A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

NERO. NERO. 1165
book of Tacitus ends, and the fate of the des- finally he went to Greece to urge his departure.
picable tyrant has not been transmitted to us in Nero left Greece probably in the autumn of A. D.
the words of the indignant historian, who himself 67. He entered Rome in triumph, as befitted all
is compelled to apologise for his tedious record of Olympic victor, through a breach made in the
crimes and bloodshed. (Tacit. Ann. xvi. 16.) walls, riding in the car of Augustus, with a
The time chosen for the death of Thrasea and musician at his side; and he displayed the numeSoranus was that when Tiridates was preparing rous crowns that he had received in his Grecian
to make his entry into Rome. The Armenian visit. Music, chariot driving, and the like amuseking came by land to Rome with his wife and ments, occupied this foolish man until, as Tillehis children. The provinces that he passed through mont naively remarks, the rising in Spain and
had to support the expense of his numerous train. Gaul gave him other occupation.
lie entered Italy from Illyricum, and was received Silius Italicus, the poet, and Galerius Trachalus
by Nero at Naples, before whom he fell on his were consuls A. D. 68, the last year of Nero's life.
knees, and acknowledged him as his lord. Tiridates The storm that had long been preparing broke out
was conducted to Rome, where he humbled himself in Gaul, where Julius Vindex, the governor of
before Nero in the theatre, who gave him the crown Celtica, called the people together, and, pointing
of Armenia and permission to rebuild Artaxata out their grievances, and pourtraying the despi(Dion Cass. lxiii. 6). Tiridates went home by way cable character of Nero, urged them to revolt.
of Brundusium. Vologeses was invited to Rome Vindex was soon at the head of a large army, and
by Nero to go through the same ceremony, but he he wrote to Galba, who was governor of Hispania
declined the honour, and suggested that if Nero Tarraconensis, to offer his assistance in raising him
wished to see him he should come to Asia. (Dion to the imperial power. Galba at the same time
Cass. lxiii. 7.) learned that Nero had sent orders to put him to
Nero formed some plans for extending the em- death, on which he made a public harangue against
pire, and various expeditions were talked of, but the crimes of Nero, and was' proclaimed emperor;
Nero was not a soldier: he had not even that but he only assumed the title of legatus of the
Roman virtue. In the latter part of this year he senate and the Roman people. Nero was at
visited Achaea with a great train, to show his skill Naples when he heard of the rising in Gaul, which
to the Greeks as a musician and charioteer, and to gave him little concern, and he went on with his
receive the honours which were liberally bestowed ordinary amusements. At last he came to Rome,
upon him. While Nero was in Achaea, Cestius where he heard of the insurrection of Galba, which
Gallus, the governor of Syria, sent him intelligence threw him into a violent fit of passion and alarml,
of his defeat by the Jews, who were in arms; on but he had neither ability nor courage to organise
vlwhich Nero sent Vespasian, the future emperor, to any effectual means of resistance. The senate decarry on the war against them, and Mucianus to clared Galba an enemy of the state; and Nero, for
take the administration of Syria. some reason or other, deprived the two consuls of
In the year A. D. 67 Nero was present at the their office, and made himself sole consul. This
Olympic games, which had been deferred from the was his fifth consulate. Possibly he had some
year 65 in order that so distinguished a person vague idea of putting himself more distinctly at
aight be present. To commemorate his visit he the head of affairs with the title of sole consul,
declared all Achaea to be free, which was publicly which Cn. Pompeius had once enjoyed before him
proclaimed at Corinth on the day of the celebration and C. Julius Caesar.
of the Isthmian games. But the Greeks paid dear Verginiut Rufus, governor in Upper Germany,
for what they got, by the price of every thing a man of ability and integrity, was not favourable
being raised in consequence of Nero's visit; and to the pretensions of Galba. Rufus first marched
they witnessed one of his acts of cruelty,- in putting against Vindex, and was supported by those parts
to death, at the Isthmian games, a singer whose of Gaul which bordered on the Rhine; the town
voice drowned that of the imperial performer. of Lyon, with others, declared against Vindex;
(Lucian, Nero, vol. iii. p. 642, ed. Hemst.) Nero Verginius laid siege to Vesontio (Besanqon), and
also paid a visit to Delphi, and got a kind of indirect Vlndex came to relieve it. The two generals had
promise of a long life; but other matters reported a conference, and appear to have come to some
about this visit are somewhat confusedly told by agreement; but, as Vindex was going to enter the
different authorities. He also designed a canal town, the soldiers of Verginius, thinking that lie
across the Isthmus, which was commenced with was about to attack them, fell on the troops of
great parade, and Nero himself first struck the Vindex. The whole affair is very confused; but
ground with a golden spade. The works were the fact that Vindex perished, or killed himself, is
carried on vigorously for a time, but were suspended certain. The soldiers now destroyed the statues of
by his own orders. While Nero was in Greece he Nero, and proclaimed Verginius as Augustus; but
sulnmoned Corbulo there in an affectionate letter, he steadily refused the honour, and declared that
but, on the old soldier arriving at Cenchreae, Nero he would submit to the orders of the senate. The
sent orders to put him to death, which Corbulo death of Vindex discouraged Galba, who was beanticipated by stabbing himself. Thus perished a ginning to lose all hopes, when he received intelliman who had served the empire and the emperor gence from Rome that he was recognised as the
faithfully, and whose military talent and integrity successor of Nero.
entitled him to the name of a genuine Roman. A famine at Rome, and the exertion that Nero
(Dion. lxiii. 17.) was making to raise money, hastened his ruin.
Nero had left Helius a freedman in the adminis- Nymphidius Sabinus, who was now praefectus
tration of Rome, with full power to do as he praetorio with Tigellinus, taking advantage of a
pleased, which power he abused. Helius, foresee- rumour that Nero was going to fly to Egypt, pering the mischief that was preparing for his master, suaded the troops to proclaim Galba. Nero was
wrote to request him to return to Rome, and immediately deserted. He escaped from the