In the early summer of 64, while Nero was in Neapolis to give his debut performance of epic poetry, the city experienced a serious shock. Tacitus and Suetonius both record the episode:

Suetonis

There, something happened that seemed sinister to many, but to Nero himself seemed

foreordained, even divinely auspicious; for after the audience had left, the empty theater

collapsed without harm to anyone. So with specially composed songs he sang of his thanks

to the gods and the fortunate outcome of the recent incident...

(Tac. Ann. 15.34).

Tactius

He debuted at Neapolis; and although the theater was actually struck suddenly by an earth-

quake, he did not quit singing until he finished the melody he had begun (Suet.Ner.20).

These two sources are not contradictory, but their differences of emphasis are striking. Suetonius says nothing of a collapse, focusing instead on Nero's composure during his performance. But for Tacitus, the collapse was the central message of the event.

	Created by Roxanne V Springman about 9 years ago

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