Before Jerusalem Fell
by Kenneth L. Gentry by Kenneth L. Gentry
Clement of Alexandria 71 In the Syriac The Histo~ of John the Son of Zebedee Nero is called “the unclean and impure and wicked king.” 16 Nero’s notoriety was long remembered, and with peculiar loathing. Surely this is why Clement could write merely “the tyrant” when he made reference to the emperor of the banishment! Furthermore, Nero was widely suspected of intentionally starting the fire (which began on July 19, A.D. 64) that caused the horribly destructive burning of Rome. Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79), Suetonius,17 the writer of the Octavia (c. A.D. 75), and Dio Cassius (A.D. 150-235)’8 allege his culpability in this regard. And Tacitus indicates the allegations were contemporary with the fire. 19 Among the ancient pagan written traditions exhibiting a hatred and mockery of Nero are: The Octavia,*” Suetonius,21 Pliny the Younger (A.D. 62-113),22 Juvenal,23 Martial (c. A.D. 38-85), 24 Statius (A.D. 40-96) , 25 Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 120-180),26 Aulus Persius Flaccus (A.D. 34-62),27 Vulcacius (First Century),28 Epictetus (A.D. 60- 140) , 29 Marcus Annaeus Lucan (A.D. 39-95),30 and Herodian (A.D. 165-235) .31 A poetic epigram by Martial, written in the reign of 16. William Wright, Apowy~hal ActJ # the Apostkx, vol. 1 (Amsterdam: Philo, [1871] 1968), p. 55. 17. Suetonius, Nero 38: lff. 18. Dio Cassius, Rom Hi.stmy 72: 16:1K 19. Tacitus, Annals 15:39, See discussion of these references in Griflin, Nero, pp. 132K 20. Miriam T. Griffin analyzes the presentation of Nero in The Odawh thus: “Nero is, in fact, the proverbial tyrant, robbed of any personal characteristics, a mere incarnation of the will to evil, unaffected by advice or influence” (Griffin, Nero, p. 100). 21. Suetonius, Domitian 14. 22. Pliny, Panegyrias 53. 23. Juvenal, Satires 438. 24. Martial Epigrams 7:21, 21:33. Marcus Valerius Martialis was “the greatest of epigrammatists, and the father of the epigram as we understand it” (Walter C. Kerr, trans., Martial: Epigrams, Loeb Classical Library [Cambridge Harvard University Press, 1967] 1 :vii). Martial wrote: ‘This is that day which, conscious of a great birth, gave Lucan to the nations, and Polls, to thee. Ah, Nero! cruel, and for no death more hateful! this deed at least should not have been permitted thee!” 25. Statius, Silvae 2:7. 26. Marcus Aurelius, Meditattom 3:16. 27. Preserved in Suetonius’s On Poets – Aulur Persius Flaau.s. 28. Persius Flaccus, Li> of Cassius 8:4, and Capitolirws 28:10. 29. Epictetus 45:17. 30. Preserved in Suetonius’s On Poets – Lucan. 31. Herodian, 1:3:4 and HrMoria Augusta at Marcw 28:10, Auidius Cassius 8:4, and Cornrnodus 18.
72 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL Titus, disparages Nero and extols Titus: Here where the heavenly CO1OSSUS has a close view of the stars And high structures rise on the lofty road There once shone the hated hall of the cruel king And one house took up the whole of Rome. Here where rises the huge mass of the awesome amphitheatre In sight of all was Nero’s pool. A proud park deprived the poor of their houses. Where the Claudian temple spreads its wide shade Stood the last part of the palace. Rome is returned to herself and under your rule, Caesar, The delights of their master have become those of the people.32 Thus, biblical scholar Merrill C. Tenney speaks scathingly of the notorious evil of Nero: “Having exhausted the imperial treasury by his heedless expenditures, he looked for some method of replenishing it. Heavy taxation of the estates of childless couples, false accusations followed by confiscation of wealth, and outright murder of the aristocracy or else invitation to suicide made life unbearable. Wealthy men lived in dread of the emperor’s displeasure, and so great was the terror that the senatorial class endured unimaginable insults and mistreatment as the price of staying alive. Men betrayed their best ftiends, perjured themselves, and stooped to any infamy to aver the emperor’s hatred or cupidity.”3 3 Historian B. W. Henderson writes in a similar vein, and adds regarding Nero’s memory: And now [i.e., in Vespasian’s reign] begins that systematic disparagement of Nero which consciously or unconsciously colours the whole of our extant records, as has been already explained. The farther, too, that the traveller recedes the darker looks the air behind him, and the historic mist has at once such obscuring and such magni~ing power that the writers of the Flavian age devoted little care to recovering the true outlines of Nero’s portrait, or considering the great background 32. Martial, Book of Spectacles 2. 33. Men-ill C. Tenney, New T~tament Tim-s (Chicago: Moody, 1965, p. 289).
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Clement of Alexandria 71<br />
In the Syriac The Histo~ of John the Son of Zebedee Nero is called<br />
“the unclean and impure and wicked king.” 16 Nero’s notoriety was<br />
long remembered, and with peculiar loathing. Surely this is why<br />
Clement could write merely “the tyrant” when he made reference to<br />
the emperor of the banishment!<br />
Furthermore, Nero was widely suspected of intentionally starting<br />
the fire (which began on July 19, A.D. 64) that caused the horribly<br />
destructive burning of Rome. Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79), Suetonius,17<br />
the writer of the Octavia (c. A.D. 75), and Dio Cassius (A.D.<br />
150-235)’8 allege his culpability in this regard. And Tacitus indicates<br />
the allegations were contemporary with the fire. 19<br />
Among the ancient pagan written traditions exhibiting a hatred<br />
and mockery of Nero are: The Octavia,*” Suetonius,21 Pliny the Younger<br />
(A.D. 62-113),22 Juvenal,23 Martial (c. A.D. 38-85), 24<br />
Statius (A.D.<br />
40-96) , 25<br />
Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 120-180),26 Aulus Persius Flaccus<br />
(A.D. 34-62),27 Vulcacius (First Century),28 Epictetus (A.D. 60-<br />
140) , 29<br />
Marcus Annaeus Lucan (A.D. 39-95),30 and Herodian (A.D.<br />
165-235) .31 A poetic epigram by Martial, written in the reign of<br />
16. William Wright, Apowy~hal ActJ # the Apostkx, vol. 1 (Amsterdam: Philo, [1871]<br />
1968), p. 55.<br />
17. Suetonius, Nero 38: lff.<br />
18. Dio Cassius, Rom Hi.stmy 72: 16:1K<br />
19. Tacitus, Annals 15:39, See discussion of these references in Griflin, Nero, pp. 132K<br />
20. Miriam T. Griffin analyzes the presentation of Nero in The Odawh thus: “Nero is,<br />
in fact, the proverbial tyrant, robbed of any personal characteristics, a mere incarnation<br />
of the will to evil, unaffected by advice or influence” (Griffin, Nero, p. 100).<br />
21. Suetonius, Domitian 14.<br />
22. Pliny, Panegyrias 53.<br />
23. Juvenal, Satires 438.<br />
24. Martial Epigrams 7:21, 21:33. Marcus Valerius Martialis was “the greatest of<br />
epigrammatists, and the father of the epigram as we understand it” (Walter C. Kerr,<br />
trans., Martial: Epigrams, Loeb Classical Library [Cambridge Harvard University Press,<br />
1967] 1 :vii). Martial wrote: ‘This is that day which, conscious of a great birth, gave<br />
Lucan to the nations, and Polls, to thee. Ah, Nero! cruel, and for no death more hateful!<br />
this deed at least should not have been permitted thee!”<br />
25. Statius, Silvae 2:7.<br />
26. Marcus Aurelius, Meditattom 3:16.<br />
27. Preserved in Suetonius’s On Poets – Aulur Persius Flaau.s.<br />
28. Persius Flaccus, Li> of Cassius 8:4, and Capitolirws 28:10.<br />
29. Epictetus 45:17.<br />
30. Preserved in Suetonius’s On Poets – Lucan.<br />
31. Herodian, 1:3:4 and HrMoria Augusta at Marcw 28:10, Auidius Cassius 8:4, and<br />
Cornrnodus 18.
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