Nero's Music: The Emperor Who Played Rome

Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History · Aug 25, 2026 · 8m · transcript

In this episode of Fexingo History, we explore Nero's obsession with music and performance — a passion that defined his reign and scandalized the Roman elite. We look at his training under the citharode Terpnus, his debut at the Juvenalia, and his controversial appearances on the public stage, where he competed as a citharoedus. We discuss his repertoire, including his own compositions, and how he incorporated the Great Fire of 64 into his performances. We also examine the cultural context: how the Romans viewed public performance, especially for an emperor, and how Nero's artistic…