Nero Became Demon Possessed After Paul's Testimony?

[Teallaura]

Lead poisoning? Oh yeah! The Romans would drink wine out of lead bowls. Didn't turn out so good. Anyways, what would go through Nero's mind at the final Judgement? Oh *insert Latin curse word* ?

Rome used lead pipes for plumbing and actually sweetened wine with white lead, as well.

[Mountain Man]

No, but it would explain a sudden change in character.

There are any number of things that can explain that as well. To me, demon possession is such an "out there" hypothesis that it's not even worth considering.

[Christianbookworm]

Lead poisoning? Oh yeah! The Romans would drink wine out of lead bowls. Didn't turn out so good. Anyways, what would go through Nero's mind at the final Judgement? Oh *insert Latin curse word* ?

[Teallaura]

No, but it would explain a sudden change in character.

Er, so would lead poisoning...

I'm not sure that the change is so 'sudden' - but there is some merit to the point.

[Raphael]

I don't think one needs demon possession to explain man's penchant for evil and cruelty, unless you want to argue that every brutal tyrant throughout history was possessed by a demon.

No, but it would explain a sudden change in character.

[Mountain Man]

Supernatural intervention would explain why Nero took such an interest in a small religious group that should not have seemed to be that much of a threat to the order of the empire.

I don't think one needs demon possession to explain man's penchant for evil and cruelty, unless you want to argue that every brutal tyrant throughout history was possessed by a demon.

[Teallaura]

I think I mentioned that after passing the civil service exam for police officer, and having been grilled by the Chief and Safety Director, I was told "OK, so you have officially passed muster and will be commissioned, but we have one remaining question that will not affect the outcome". I gulped hard .... the Safety Director looked at a page in his folder, then looked at me over his reading glasses, and asked, "Is it true that you welded a police car to a fire high hydrant your senior year in High School?"

[Cow Poke]

I never get caught for the things I did and often get blamed for stuff I didn't do.

Back in High Skewl one of the Vice Principals, while unsuccessfully trying to give me detention, acknowledged that I didn't do what I had been accused of and exasperatedly added that I get away with so many things I did do. I replied, "fine then catch me doing the things you think I get away with."

They never did

I think I mentioned that after passing the civil service exam for police officer, and having been grilled by the Chief and Safety Director, I was told "OK, so you have officially passed muster and will be commissioned, but we have one remaining question that will not affect the outcome". I gulped hard .... the Safety Director looked at a page in his folder, then looked at me over his reading glasses, and asked, "Is it true that you welded a police car to a fire high hydrant your senior year in High School?"

[rogue06]

And responsible! Pretty much anything bad that happened --- Rogue was responsible!

I never get caught for the things I did and often get blamed for stuff I didn't do.

Back in High Skewl one of the Vice Principals, while unsuccessfully trying to give me detention, acknowledged that I didn't do what I had been accused of and exasperatedly added that I get away with so many things I did do. I replied, "fine then catch me doing the things you think I get away with."

They never did

[Cow Poke]

I always have been unforgettable

And responsible! Pretty much anything bad that happened --- Rogue was responsible!

[rogue06]

But they're the ones we remember. Kinda like the problem child in school, right Rogue?

I always have been unforgettable

[Cow Poke]

I read an article some time back which made a pretty good case that Caligula wasn't nearly as crazy as he was portrayed. Debauched and depraved, without a doubt? But insane... maybe not so much.

For instance one of the primary examples put forth to illustrate his insanity is that Caligula made his favorite horse, Incitatus, a Roman Senator and even proposed making him a consul.

The story is regarded by some to be fictitious political propaganda of the time but even if true it very well could have been Caligula mocking and ridiculing his political adversaries (principally the Senate).

Because he always placed the "Senator Incitatus" name badge on the south end of the northbound horse?

[Cow Poke]

Nero, yes. Caligula, yes. "Most" is overstating things quite a bit.

But they're the ones we remember. Kinda like the problem child in school, right Rogue?

[rogue06]

Nero, yes. Caligula, yes. "Most" is overstating things quite a bit.

I read an article some time back which made a pretty good case that Caligula wasn't nearly as crazy as he was portrayed. Debauched and depraved, without a doubt? But insane... maybe not so much.

For instance one of the primary examples put forth to illustrate his insanity is that Caligula made his favorite horse, Incitatus, a Roman Senator and even proposed making him a consul.

The story is regarded by some to be fictitious political propaganda of the time but even if true it very well could have been Caligula mocking and ridiculing his political adversaries (principally the Senate).

[One Bad Pig]

Weren't most of the Caesars insane?

Nero, yes. Caligula, yes. "Most" is overstating things quite a bit.