Episode description

The Emperor Nero is one of antiquity's most infamous figures, having a particularly hostile relationship with the Christians. But did the early Christians associate Nero with the Antichrist mentioned in the New Testament? Joining me to sort the fact from the fiction is Shushma Malik (@MalikShushma), Lecturer at the University of Roehampton and the author of The Nero-Antichrist: Founding and Fashioning a Paradigm. Shushma explains how this association between Nero and the Antichrist was invented in the 3rd, 4th and 5th centuries by later Christian writers of antiquity. We also explore how this association was revived in the 18th and 19th centuries and how widespread this revival's influence became. Including its influence on the 1951 American epic historical drama Quo Vadis.

Shushma also taught me at university a few years back, so it was great to catch up!

Shushma's Twitter: @MalikShushma

Tristan's Twitter: @ancientstristan