Nero's Cithara: Music vs. Madness Myth

In episode 54 of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna delve into Nero's obsession with music, specifically the cithara—a large lyre-like instrument. They explore how his performances at the Neronia and even in public venues were part of his philhellenic vision, but also how they fueled the myth of his madness. The conversation covers the technical aspects of the cithara, Nero's training, his controversial appearances at the Pythian Games, and the political implications of an emperor who wanted to be an artist. They also touch on the sources—Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio—and how their biases shaped the narrative. Was Nero a serious musician or a deluded tyrant? This episode separates history from propaganda. #Nero #Cithara #AncientMusic #Neronia #PythianGames #Philhellenism #Tacitus #Suetonius #CassiusDio #RomanEmpire #EmperorNero #AncientGreece #MusicHistory #Lyre #QuinquennialGames #Propaganda #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo