In our last episode, we finished on June 9, 68. Nero was 30 years and six months old. He had ruled for 13 years and 8 months. On June 10, 68, while he was still in Spain, The Senate declared the governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, northern Spai

THE END

Dec 6th, 2022 1h 1m

News of Galba’s betrayal makes its way to Nero who is shocked into action. He sends troops to stop Galba - but they switch sides and join the conspiracy. Nero goes into hiding with the intent of running away to Alexandria and Greece, but even t

The Last Straw

Nov 18th, 2022 1h 39m

Nero celebrates two official triumphs. Not for military victories, but for singing. It’s the last straw. A new rebellion is formed, lead by Vindex and Galba. The post Nero #46 – The Last Straw appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

Grand Slam

Nov 1st, 2022 54m 50s

Nero didn’t visit Athens or Sparta while in Greece because he was scared of religious and political retribution. Besides, he was too busy trying to become the periodonikes, the Grand Slam champion of all of the Games. But things weren’t going w

Horny Dolphins

Oct 22nd, 2022 54m 50s

The year is 67 CE. Nero is still on his 14 month tour of Greece. He dropped into the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and tickled the Omphalos. The post Nero #44 – Horny Dolphins appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

To the Deuce!

Sep 30th, 2022 52m 51s

It’s 67 CE. Before he sets out for his World Tour of Greece, Nero first needs to insult the Senate, then he needs to deal with a new conspiracy, this one involving Corbulo. While Greece, he becomes unhappy with Vespasian who apparently doesn’t

Dude Looks Like A Lady

Sep 17th, 2022 52m 51s

Nero gets, not one, but TWO new wives. One of them is a dude. The post Nero #42 – Dude Looks Like A Lady appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

The Stuff of Genius

Aug 29th, 2022 42m 24s

Nero’s first attempt at building a single property that covered his estates on the Palatine Hill and the Esquiline Hill was The Domus Transitoria, the House of Passage. It burned down in the Great Fire. He replaced it with the Domus Aurea (Gold

The Golden House

Aug 20th, 2022 42m 24s

Nero built his Domus Aurea between 64-68 and, in doing so, revolutionised Roman architecture. He also built a massive statue of himself, because, hey, why not? The post Nero #40 – The Golden House appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

Closing His Janus

Aug 12th, 2022 30m 21s

Nero was a lover, not a fighter. Not a great leader of armies. He thought of himself as an artist. He wanted to be on stage, not on horseback. He was very proud that he closed his Janus. The post Nero #39 – Closing His Janus appeared first on

A Woman Woo'd

Jul 22nd, 2022 43m 15s

If you want to marry a woman, remember to kill her husband firstThe post Nero #38 – A Woman Woo’d appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

"Spare your ears"

Jun 19th, 2022 41m 52s

The Stoics Thrasea and Soranus go on trial. And we run out of Tacitus. The post Nero #37 – “Spare your ears” appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

Two Options

Jun 11th, 2022 1h 14m

When you’ve been up to no good, and you get caught out, you have two options. Nero, like Ray, is a Number 2 kind of guy. In this episode, he goes after two significant Stoics, Thrasea Paetus and Barea Soranus, with trumped up charges. And we fa

A Monotony Of Disaster

May 23rd, 2022 30m 28s

A family commits suicide together to escape Nero’s prosecution, while others just get stabbed to death. But Tacitus’ explanations for Nero’s behaviour still leave us scratching our heads.The post Nero #35 – A Monotony Of Disaster appeared firs

A Reckless Spirit

May 13th, 2022 48m 28s

Nero launches a series of attacks that result in the demise of certain members of the Roman elite. But why these particular people? And why now? We tease apart Tacitus to try to work out what’s really going on.The post Nero #34 – A Reckless Sp

Michael Tremblay On Stoicism (part 2)

Apr 28th, 2022 36m 38s

This is the second and final part of our interview with philosopher Michael Tremblay, talking about Seneca and stoicism. The post Nero #33 – Michael Tremblay On Stoicism (part 2) appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

Michael Tremblay On Stoicism (part 1)

Apr 15th, 2022 56m 24s

With the recent demise on our show of Nero's favourite Stoic, Seneca, we wanted to go balls deep on Stoicism. To help us out, our guest Michael Tremblay, who has a PhD in philosophy, where he studied Stoic ethics and education, came on and talk

Wife Kicker

Mar 31st, 2022 44m 7s

In the year 66, Nero gets taken on a wild goose chase, performs some lovely poetry and harp concerts… oh yeah, and he kicks his wife to death. The post Nero #31 – Wife Kicker appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

High Praise

Mar 18th, 2022 57m 32s

This episode is brought to you by - legal weed! The Pisonian Conspiracy is over. Rewards are handed out to those who remained loyal. The Senate wants to make Nero a living god.The post Nero #30 – High Praise appeared first on Life Of The Caesa

Seneca Falls

Mar 1st, 2022 31m 36s

Next on the chopping block is Seneca, Nero’s old tutor and adviser and leading Stoic. Historians seem to think he wasn’t directly involved in the conspiracy - but he probably knew about it. The post Nero #29 – Seneca Falls appeared first on

Piso Falls

Feb 19th, 2022 31m 17s

Nero hunts down the main conspirators. Some of them are captured, while others help execute their own colleagues without betraying their allegiance to the cause. Piso is urged to mount the rostra in the Forum and make a case to the people, but

A Betrayal Betrayed

Feb 8th, 2022 42m 29s

The plot against Nero continues to gather momentum but is finally betrayed by a freedman, a day before shit was about to go down. The post Nero #27 – A Betrayal Betrayed appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.

The Circus Games

Jan 23rd, 2022 46m 56s

When one of the praetorian prefects joins the conspirators, they decide it's time to act. But they can't agree on a plan. It takes a woman to move things along. The post Nero #26 – The Circus Games (take 3) appeared first on Life Of The Caesar