"Rome is the capital of the world." "Its eagles and banners, planted by victorious legions, marked the bounds of the known earth." "Upon Rome, converged the most various forms of interests and forces, customs and religions, vices and virtues of the entire world." "Nero, a symbol of power and corruption, beauty and sin." "Eels, fed on human flesh, were his favorite food at his great feasts." "Various like his desires, were the men who surrounded him." "Petronius, noted for his refined elegance." "Tigellinus, the captain of the Praetorians." "Vitellius, an emulator of Bacchus." "By the order of Caesar:" "Whosoever confesses himself Christian or makes converts to the new religion, shall be declared an enemy to the country and punished by death." ""Christians?" "Who are they?"" ""Do not worry, O divine one." "You are too important"" ""to give thought to those moles which live underground."" ""Moles which multiply everyday and threaten the Empire"" ""and your very throne itself, my Caesar!"" ""Tigellinus is right!"" "In the darkness of the Catacombs, a network of caves, more extensive than the city itself, the Christians were preparing the fall of a corrupt Empire." "Peter repeated the words of Christ, "Let the oppressed come unto me."" "Domitilla and Plautus were two patricians drawn to the mysteries of the new faith." "The Subura and the taverns were filled with the same corruption that ruled the Palatine." "Chilon Chilonides." ""By the order of Caesar:"" ""Whosoever confesses himself Christian or makes converts to the new religion,"" ""shall be declared an enemy to the country and punished by death."" "Vinicius, nephew of Petronius." ""The divine Petronius was Nero's guest last night.."" ""Let us wait until he returns."" ""What difference is there between"" ""the philosopher Chilon Chilonides and the poet Nero?"" ""Nothing: at dawn, both of us are drunk."" "Eunice, the slave of Petronius." ""Welcome back, O conqueror of Parthia!"" ""Dear uncle, if I succeeded in escaping from the Parthian arrows,"" ""I didn't know how to evade those of love!"" ""Burn this powder before the statue of Petronius"" ""and he will not be able to resist you!"" ""I managed to find out that maiden was Lygia,"" ""the daughter of a foreign king,"" ""brought to Rome as a hostage and entrusted to Plautus."" "Lygia." ""My love for you, my Lygia, is stronger than death!"" ""If she won't be mine, I'll die!"" ""May the love enchantment work its promise!"" ""By the Cyprian Goddess, tomorrow she'll be yours!"" ""I invoke from you, O Caesar, a favor for Vinicius."" "".. and how is this girl.." "is she beautiful?"" ""A little skinny, my Caesar, she has narrow sides..!"" ""Alright.." "let her be given to Vinicius."" "In the house of Domitilla and Plautus.." ""Nero has ordered the persecution of all Christians!"" "The Lord said, "My kingdom is not of this earth."" ""The Praetorians... are here!"" "Caesar greets thee and thanks thee for the hospitality for years granted to Lygia and orders, from today, that she be transferred to Caesar's Palace." "The Centurion has the order to escort her to the Palatine." ""Allow me to be able to go with her."" ""My life is dedicated to her protection."" ""May the Lord protect our Lygia"" ""and preserve her from every peril."" "Vinicius was in the dark about everything." ""Lygia.. was taken to the Palace!"" ""Ah!" "Petronius has betrayed me!"" "Lygia is entrusted to Lucilla, a young freed slave of Nero's." "Livius, the son of Nero and Poppaea." "Fleeing from the supervision of his Ethiopian nurse.." "The Empress Poppaea." ""Is that the beautiful stranger whom Nero has brought here?"" ""Don't let my son remain in her arms!"" ""Has Nero seen you?"" ""No, I arrived yesterday, at night."" ""You were fortunate.."" ""What did you do with Lygia?" "Where is she?"" ""Be calm, my boy."" ""Is that how you thank me for having got Nero to give you Lygia?" ""Come tonight and you'll have her."" ""I give thanks to the Gods,"" ""who brought you here, my most lovely Lygia!"" ""Oh, Lygia, my goddess, my love!"" ""Nero is observing you!"" ""Is she the favor you asked for on behalf of Vinicius?"" ""I can guess your thoughts.." "too skinny for you!"" ""Why does that barrel of lard laugh so?"" ""Laughter distinguishes man from the beasts.."" ""and he wants to show that he's not a pig!"" ""Vinicius!" "Must I be the one to teach you"" ""how to treat an innocent maiden?"" ""Only the Empress can help you."" "Nero, in the mood for song, requests the presence and applause of the divine Poppaea." "Petronius" ""O divine Caesar, O Appollo, we all long to hear your song!"" ""Silence!" "Nero deigns to recite for us!"" ""Rome and the whole world thanks you, O Caesar."" ""Hurry!" "Let's fly!" "Let's go back to Plautus!"" ""Don't I seem to you a God.." "above all other Gods?" ""Then kneel before me!"" ""Tomorrow, I'll bring you to safety, I swear!"" ""Glory to Venus!" "Glory to Bacchus!"" ""Pray to the Lord that he'll return Lygia.."" ""He'll listen to you."" "Now a prey to wine, Nero forgets every restraint." "That same night, while Lygia by the orders of Nero, was lead to the house of Vinicius.." ""Quick, bring me a diviner!"" ""I want to know what my dream meant!"" ""My dear Chilon, what you have just seen"" ""will fill your pockets with sesterces."" ""I swear to you that we defended her at the risk of our own lives!"" "Oppressed by the nightmare he had," "Nero seeks out a diviner." ""The Christians are preparing a cross for thee.."" ""For the love of heaven, hide her, at least until I return!"" ""If you'll be mine, you'll have all the treasures of the world at your feet!"" ""I'll make you an.." "Empress!"" ""Who gives you the strength to oppose the will of Nero?"" ""Oh, Omnipotent God, to you I address my prayers.."" ""I am your God!" "Let yours save you now!"" ""It was dark.." "I stumbled.." "and I fell.."" ""Divine Caesar, the Empress calls for you!"" ""A mysterious illness has struck young Livius.."" ""There is no hope."" ""The good God has brought you back here.."" ""The stranger bewitched him.." "Lygia.." "it was she!"" ""Quick, bring her here!"" ""No punishment will be spared!"" ""Where is she who has caused the death of my son?"" ""Speak!" "Tell me where she is!" "Otherwise..!"" ""She was kidnapped.. she never arrived at my house.."" ""Only you, Petronius, only you care about me!"" ""His wedding night will never come.."" "A profound desperation now pervaded the heart of Vinicius." ""Why persist about her?"" ""Why don't you seek to console yourself with another?"" ""Look at her, she's beautiful..." "and yours if you want."" ""Go.. adorn yourself with gems and jewels.."" ""Tonight you'll be brought forth."" ""Go call Tiresias and return here with him."" ""Do you seek Lygia?" "I know where to find her.."" ""Life reserves much bitterness for a poor philosopher like me,"" ""one must get by in order to live.."" ""I'll give you 100 sesterces!"" ""You'll give Eunice, 100 lashes.."" ""Be careful though, not to ruin her skin.."" ""The man whom I'll send to you, will want certainly a fine recompense.."" "Croton, gladiator and assasin, loved good wine and the inns of the Subura." ""Croton, I have a job for you."" ""Here is your faithful servant."" ""My life belongs to you.."" ""Nothing can ever extinguish my love.."" "The Christians found refuge in the country, far from the city." ""Those are the Christians who are leaving their place of worship.."" ""Lygia is among them.." "let's follow.."" ""Be careful with Ursus.. he's strong as a bull!"" ""If I don't break his bones, make me a slave!"" ""Who are you looking for?"" ""Thee!"" ""No, Ursus, no.." "don't kill him!"" "Chilon thought how to gain advantage from the new adventure." ""It's only a shoulder sprain.."" ""Tomorrow he should be able to return to his home."" ""Vinicius, your true salvation is in the love of the Lord.."" ""And your love, my only salvation!"" ""God says to save the lost sheep,"" ""but for now, it's better that you go away."" "A few days later.." "Today, before the people," "I'll read my new poem, "The Fire of Troy"." "You know how much your judgment means to me." "Come to me." "Vinicius" ""I'm here for those 100 sesterces.."" ""I'll have you given, instead, 100 lashes!"" ""And I order you to forget about Lygia and the Christians!" "Understand?"" "Nero sings the new Iliad." ""Terrible verses, worthy of the flame!"" ""What did you say?"" ""Verses worthy of a Homer.." "Virgil.." "certainly not worthy of you!"" ""Your flame doesn't burn.." "it crackles!"" ""You're right!" "To be able to see a city burn.."" ""like Homer.. to sing.." "competing with him!"" "Two days later.." ""O divine Caesar!" "The city is in flames!"" ""Oh Gods, I thank you!"" ""Finally, I'll see a city burn and be able to finish my poem!"" ""Lygia is in the city!"" "Each one led by his own instinct, among the flames which destroy all.." ""Murderer, matricide and today even incendiary!"" ""He ordered the fire of Rome and Tigellinus carried it out."" ""To the Palatine!" "To the Palatine!"" ""Death to Nero and his accomplices!"" ""Hurry!" "To the Ostrian Cemetery!"" ""Lygia!" "Lygia!"" "A refuge not so secure.." ""Help!" "Help!"" ""Vinicius!" "Vinicius!"" ""Have you seen Lygia by any chance?"" ""Death to Nero!" "Death to the incendiary!"" ""The people in revolt.." "accuse you.."" ""Caesar, the time is grave!"" ""Speak to the people.. promise something.."" ""Petronius, you speak for me.." "and make lots of promises!"" ""Romans!" "Caesar promises bread and free spctacles"" ""and the city more beautiful than ever before!"" ""O Divine Caesar, the people ask that the incendiaries be punished."" ""Let the people, then, have its victim!"" ""The Gods protect us!" "Nero is looking for a scapegoat!"" ""We'll feed Vitellius to the people!"" ""Oh, divine one!"" ""My fat would only serve to rekindle the flames!"" ""Tigellinus.. you have lit the fire!"" ""Yes, Caesar, but you ordered me to!" ""Tigellinus, I beg you, sacrifice yourself for your Emperor!"" ""Certainly, O divine one, but aren't you afraid"" ""that my Praetorians would join in the revolt?"" ""Murderer!" "Matricide!" "Incendiary!"" ""What do they want from me?"" ""Courage, philosopher,"" ""and let's hope that your idea may please him.."" ""O Caesar, accept the humble counsel"" ""from a humble philosopher.."" ""If you blame the Christians, you will save yourself.."" ""and the Empire."" ""Silence!" "Caesar speaks!"" ""Citizens!" "The Christians have set Rome on fire!"" ""They are our enemies!"" ""And they will pay for what they have done!"" ""People of Rome, I resign them therefore"" ""to your fury and your sacred vengeance!"" ""Death to the Christians!" "Long live Nero!"" ""What are you saying?"" ""Worthy of the spectacle"" ""and the spectacle was worthy of you.."" "Meahwhile, the Christians unaware of the peril.." "The words of the Apostle, engraved on the hearts of the faithful, the indelible memory of the passion of Christ." "At Trastevere, the persecution of the Christians has begun.." ""Nero has blamed the Christians for the fire.."" ""Run, Lygia must be saved!"" ""I order you to make no resistance."" "Vinicius arrives too late." ""Tell me, where is Lygia?"" ""You ordered me to forget and I have obeyed.."" ""Stop!" "Don't you know he's protected by Caesar?"" "In prison.." ""In the Marmentine prison, she'll be placed there like me."" ""Think of your boy."" ""Let's go mama.. grandpa is waiting for us.."" "The Christians convince Peter to flee the city, to avoid the persecutions." ""Do you see that light down there?"" ""Whither goest thou, Lord?"" ""Christ, forgive me!" "I return to Rome!"" "The torture of the Christians, which Nero promised the people, in order to calm them.." "The human torches in the imperial gardens." ""Thank you, philosopher, for having procured me"" ""such a lovely spectacle.."" ""No, no, Caesar..!" "I didn't want this!"" ""Bring him down there!"" ""I want to see what kind of effect"" ""my torches have on this seer!"" ""May you be damned.." "eternally!"" ""Be damned!"" ""My dear Vinicius, a nice surprise has been prepared for us.."" ""Take heart!" "She hasn't yet appeared in the arena!"" ""Go, spread the news among the legions in the city.."" ""pitch against this monster.." "you'll save Rome.."" ""and your Lygia!" "Hurry, fly!"" ""Leave her!" "Caesar has destined her for a special spectacle!"" ""Romans!" "Hear me!"" ""You were tricked!" "It's my fault!" "I swear those dying are innocent!" ""There's the incendiary of Rome!" "It's him!" "Nero!"" ""The incendiary is Nero!"" ""Incendiary!" "Incendiary!"" ""That voice forever stifled,"" ""Nero thought to have placated his fear"" ""and the ire of the people."" "The Legions of Spain and Gaul, in rebellion, have declared Galba Emperor and march together towards Rome." ""Away!" "Don't try to make bitter this so sweet moment!"" ""Galba is still far off!"" ""You, in the mean time, I'll see no more!"" "Petronius well understood Nero's intention.." "His most trusted friends are gathered around him." ""Friends, here is the greeting which,"" ""before leaving, I'll send to Caesar.."" "Death is a part of men and I can expect nothing less from you." "But having tortured my ears for years"" "with your poems, recitals and ridiculous verses, they persuade me to part forever." "That is, therefore, what overcomes my strength and cajoles me to die." "This is the last wish and advice of your Arbiter Elegantiarum.." "Doctor, open up my veins!" ""Do you think I could have left you?"" "The last spectacles of the Circus.." "A chariot race with humans in tow.." ""She's a mother!" "Spare her life!"" ""Jesus, protect my mama!"" ""She won!" "She won!" "Caesar grant her clemency!"" "Meanwhile, in the streets, the first sparks of a revolt light up.." ""To the Circus!" "Death to Nero!"" "The Legions of the City, incited by Vinicius, join the rebels and acclaim Galba Emperor." ""Continue!"" "The torment reserved by Nero for the beautiful Lygia." ""Clemency!" "Clemency!"" ""Clemency!" "Clemency!"" ""For the wounds brought back from 100 battles,"" ""I ask the people for the salvation of one innocent!"" ""Clemency!" "Clemency!"" ""Death!"" ""Death to Nero!" "Let Galba be Emperor!"" ""Didn't you hear my voice, dogs?"" ""We heard the voice of the Lord!"" ""Save me!" "Save me!"" "The last refuge." ""Fly!" "They're here.. they're after you!"" ""Now is the time then!" "Such a great creator dies!"" "English subtitles by sineintegral@KG."