The familiar image of Nero (37-68 A.D.) is that of a tyrannical, lustful, and inept emperor. This collection of thirteen original essays provides a fresh interpretation of Nero and his era, assessing the full spectrum of the period's culture and politics--aspects that until now have rarely been taken seriously. The introduction sets the myth of Nero in a modern context and explores its enduring fascination. The next section of the book examines how...