Caesar Nero

by Steve Hale

Hitler. Mussolini. Stalin. Attila the Hun. Jack the Ripper. Richard Speck. Charles Manson. Nero. Few names in human history are as infamous. Nero's place in the midst of this "Hall of Shame" is well deserved.
His mother. Agrippina, had seduced poor Claudius into marriage. She did so to obtain leverage so her son, Nero, could take over the throne at the death of Claudius.
Agrippina was afraid that 'Claudius would pass the throne to his son, Brittanicus (so named for Claudius' conquest of Britain). She persuaded Claudius to give his thirteen year old daughter, Octavia, to her sixteen year old son, Nero. This was to strengthen Nero's claim to the throne.
As time went on, Agrippina was more and more concerned that Claudius was becoming suspicious of her. So, this wicked woman arranged for her husband to be fed poisoned mushrooms. After twelve hours of agony, Claudius died at rhe age of sixty-four.

All of this scheming was so Agrippina could get the throne for Nero. Nero was a freckled face teenager during this connining. He was a handsome young man with blue eyes, reddish bronze hair, and heavy cheeks.

Agrippina arranged for Claudius' death to be kept quiet until she could conspire for her son successfully. Concerned about Brittannicus, Nero ordered his mother's poison maker, Locusta, to come up with a dose to put in Brittannicus's drink. However, the poison acted only as a laxative!

Nero perso-ially flogged Locusta, and ordered her to make a poison more potent. She did, but when Nero tried it on a goat, it took the poor animal five hours to die. He ordered her to make it stronger. He fed some of the new batch to a pig, which died immediately. Soon, this would be the lot of poor Brittannicus.

At a banquet in February of A.D. 65, the poison was included in a cup of hot wine served to Brittanncius. Even though he diluted the wine with cold water, the poison was still too powerful. Brittannicus was removed from the hall unconscious. When he died, Nero had his body cremated.

Now, the only adversary that worried Nero was his mother. He had heard rumors that she was plotting against him, so he determined to beat her to it. He ordered an accident. Her boat carrying her home was to capsize, and she was to drown.

Unfortunately for Nero, his mother was quite a swimmer. She made it to shore, and since the 'accident' was at night, no one saw her escape. Nero went to his army, and selected three officers to kill her.

Agrippina, when she saw the men and their swords, pulled open her skirt, and screamed: 'Strike at the womb that bore Nero!' They did!

With the deaths of Agrippina and Brittannicus, Nero acted like a hungry animal on the prowl. His dreadful reign of terror has been historically documented

and disgustingly true. We will examine it next week, Lord willing.

The above article appeared in the Mt. Juliet Messenger, March 21, 1993

Part 2

by Steve Hale

Last week, we saw the tyranny with which Nero ceased power in Rome. His brutal murders of Britannicus and Agrippina seemed to 'turn him loose.' His acts of brutality make Freddy Krueger look like a wimp.
A friend quoted this famous line in his presence: 'When I am dead, may fire consume the earth.' Nero put his hand on his friend's shoulder, and made this correction, at least from his viewpoint: 'While I am yet alive, may fire consume the earth." No human ever tried as hard to do this as Nero. Consider the following:

1. He poisoned his aunt who raised him and seized her estate.

2. He banished his wife, Octavia, the daughter of Claudius and sister of Britannicus. Twelve days later he married his mistress, Poppaea. Later, he commanded Octavia to commit suicide.

3. He later kicked a pregnant Poppaea in the stomach after she mildly fussed at him for being late coming home. She died from Nero's kick.

4. He found a young man, Sporus, who looked much like Poppaea. He ordered Sporus' castration, married him in a formal ceremony, and "used him in every way like a woman' (Will Durant, Caesar and Christ).

5. The great fire of Rome (July 19, A.D. 64) consumed about 2/3 of the city. While working hard to rebuild the city, much of the populace blamed him. He looked " a scapegoat, and found it with Christiains' Thus, began his horrible persecutions of A.D. 64.

6. Nero, who loved chariot racing, had to stop at dusk. He solved this problem by bringing Christians into his beautiful gardens, and having them tied or nailed to crosses. They were soaked in flammable pitch, and set on fire. Even the Romans thought this was too cruel, so Nero did not do this again.

7. However, Nero did continue to slaughter Christians by:
A. throwing them to the lions.
B. dressing them in animal skins, and turning the dogs loose on them.
C. using the sword on Christians who were Roman citizens.
D. beheading (as with Paul).

During the winter of 65 and the spring of 66, a terrible plague struck Rome. Over 30,000 died in just weeks, and the populace blamed Nero for "offending the gods.' His popularity dropped, the annies revolted, and Galba was declared the new emperor. Nero fled from Rome in disguise. He committed suicide with a blade through his throat. He was just 31 at his death. At his death one Roman said: 'We name our sons Paul; but we name our dogs Nero.'

March 28, 1993

Related Articles:

Print this Article

Discuss this Article

Back to the Sermon Page



Caesar Nero by Steve Hale Hitler. Mussolini. Stalin. Attila the Hun. Jack the Ripper. Richard Speck. Charles Manson. Nero. Few names in human history are as infamous. Nero's place in the midst of this "Hall of Shame" is well deserved. His mother. Agrippina, had seduced poor Claudius into marriage. She did so to obtain leverage so her son, Nero, could take over the throne at the death of Claudius. Agrippina was afraid that 'Claudius would pass the throne to his son, Brittanicus (so named for Claudius' conquest of Britain). She persuaded Claudius to give his thirteen year old daughter, Octavia, to her sixteen year old son, Nero. This was to strengthen Nero's claim to the throne. As time went on, Agrippina was more and more concerned that Claudius was becoming suspicious of her. So, this wicked woman arranged for her husband to be fed poisoned mushrooms. After twelve hours of agony, Claudius died at rhe age of sixty-four. All of this scheming was so Agrippina could get the throne for Nero. Nero was a freckled face teenager during this connining. He was a handsome young man with blue eyes, reddish bronze hair, and heavy cheeks. Agrippina arranged for Claudius' death to be kept quiet until she could conspire for her son successfully. Concerned about Brittannicus, Nero ordered his mother's poison maker, Locusta, to come up with a dose to put in Brittannicus's drink. However, the poison acted only as a laxative! Nero perso-ially flogged Locusta, and ordered her to make a poison more potent. She did, but when Nero tried it on a goat, it took the poor animal five hours to die. He ordered her to make it stronger. He fed some of the new batch to a pig, which died immediately. Soon, this would be the lot of poor Brittannicus. At a banquet in February of A.D. 65, the poison was included in a cup of hot wine served to Brittanncius. Even though he diluted the wine with cold water, the poison was still too powerful. Brittannicus was removed from the hall unconscious. When he died, Nero had his body cremated. Now, the only adversary that worried Nero was his mother. He had heard rumors that she was plotting against him, so he determined to beat her to it. He ordered an accident. Her boat carrying her home was to capsize, and she was to drown. Unfortunately for Nero, his mother was quite a swimmer. She made it to shore, and since the 'accident' was at night, no one saw her escape. Nero went to his army, and selected three officers to kill her. Agrippina, when she saw the men and their swords, pulled open her skirt, and screamed: 'Strike at the womb that bore Nero!' They did! With the deaths of Agrippina and Brittannicus, Nero acted like a hungry animal on the prowl. His dreadful reign of terror has been historically documented and disgustingly true. We will examine it next week, Lord willing. The above article appeared in the Mt. Juliet Messenger, March 21, 1993 Part 2 by Steve Hale Last week, we saw the tyranny with which Nero ceased power in Rome. His brutal murders of Britannicus and Agrippina seemed to 'turn him loose.' His acts of brutality make Freddy Krueger look like a wimp. A friend quoted this famous line in his presence: 'When I am dead, may fire consume the earth.' Nero put his hand on his friend's shoulder, and made this correction, at least from his viewpoint: 'While I am yet alive, may fire consume the earth." No human ever tried as hard to do this as Nero. Consider the following: 1. He poisoned his aunt who raised him and seized her estate. 2. He banished his wife, Octavia, the daughter of Claudius and sister of Britannicus. Twelve days later he married his mistress, Poppaea. Later, he commanded Octavia to commit suicide. 3. He later kicked a pregnant Poppaea in the stomach after she mildly fussed at him for being late coming home. She died from Nero's kick. 4. He found a young man, Sporus, who looked much like Poppaea. He ordered Sporus' castration, married him in a formal ceremony, and "used him in every way like a woman' (Will Durant, Caesar and Christ). 5. The great fire of Rome (July 19, A.D. 64) consumed about 2/3 of the city. While working hard to rebuild the city, much of the populace blamed him. He looked " a scapegoat, and found it with Christiains' Thus, began his horrible persecutions of A.D. 64. 6. Nero, who loved chariot racing, had to stop at dusk. He solved this problem by bringing Christians into his beautiful gardens, and having them tied or nailed to crosses. They were soaked in flammable pitch, and set on fire. Even the Romans thought this was too cruel, so Nero did not do this again. 7. However, Nero did continue to slaughter Christians by: A. throwing them to the lions. B. dressing them in animal skins, and turning the dogs loose on them. C. using the sword on Christians who were Roman citizens. D. beheading (as with Paul). During the winter of 65 and the spring of 66, a terrible plague struck Rome. Over 30,000 died in just weeks, and the populace blamed Nero for "offending the gods.' His popularity dropped, the annies revolted, and Galba was declared the new emperor. Nero fled from Rome in disguise. He committed suicide with a blade through his throat. He was just 31 at his death. At his death one Roman said: 'We name our sons Paul; but we name our dogs Nero.' March 28, 1993 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM