[1] Intereā cōnferendīs pecūniīs pervastāta Ītalia, prōvinciae ēversae sociīque populī et quae cīvitātium līberae vocantur. inque eam praedam etiam diī cessēre, spoliātīs in urbe templīs ēgestōque aurō quod triumphīs, quod vōtīs omnis populī Rōmānī aetās prōsperē aut in metū sacrāverat. [2] enimvērō per Asiam atque Achāiam nōn dōna tantum sed simulācra nūminum abripiēbantur, missīs in eās prōvinciās Acrātō ac Secundō Carrinate. ille lībertus cuicumque flāgitiō prōmptus, hīc Graeca doctrīna ōre tenus exercitus animum bonīs artibus nōn induerat. [3] ferēbātur Seneca quō invidiam sacrilegiī ā sēmet āverteret longinquī rūris sēcessum ōrāvisse et, postquam nōn concēdēbātur, fictā valētūdine quasi aeger nervīs cubiculum nōn ēgressus. trādidēre quīdam venēnum eī per lībertum ipsīus, cui nōmen Cleonicus, parātum iussū Nerōnis vītātumque ā Senecā prōditiōne lībertī seu propriā formīdine, dum persimplicī victū et agrestibus pōmīs ac, sī sitis admonēret, prōfluente aquā vītam tolerat.

Essay

45.1

Tacitus now focuses attention on the economic consequences of Nero’s efforts to rebuild the burnt-out city and his ravaged reputation. The money-raising affected every part of. . . [full essay]

Study Questions

45.1:

  • What were the civitates liberae, and what does Tacitus want to suggest by vocantur here?

45.2:

  • State and explain the case of missis.
  • What does Tacitus mean by Graeca doctrina ore tenus exercitus?
  • What type of ablative is bonis artibus?

45.3:

  • Parse tradidere. What is the meaning of trado in this context? What is its subject?
  • With which noun are the participles paratum and vitatum agreeing?
  • State and explain the tense of tolerat.

Stylistic Appreciation:

What is there in this section to contribute to our impression of Nero, and how does Tacitus’ use of language draw attention to his wickedness?

Discussion Point:

In his search for funds, Nero turns the empire upside down and shakes it. When have countries or empires more recently behaved similarly? What impression of Nero as an emperor does this give? What sort of things would Graeca doctrina have entailed? Who in our times might most closely fit Tacitus’ acid description of Carrinas the hypocrite? Is Seneca much better? Are we to view his withdrawal from public life as principled or craven?

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Suggested Citation

Mathew Owen and Ingo Gildenhard, Tacitus, Annals, 15.20–23, 33–45. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-78374-003-1. DCC edition, 2016. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/ro/tacitus-annals/15-45