c) with respect to the Senate; d) with respect to the courts; e) with respect to the masses; f) with respect to foreign affairs; and g) with respect to the praetorian guard.  Based on this analysis, how would you judge Nero based on the next four years of his reign?

 
4. What is Nero's attitude towards gladiatorial games (and other spectacles) when he first becomes Emperor? Does it change over the course of his life? How?  What moral judgments does Tacitus make about Nero based upon Nero's attitude towards the games?

 
5. What limited Nero's power?

1. Consider Nero's actions as Tacitus describes them in Book 15: a) in his private life; b) with respect to palace intrigue c) with respect to the Senate; d) with respect to the courts; e) with respect to the masses ; f) with respect to foreign affairs; and g) with respect to the praetorian guard.  Based on this analysis, how would you judge Nero based on the years 62-65?
2. What is Tacitus' attitude towards the gladiatorial games?
3. Why might the Senate and the masses have different attitudes towards Nero?
4. Some scholars have argued that Tacitus' Nero treated the entire city of Rome as a stage for his spectacles.  Do you think they are right or wrong?
5. Why does Tacitus think Nero built the "Golden House?"  Can you think of other reasons?
6. Why did the Pisonian conspiracy fail?  Nero exiled rather than executed most of the conspirators.  Would you know this from Tacitus' account?

1. Why did the Senate want Nero not to appear on stage at the Games?  Why did Nero insist upon appearing at the games?  What did the masses think of Nero's participation in the Games?

 
2. Consider Nero's actions as Tacitus describes them in Book 16: a) in his private life; b) with respect to palace intrigue c) with respect to the Senate; d) with respect to the courts; e) with respect to the masses ; f) with respect to foreign affairs; and g) with respect to the praetorian guard.  Based on this analysis, how would you judge Nero based on the years 65-66?

7. Martial wrote poetry. We have studied his poems to learn about Roman society and culture. Does poetry
present a different set of challenges to the cultural historian than the literary critic? Why or why not?
8. What others kinds of information would you like to have about Martial, Rome, or any other topic to study
these poems? Would the literary critic want different information than the cultural historian? Would the
iterary critic use the information differently than the cultural historian?
 
 

Recommended Readings:
Edward Gibbon on Commodus [the anti-hero of Gladiator]  - nb: this page has links to further readings on Commodus.