# Nero — Discourses character guide

> Nero in Discourses by Epictetus.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0004-i-of-the-things-which-are-in-our-power-and-not-in-our-power

## Who they are

Roman emperor, exemplar of tyranny and moral corruption.

## Relationships

### [Epaphroditus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/epaphroditus)

_professional_

Epaphroditus serves Nero as a secretary or advisor, entangled in the emperor's volatile court.

### [Epaphroditus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/epaphroditus)

_professional_

Epaphroditus serves Nero as a secretary or advisor, entangled in the emperor's volatile court.

## In the story

### [Of the Things Which Are in Our Power, and Not in Our Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/i-of-the-things-which-are-in-our-power-and-not-in-our-power)

The emperor who ordered Lateranus to be beheaded.

### [II: How a Man on Every Occasion Can Maintain His Proper Character](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/ii-how-a-man-on-every-occasion-can-maintain-his-proper-character)

Emperor whose spectacles are the subject of deliberation for Florus and Agrippinus.

### [On the Same](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxv-on-the-same)

Nero is mentioned in the context of Demetrius's remark that Nero threatens death but nature threatens Nero.

### [To the Administrator of the Free Cities Who Was an Epicurean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/vii-to-the-administrator-of-the-free-cities-who-was-an-epicurean)

Implied through the mention of powerful friends in Rome and the weakness of Greeks, reflecting the political context of the time.

### [About Cynism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/xxii-about-cynism)

Cited as an example of someone in royal power who was not happy.

### [Against the Quarrelsome and Ferocious](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/chapters/v-against-the-quarrelsome-and-ferocious)

Used as a negative example: a man with Nero's stamp is passionate, resentful, and faultfinding, not a true man.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters/nero
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_se/characters