Nero Was Obese???

Heritage is selling this coin and I did not know Nero got so obese?

 

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LMAO

 

Nero definitely didn't shy away from a second helping:

 

he ate too much grapes

 

I do believe Nero is known as the fattest of the major Roman emperors. Gluttonous hog, and often considered a poor ruler.

HOWEVER, some sources describe Nero as really beneficent, and actively helped firefighting efforts in the great fire of 64, funding some efforts out of his own pocket.

who knows

 

Great coin! Love those neck folds!

I think my sestertius portrait is the one where he looks most as if he cleaned out the buffet at a few too many bacchanalias:

 

I wonder, is there any evidence (except the coins) Nero could have suffered from goiter, caused mostly by iodine deficiency?

 

More likely too much Doormice, Peacock tongue, and Sow's womb. YUM!

 

You would think that eating the last known silphium plant would cure what ailed him. Tell me Bing, how many Peacock tongues must one eat to add another chin?

 

at least a score or more.

 

The source of confusion about Nero's reign, and the historical revisionism which claims Nero wasn't really such a bad guy, is rooted in this: The first part of Nero's reign was beneficent and stable. Thanks to his teacher/mentor Seneca Nero emphasized clemency and was considered a fair and capable emperor by the senate and the people.

That all went to hell in the second half of his reign when the "rockstar Nero" personality took over. Marcus Aurelius, who unlike Nero was very reasoned and conservative, called him a monster. I don't doubt he was right.

 

He was pretty svelte early on:



Later, not so much.


Here's my newest (yes, I dare to post before receiving):

I've been wanting one of these Apollo types for ages. Fiddling while Rome burned, 'n' all.

I think Vitellius is more famed as a glutton, though:

 

Terrible ruler or not, he was certainly a terrible porker.

 

...Kind of like certain other 'rulers,' who, for instance, are happy to appropriate an ongoing phase of economic recovery, so long as they don't give credit where credit is due, for who did the hard work to clean up a preexisting mess. (...In Nero's case, Claudius, following Caligula.)
But seriously, you Nailed it. Nero's reign can be divided neatly between Phase One, under adult supervision, and Phase Two. Not pretty. ...Any more than he was, personally. ..."What an artist dies in me!" Say What?

 

Nero in his third year as emperor:

 

Hi @dougsmit, that would be an ostentatious amount.

https://animals.mom.me/what-is-a-group-of-peacocks-called-12270432.html

- Broucheion

 

Macedonia, Koinon of Thessalonica. Nero AE24
Obv: NEΡΩN KAICAΡ, young bare head left.
Rev: ΣEBAΣTOΣ MAKEΔONΩN around hamburger on plate with ring of peas.

 

He looks a bit "cheeky" here. Can't really tell where his chin ends and his neck begins!.

 

Must be one of the later coins. Anyone got one where is fatter than this?

And were there any that were FATTER?

 

Nero denarius

Nero semis, 4.8 gr
NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM IMP
PONTIF MAX - TR P IMP P P