From Nero to hero? Roman tyrant given a makeover

Given he murdered his mother and his first wife, turning nero into one of the good guys in history may be something of a challenge.

But the Roman emperor – who was said to have ‘fiddled while Rome burned’ – is apparently not such a notoriously brutal and tyrannous leader as first thought.

An exhibition by the British Museum aims to cast a new light on his turbulent reign as curators claim the longheld views that ‘shaped the nero narrative for 2000 years’ are largely based on ‘ outright lies’. Far from sitting back as Rome burned for nine days in AD64 – or even starting the fire as some suggest – nero led the relief and reconstruction efforts, says the museum. And his bad image was created by historians 50 years after his death to discredit him and legitimise new rulers.

Curator Thorsten Opper said: ‘i’d say nero was built up as this monster figure almost to distract from certain things that went on in Roman society.’

Museum director Hartwig Fischer added this story resonates with today’s society as there is a similar ‘polarisation of opinion’ and ‘contested facts’.

nero took the throne at just 16 and ruled for 14 years during which he murdered his mother after an incestuous relationship and burned Christians at garden parties – to name just a few of his bloody antics.

nero: The Man Behind The Myth, which opens on May 27, will display more than 200 artefacts – most of which have never been seen in the UK. A bronze head of the ruler, pictured, previously thought to be of the former emperor Claudius, will be a central part of the exhibition.