Bay of Naples, March AD 59: the ship’s course
On the map of the Bay of Naples: how Nero lured his mother onto a ship that was meant to fall apart, and how Agrippina survived that night.
Transcript
The Bay of Naples, a resort lined with Roman villas.
The fleet at Misenum is commanded by Anicetus, Nero’s former tutor.
He hates Agrippina and devises a ship that is meant to fall apart.
Agrippina sails from Antium for the festival of Minerva.
Her son greets her on the shore and leads her to Bauli.
Tacitus says Nero is tender to his mother at the banquet.
After dinner she boards the ship.
That is what Acerronia did. The oarsmen knew whom they were meant to kill.
That is what Agrippina did. Silence saved her, at least for that night.
The lead-weighted roof falls. Gallus dies at once.
Acerronia claims she is Agrippina and dies.
Agrippina swims in silence.
Fishermen take her to her villa by Lake Lucrine.