Roman emperor Nero is used to getting what he wants. He has grown tired of his wife Octavia, and has become infatuated with Poppea. He succeeds in making Poppea the new empress, but soon he faces opposition from an outraged populace. Informed of the danger of an imminent popular uprising, Nero orders to set fire to the city, which he watches from a terrace, rejoicing and playing his lyra.

We sat in simple amazement at the marvelous manner in which the production had been staged, artistically dressed, lighted and photographed. We seemed, for all the world, to be looking on a production of Mansfield, Irving or some great producing actor who is determined to give the public a chef d’oeuvre. It was no simple comedy scene, but one demanding all the magnificent effects of procession, brilliancy of costume and acting, and finally the great conflagration of Rome; such a marvelous realism of effect that as we sat and watched this colored part of the film we seemed, as it were, to hear the cries of the victims.

Source: Review in The Moving Picture Word, Nov 6, 1909

One day emperor Nero leaves his palace accompanied by his wife Claudia Octavia and meets a charming patrician named Poppea. With the help of his freedman Epaphroditus he finds her at a party she is attending and brings her back to his palace.

Nero presents Poppea to the people as the new empress and repudiates his wife. Octavia asks him to restitute the empire which he had received as her dowry, but the emperor harshly chases her away. Later, Nero is convinced by Poppea to have Octavia killed. One of her maidservants swears revenge and goes to Rome where she spreads the news of the assassination. The people, already tired of Nero's exactions and whims, decide to revolt against the emperor.

Informed of the danger of an imminent popular uprising, Nero orders to set fire to the city, which he watches from a terrace, rejoicing and playing his lyra.

Abandoned by all and sentenced to death by the Senate, he is beset by visions of the massacres he ordered. He flees with Epaphroditus seeking refuge at the villa of the freedman Faonte. Discovered and chased into the woods together with Epaphroditus, he kills himself with his sword.

Source: Wikipedia, 2024.07.11