Source edition
Philostratus the Athenian. Flavii Philostrati Opera, Vol 2. Kayser, Carl Ludwig, editor. Lepizig: Teubner, 1871.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work depicts the madness, tyranny, and ultimate downfall of the Roman Emperor Nero in the form of a dialogue. The narrative centers on a conversation between the Greek philosopher Musonius and Menecrates, exposing the absurdities of Nero's reign. In the first half, the dialogue discusses Nero's grandiose motivations for the excavation of the Isthmus of Corinth, the circumstances of its sudden failure, and his bizarre obsession with the arts. In the second half, Musonius reveals the emperor's ridiculous singing habits, his murder of rival tragic actors, and his irreverence toward the gods. The work concludes with the arrival of a ship announcing Nero's death, symbolically marking the end of the tyrant's rule.