Despite being widely known as one of the worst emperors of Rome, Nero actually played a significant role in shaping Rome and the Roman Empire. He is often portrayed as a crazy and cruel leader, even being compared to the Antichrist, but this view is now being challenged. Instead, we see a more complex ruler who had his flaws but was also unfairly targeted by his enemies. Nero’s reign brought about important changes and advancements for Rome and its people, and he oversaw a period of peace before the empire was thrown into a destructive civil war. Let’s take a look at some of Nero’s most notable contributions that left a lasting impact on Rome and its citizens.
Emperor Nero Was a Patron of Arts and Sports
Unlike his predecessors who were mainly known for their military and political skills, Nero had a deep appreciation for the arts and culture. He was not just a patron, but also actively participated in public performances and competitions as a skilled lyre player and singer. He even took part in various sports events, including the famous Olympics, where he always emerged victorious (probably because no one wanted to compete against an emperor). This made him very popular among the common people, who saw him as their protector.
However, this approach did not sit well with the elite senators, who believed that an emperor should not engage in such activities. Pliny called Nero an “actor-emperor” and Suetonius criticized his involvement in chariot racing and athletics.
Nero Built The Golden House
After the Fire of Rome in 64 CE, Nero went all out on a massive building project. Some people used this as an excuse to accuse him of starting the fire, but it’s unlikely that he was responsible. His extravagant palace, known as the Domus Aurea or Golden House, was truly impressive. It covered a huge area of land, with beautiful gardens, man-made lakes, vineyards, fountains, and tons of statues, buildings, and rooms filled with fancy decorations like frescoes, mosaics, marble, gold, and gems. The most impressive part was the octagonal dining room, which had a rotating ceiling that made it look like the sky was moving.
Nero’s critics saw the Golden House as proof of his arrogance and disconnection from reality. However, it seems that Nero actually wanted some parts of the palace to be open to the public, showing himself as a protector and supporter of the arts. But after Nero died, the palace became a symbol of his hated rule and was destroyed. The Colosseum was then built on top of its ruins.
He Rebuilt Rome and Improved Living Conditions
The painting “The Fire of Rome” by Robert Hubert, created in 1771, depicts the devastating event that occurred in the city during the first decades of the Roman Empire. Despite Augustus’ claim that he had transformed Rome from a city of brick to one of marble, the capital was actually overcrowded, chaotic, and poorly constructed. The streets were narrow, dirty, and lined with unstable buildings that posed a threat to pedestrians. So when the Great Fire broke out in 64 CE, it quickly spread and destroyed most of the city, leaving only four of its fourteen districts untouched.
While Nero used the disaster as an opportunity to build his lavish Golden House, he also took steps to prevent future catastrophes. He initiated a massive reconstruction effort and implemented new regulations to improve the safety of the city. This included widening the streets, setting standards for building height and materials, and creating organizations to oversee the maintenance of the city’s infrastructure.
Nero Achieved Lasting Peace with Parthia
This is a picture of Emperor Nero’s head, which was part of a larger statue created after 64 CE and can now be found at the Glyptothek in Munich. During Nero’s time as emperor, there weren’t many major military conflicts for the Roman legions. The most significant ones were putting down rebellions in Britain and Judaea, and fighting against Parthia. However, Nero himself did not lead the army, and it was his general, Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, who ended the five-year-long war with Parthia in 63 CE.
The image below shows a ceramic relief plaque depicting a mounted archer from Parthia, dating back to the 1st-3rd century CE and currently housed at the British Museum. Both Rome and Parthia wanted control over Armenia, a buffer state, since the time of Crassus. However, neither side could gain a clear advantage, and Corbulo was able to reach a stalemate. As per a treaty approved by Nero, Tiridates, the Parthian candidate, remained the king of Armenia but had to give up his loyalty to Parthia and acknowledge Nero as his superior. Tiridates even had to travel to Rome, where he received his crown from Nero in a public ceremony. This treaty also established a friendly and cooperative relationship between Rome and Parthia, which lasted for almost fifty years until Trajan became emperor. This agreement boosted Nero’s military reputation and allowed him to focus on other matters.
Emperor Nero Sent an Expedition to Find the Source of the Nile
This copper coin from Alexandria features Emperor Nero’s bust on one side and a hippopotamus on the other, representing the Nile River. It was minted between 54-68 CE and can be found at The British Museum.
One of Nero’s most interesting projects was his expedition to the Nile. He, like many Romans, was fascinated by the history and geography of Africa and Egypt, which was the richest province in the Roman Empire. He also wanted to follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great. This could have been a way for him to explore potential invasion routes into Africa. So, he organized and sent out the first scientific expedition in history to find the source of the Nile River.
Under Nero’s support, a group of soldiers, explorers, and scientists set off on the expedition in 61 CE. They started in Alexandria and followed the Nile upstream. Despite facing many challenges and dangers, they made it to Meroe, which is now in Sudan and was ruled by a powerful queen. From there, they continued south, encountering exotic animals and new places along the way. Eventually, they reached the Sudd, a large swamp in southern Sudan. It’s possible that they even went further to the Murchison Falls in Uganda and got very close to the source of the Nile. Unfortunately, Nero’s death in 68 CE meant that there were no more missions or potential campaigns in the south.
