Nero Redivivus

The first, who sang and played the cithara or lyre and whose face was similar to that of the dead emperor, appeared in 69 during the reign of Vitellius.

[2] During the reign of Titus (c. 79–81) there was another impostor, who appeared in Asia and also sang to the accompaniment of the lyre and looked like Nero but he, too, was exposed.

[5] Several variations of the legend exist, playing on both hope and fear of Nero's return.

[6] It claims that Nero did not really die but fled to Parthia, where he would amass a large army and would return to Rome to destroy it.

[7] Dio Chrysostom, a Greek philosopher and historian, wrote "seeing that even now everybody wishes [Nero] were still alive.