Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus and his reign have featured in music, literature, the arts, and in business.

Literature

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'': The persecutions of Christians in Nero's Rome. * Kosztolányi, Dezső. 1922. ''Nero, the Bloody Poet'': A novel imagining Nero's crimes as the acts of an envious poet. * Graves, Robert. 1934. '' I, Claudius'': Nero is depicted prior to the death of his predecessor, Emperor

Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (; 1 August 10 BC – 13 October AD 54) was the fourth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Claudius was born to Nero Claudius Drusus, Drusu ...

*Gyles, Mary Francis. 1947.
Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned
" '' The Classical Journal'': explores the history behind the legend of Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burned. *Wishart, David. 1996. ''Nero'': Nero's reign seen through the eyes of Titus Petronius. * Massie, Allan. 1999. ''Nero's Heirs'': The death of Nero and the civil war that followed. * Holt, Tom. 2003. ''A Song for Nero'': Nero's double is killed, and the real Nero must try to survive as a street musician. * Scott, Manda. 2010. ''The Emperor's Spy'': The story of the Great Fire of Rome, featuring Nero as a secondary character. * Riordan, Rick. 2016–2020. ''

The Trials of Apollo ''The Trials of Apollo'' is a pentalogy of fantasy adventure and mythological fiction novels written by American author Rick Riordan that collectively form a sequel to the ''Heroes of Olympus'' series. It is set in the same world as the Riordan ...

:'' Nero and two other evil Roman emperors have survived into modern times because their infamy has essentially made them gods. Nero is known as "the Beast" and serves as the adoptive father of one of the heroes of the series, demigod Meg McCaffrey. Nero is an antagonist in the entire series, but is featured most prominently in the first and last books of the pentalogy. In the first book, '' The Hidden Oracle,'' Nero tries to destroy the Grove of Dodona and is thwarted by Meg and Apollo. In the final book, ''The Tower of Nero'', Apollo, Meg, and their friends must have a final showdown with Nero and his minions at his headquarters in New York. * Georges, Margaret. 2017. ''The Confessions of Young Nero'': The story of Nero's rise to power as told by the young emperor himself. * Georges, Margaret. 2018. ''The Splendor before the Dark'': Continuation of the story to the final years of Nero's reign.

Comics/graphic novels

*'' The Adventures of Nero'': The title character Nero is named after the Roman emperor. In his debut appearance, the character believes himself to be the emperor himself after drinking poisoned beer. Later he regains his sanity, while all characters keep referring to him as ''Nero'' from that moment onwards. In the album ''De Rode Keizer'' (''The Red Emperor'', 1952) Nero travels back in time to Ancient Rome and actually meets the real emperor Nero. *'' The Phantom'': Nero is said to have been the original owner of The Phantom's "skull ring"

Art

* Salvador Dalí's "Dematerialization Near the Nose of Nero" (1949) * Henryk Siemiradzki's "A Christian Dirce" (1897) **"

Nero's Torches ''Nero's Torches'' () is an 1876 painting by the Polish artist Henryk Siemiradzki. It is also known as ''Candlesticks of Christianity'' (''Świeczniki chrześcijaństwa''). Description It depicts a group of Early Christian martyrs who are about ...

" depicts Christians being martyred on Nero's orders (1876) *

John William Waterhouse John William Waterhouse (6 April 184910 February 1917) was an English painter known for working first in the Academic style and for then embracing the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's style and subject matter. His artworks were known for their dep ...

's "The Remorse of Nero After the Murder of His Mother" (1878) *In 2010 the municipality of Anzio dedicated a statue of the Emperor (born in Antium) by Claudio Valenti

Software and video games

* Nero AG and its products Nero,

Nero Digital Nero Digital is a brand name applied to a suite of MPEG-4-compatible video and audio compression codecs developed by Nero AG of Germany and Ateme of France. The audio codecs are integrated into the ''Nero Digital Audio+'' audio encoding tool for Mic ...

, Nero Burning ROM (add an -E to ROM),

Nero ShowTime Nero Multimedia Suite is a software suite for Microsoft Windows that is developed and marketed by Nero AG. Version 2017 of this product was released in October 2016. Version differences Since its Version 10, Nero provides two variants of the su ...

, and features a pictogram of a burning Rome. *'' Fate/Extra, Fate/Extella and Fate/Grand Order'': A female version of Nero serves as a playable character that the players avatar can interact with. *'' Ryse: Son of Rome'': Nero plays as the antagonist. His sons portrayed in the game share no kinship with the real-life emperor and were rather based on real emperors Basil I, Basil II, and

Commodus Commodus (; 31 August 161 – 31 December 192) was a Roman emperor who ruled from 177 to 192. He served jointly with his father Marcus Aurelius from 176 until the latter's death in 180, and thereafter he reigned alone until his assassination. ...

. *'' Devil May Cry'': Nero is the co-protagonist of '' Devil May Cry 4'' and '' 5''. He is the son of the character half-demon half-human Vergil, as well as the nephew of the series' protagonist Dante, making him grandson of Sparda.

Film

*'' The Sign of the Cross'':

Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future w ...

as Nero. *'' Fiddlers Three'':

Francis L. Sullivan Francis Loftus Sullivan (6 January 1903 – 19 November 1956) was an English film and stage actor. Early life Francis Loftus Sullivan attended Stonyhurst, the Jesuit public school in Lancashire, England, whose alumni include Charles Laughton ...

as Nero. *''

'':

Peter Ustinov Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov ; 16 April 192128 March 2004) was a British actor, filmmaker and writer. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits ...

as Nero. *''

The Silver Chalice ''The Silver Chalice'' is a 1952 English language historical novel by Thomas B. Costain. It is the fictional story of the making of a silver chalice to hold the Holy Grail (itself here conflated with the Holy Chalice) and includes 1st century b ...

'':

Jacques Aubuchon Jacques Georges Aubuchon (October 30, 1924 – December 28, 1991) was an American actor who appeared in films, stage, and on television in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Aubuchon, who grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was the son of Art ...

as Nero. *''

Roman Legion-Hare Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

'':

Mel Blanc Melvin Jerome Blanc (born Blank ; May 30, 1908July 10, 1989) was an American voice actor and radio personality whose career spanned over 60 years. During the Golden Age of Radio, he provided character voices and vocal sound effects for comedy ra ...

as Nero *''

Nero's Weekend ''Mio figlio Nerone'' (literally: ''My Son Nero''), released in the US as ''Nero's Mistress'' is a 1956 Italian historical comedy film directed by Steno and starring Alberto Sordi, Vittorio De Sica, Gloria Swanson and Brigitte Bardot, with cine ...

'': Alberto Sordi as Nero. *''

The Story of Mankind ''The Story of Mankind'' is a book written and illustrated by Dutch-American journalist, professor, and author Hendrik Willem van Loon. It was published in 1921. In 1922, it was awarded the Newbery Medal for an outstanding contribution to children ...

'': Peter Lorre as Nero. *'' Barabbas'': Ivan Triesault as Nero. *''

Challenge of the Gladiator ''Challenge of the Gladiator'' ( it, Il gladiatore che sfidò l'impero) is a 1965 Italian peplum film directed by Domenico Paolella. Plot Treacherous Roman senator Lucius Quintilius plans a secret journey into Thrace to recover a legendary tre ...

'': a Nero look-alike fools the Thracians into believing he is the real Emperor. *''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...

'': Eric Bana's character is named Nero; a song on the soundtrack is named "Nero Fiddles, Narada Burns" *'' History of the World, Part I'' Dom DeLuise portrays a humorous version of Nero. *''Nero's Guests'' (documentary) film by

Deepa Bhatia Deepa Bhatia is a Bollywood film editor, producer and director based in Mumbai. She is known for editing commercially successful films like ''Tare Zameen Par'', ''My Name is Khan'', ''Rock On'', ''Kai Po Che'', ''Student of the Year'' and ...

follows the work of journalist

P. Sainath Palagummi Sainath (born 1957) is an Indian columnist and author of the acclaimed book ''Everybody Loves a Good Drought''. He has extensively written on rural India, his notable interests are poverty, structural inequities, caste discriminatio ...

in reporting the agrarian crisis in India and draws a comparison between citizens indifferent to the devastation of farmers and Nero's guests at the festivities who continued their enjoyment by the light of human torches. * PBS: Secrets of the Dead-documentary
The Nero Files - Cause for a Cold Case Investigation
", written and directed by

Klaus T. Steindl Klaus Thomas Steindl (born 20 June 1966 in Graz, Austria) is an author, scriptwriter & director, film producer - Closing Credits and owner of the company KREATIVkraft e.U. His primary focus is on nature and investigative documentaries that deal wi ...

*'' Horrible Histories: The Movie'': Craig Roberts as Nero. *'' Money Heist (Part 5) Episode 1'': The Professor(Money Heist) played by Serio Marquina mentions Nero.

Music

* Bob Dylan's " Desolation Row" references Nero (from the album Highway 61 Revisited) *

Karel Kryl Karel Kryl (12 April 1944 – 3 March 1994) was an iconic Czechoslovak (Moravian born and Czech speaking) poet, singer-songwriter and author of many hit protest songs in which he identified and attacked the hypocrisy, stupidity and inhumanity of ...

's "Bivoj" references Nero (from '' Karavana mraků'') * U2's "Mercy" references Nero (from '' How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'') *

Bad Religion Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilitie ...

's "Materialist" references Nero (from '' The Process of Belief'') *

Ulver Ulver (Norwegian for "wolves") is a Norwegian experimental electronica band founded in 1993, by vocalist Kristoffer Rygg. Their early works, such as debut album '' Bergtatt'', were categorised as folklore-influenced black metal, but the band h ...

's "Nemoralia" references Nero (from The Assassination of Julius Caesar)

Stage productions

Opera

* Arrigo Boito's '' Nerone'' *

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

's ''

Agrippina Agrippina is an ancient Roman cognomen and a feminine given name. People with either the cognomen or the given name include: Cognomen Relatives of the Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa: * Vipsania Agrippina (36 BC–20 AD), first wife of th ...

'' (and a lost earlier opera called "Nero") * Pietro Mascagni's '' Nerone'' *

Claudio Monteverdi Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (baptized 15 May 1567 – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, choirmaster and string player. A composer of both secular and sacred music, and a pioneer in the development of opera, he is considered ...

's '' L'incoronazione di Poppea'' * Anton Rubinstein's '' Néron'' *

Alessandro Scarlatti Pietro Alessandro Gaspare Scarlatti (2 May 1660 – 22 October 1725) was an Italian Baroque composer, known especially for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is considered the most important representative of the Neapolitan school of opera. ...

's ''Nerone fatto Cesare'' (1695) *

Egidio Duni Egidio Romualdo Duni (or ''Egide Romuald Duny''; 11 February 1708 – 11 June 1775) was an Italian composer who studied in Naples and worked in Italy, France and London, writing both Italian and French operas. Biography Born in Matera, Duni was ...

's ''Nerone'' (1735)

Plays

* Anonymous's ''The Tragedy of Nero'' (1624) published by Augustine Matthews *

Víctor Balaguer Víctor is a Spanish masculine given name, equivalent to Victor in English and Vítor in Portuguese. Notable people with the given name include: *Víctor Cabrera (Argentine footballer) *Víctor Cabrera (Chilean footballer) * Víctor Hugo Cabrera, ...

's ''La Mort de Nerón'' (1894) * Wilson Barrett's '' The Sign of the Cross'' * Robert Bridges's ''Nero: From the Death of

Burrus ''Burrus'' is a genus of shield bugs The Pentatomoidea are a superfamily of insects in the Heteroptera suborder of the Hemiptera order. As Hemiptera, they share a common arrangement of sucking mouthparts. The roughly 7000 species under Pentat ...

to the Death of Seneca. Comprising the Conspiracy of

Piso Piso may refer to: * Lake Piso, Liberia *Philippine peso The Philippine peso, also referred to by its Tagalog name ''piso'' (Philippine English: , , plural pesos; tl, piso ; sign: ₱; code: PHP), is the official currency of the Philip ...

'' (1894) * Pietro Cossa's ''Nero: A Play in Five Acts'' (1881) *

Amy Freed Amy Freed (born 1958) is an American playwright. Her play '' Freedomland'' was a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Biography Early life Freed was born in Manhattan and grew up in The Bronx, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Westchester Co ...

's ''You, Nero'' (2009) *

Nathaniel Lee Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653 – 6 May 1692) was an England, English dramatist. He was the son of Dr Richard Lee, a Presbyterian clergyman who was rector of Hatfield and held many preferments under the Commonwealth of England, Commonwealth; Dr Lee was ...

's ''The Tragedy of Nero, Emperour of Rome'' (1674) *

Stephen Phillips Stephen Phillips (28 July 1864 – 9 December 1915) was an English poet and dramatist, who enjoyed considerable popularity early in his career. Biography He was born at Somertown near Oxford, the son of the Rev. Stephen Phillips, precentor o ...

's ''Nero'' (1906) * Jean Racine's ''Britannicus'' (1669) * William Shakespeare's '' Henry VI, Part 1'': Henry references Nero (Act I, Scene 4) * William Shakespeare's '' Hamlet'': Hamlet references Nero (Act III, Scene 2) * William Shakespeare's '' King Lear'': Edgar references Nero (Act III, Scene 6), referring to Pausanias' account of the

Alcyonian Lake In classical Greece, Lerna ( el, Λέρνη) was a region of springs and a former lake near the east coast of the Peloponnesus, south of Ancient Argos, Argos. Even though much of the area is marshy, Lerna is located on a geographically narrow poi ...

William Wetmore Story William Wetmore Story (February 12, 1819 – October 7, 1895) was an American sculptor, art critic, poet, and editor. Life and career William Wetmore Story was the son of jurist Joseph Story and Sarah Waldo (Wetmore) Story. He graduated from H ...

's ''Nero: An Historical Play'' (1872) *The 1955

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

Damn Yankees features a song titled "Those Were The Good Old Days", in which the Devil laments the days of Nero 'fiddling through those lovely blaze.' *Enzo Condello's ''Nero and Seneca'' 2006.

Television

*The 1965 ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'' Serial '' The Romans'' ( Derek Francis) * ''

The Time Tunnel ''The Time Tunnel'' is an American color science fiction TV series written around a theme of time travel adventure starring James Darren and Robert Colbert. The show was creator-producer Irwin Allen's third science-fiction television series and ...

'' episode "The Ghost of Nero" revolves around the ghost of the emperor attempting to kill the descendant of his successor

Galba Galba (; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was the sixth Roman emperor, ruling from AD 68 to 69. After his adoption by his stepmother, and before becoming emperor, he was known as Livius Ocella Sulpicius Ga ...

. *'' I, Claudius'' (

Christopher Biggins Christopher Kenneth Biggins (born 16 December 1948) is an English actor and television presenter. Early life Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, the son of William and Pamela Biggins. He was brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, attended St P ...

) *'' Peter and Paul'' (

Julian Fellowes Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords. He is primarily known as the author of s ...

) *'' Nero'' ( Hans Matheson) *'' Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire'' ( Michael Sheen) *'' Horrible Histories'' ( Jim Howick) *''

NCIS NCIS or N.C.I.S. may refer to: Law enforcement * National Criminal Intelligence Service, the predecessor to the Serious Organised Crime Agency of the United Kingdom * Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a United States law enforcement and intelli ...

'': "Rekindled", Gibbs calls arsonist Billy Wayne "Nero" during Wayne's interrogation *''

Succession Succession is the act or process of following in order or sequence. Governance and politics *Order of succession, in politics, the ascension to power by one ruler, official, or monarch after the death, resignation, or removal from office of ...

:'' In ''“''Lion in the Meadow”, Tom tells Greg about the story of Nero and Sporus, and then tells him he would castrate and marry him. Later in “All the Bells Say”, Tom calls Greg “Sporus” as they discuss partnering up in a business deal *'' Animaniacs:'' In "Rome, Sweet Rome", Nero is portrayed by Fred Tatasciore and is depicted as a caricature of Donald Trump. See also
Nero (Character) imdb.com page

References

External links

explores the history behind the legend of Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burned NOTE link appears not to be active {{DEFAULTSORT:Nero In Popular Culture Cultural depictions of ancient Roman people