Preface and Acknowledgments List of Illustrations 1 Introduction: Chasing the Neronian Mystique 1 Recuperating Multiple "Neros" 2 Becoming Nero 3 After Nero2 Setting the Stage--the Aesthetics of Empire: Claudius, Agrippina, and the Augustan Inheritance 1 Caligulan Aesthetics? Dynasty, Legitimacy, and Luxury 2 Nero's Earliest Images: Type I Portraits on Coins, Gems, and Sculpture 3 Nero's Sculpted Representations 4 Antiquarianism: a Claudian Cultural Program?3 The Dawn of a Golden Age? Nero, Seneca, and the Quinquennium Neronis 1 An Ongoing Augustan Axis 2 Agrippina: Optima Mater and Flaminica Divi Claudi 3 Nero Imperator 4 Theomorphic Rhetorics 5 A New Emperor, a New Apollo 6 A New Aurea Aetas 7 The Quinquennium Neronis4 Neropolis and the Urbs Nova: Nero's Public Building Program in Rome 1 Early Building Initiatives 2 After the Fire: Neropolis and the Urbs Nova5 Golden Excess Part 1: Nero's Portraits and the Cult of Luxury 1 Radical Portrait Strategies: Innovative Iconography and Physiognomy 2 Learned Luxury Refined 3 Innovations in Numismatic Imagery 4 Headgear 5 Traditional Statuary Formats 6 Theomorphic Rhetorics Continued 7 Solar Alignments Continued: Helios-Apollo-Neronianus 8 Nero's Women6 Golden Excess, Part 2: the Residences--to Live Like a Human 1 Adaptations and Expansions on the Palatine 2 The Domus Transitoria: Transitive Architecture and Transcendent Decoration 3 The Oppian Wing of the Domus Aurea: Revolutionary Architecture and Outrageous Opulence 4 Collecting the Empire: Sculpture and Painting on Display at the Domus Aurea 5 Topography and History: Exploiting the Oppian 6 Opulence and Innovation Outside of Rome: the Imperial Villas at Subiaco and Anzio7 Qualis Artefix: Martyr and Monster 1 The Final Hours 2 Rehabilitation under Otho and Vitellius 3 Repurposing Nero's Memory and Monuments 4 Contesting Nero's Memory in Flavian Rome 5 Later Encounters with Nero's Images 6 The Return of Nero: Nero Redivivus 7 Negative Constructions of Nero's Memory in Ancient Authors 8 Reviving Nero's Memory on the Contorniates8 Aftermath: Icon and Antichrist 1 Establishing an Anti-Christ: Early Christian Assessments 2 Medieval Nero 3 Early Modern Nero 4 The Domus Aurea and the Grotesque 5 Re-assessing Nero's Historical Legacy Bibliography Museum and Collections Index General Index.