Quo Vadis?

Let me share a parable with you:

The action goes back to Ancient Rome in AD 64–68. Claudius is succeeded by the new corrupted emperor Nero who threatens the peaceful status-quo of Rome. The major conflict coming to existence proves to be between the ideas and principles of Christianity and the shaken-by-corruption Roman Empire.

The epoch brings home a deep crisis, stemming from intrinsic internal collisions, of the ancient principles. An epoch of crimes that are calling for vengeance as Crispus, a Christian zealot who verges on fanaticism, would say.

A collision follows of two different worlds of the wealthy and the laymen; the administrative machine and the less protected.

Vinicius, a tribune and Roman patrician: The people won’t believe such a lie!

Petronius, a wealthy Roman: But they are believing it. People will believe any lie, if it is fantastic enough.

Emperor Nero: What does the mob want?

Petronius: Justice.

Tigellinus belonging to the Praetorian Guard, a runner for Nero’s favour and a higher post, incites Nero into committing acts of crime.

A state of decadence of the political, economic, social institutions…

Emperor Nero sets Rome on fire…

Soon after the parable ends in saying: Ainsi passa Neron, comme passent la rafale, la tempete, le feu, la guerre ou la peste…

That parable does not coincide in time with our epoch…However, “mores” and manners come to that starting point as the wheel of history is turning around…

The ancient heroes in their prestation belong to the historic reality…The “mores” of the heroes of our modern parables drive them to the domain of those ancient simpletons who treat arbitrariness and turpitude as a freedom to act…

Mariela Baeva

credit: To history