Dear Classical Wisdom Member,
This last Sunday we celebrated Mother’s Day, down here at the end of the world in Argentina. My dear little family spoiled me with all the gifts and devotion fitting for the occasion... and as we walked around the city, we witnessed the many other families who were gathered to honor the women who gave them life....
And yet, not all mothers in history have been treated so sweetly. Indeed, the ancient world reminds us that motherhood is not always soft devotion. It can be fierce, ambitious, and, when entwined with power....dangerous.
No tale captures this more vividly than that of Julia Agrippina, the mother who birthed an emperor and died by his decree. Like the mythical princess Medea, she is condemned as both mother and monster; like the Olympian goddess Demeter, she suffers the unbearable loss of the child she once nurtured.
But Agrippina’s tragedy was not the work of myth...it was the cold machinery of imperial Rome, where the same strength that secured her son’s throne would also seal her fate.
Indeed, considering Nero’s elaborate attempts, what is truly remarkable is that she lived as long as she did! She was like the Rasputin of ancient Rome... as you will find out in today’s article.
Classical Wisdom Members: Get confused by who’s who in the Julio-Claudian dynasty? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone and it is truly a complicated family! Fortunately, we have you covered.
As a member you have full access to our online library, including our Ebook, The Julio-Claudian Emperors. We outline the rulers, their families and the incredible legacies (both good and bad) they left behind. You can access the Ebook below today’s article.
If you aren’t a member yet, you are always welcome to join our community and enjoy all the lessons from the ancient world:
Now, read on to contemplate: what becomes of maternal love when it collides with imperial ambition?
All the best,
Anya Leonard
Founder and Director
Classical Wisdom
The Emperor’s Mother
By Mary Naples, Author of Unsung Heroes and Cult of the Captured Bride
Had Julia Agrippina Minor (Agrippina the Younger, 15 CE-59 CE) known that her son Nero would ultimately have her killed, she might have reconsidered giving birth to him.
Nero, ever persistent in his depravity, made three failed attempts to murder his mother before finally succeeding. Being of cowardly nature, Nero was too frightened to carry out the grim task himself; instead, he hired henchmen to do his dirty work. This brutal act not only underscores the extreme measures he took to secure power but also marks a significant turning point in his reign.
The turbulent connection between mother and son illustrates the complicated dynamics of devotion and treachery in the quest for imperial authority. Considering that Agrippina played a crucial role in placing her son on the throne, what could have caused their relationship to deteriorate?
Moreover, how did Agrippina manage to evade certain death three times before ultimately facing her demise? What was the evolution of the tense relationship between Nero and Agrippina, from the moment Nero ascended to the throne to the tragic end of Agrippina’s life?
Más info en https://ift.tt/2pzIGQA / Tfno. & WA 607725547 Centro MENADEL (Frasco Martín) Psicología Clínica y Tradicional en Mijas. #Menadel #Psicología #Clínica #Tradicional #MijasPueblo
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