HELLENSEVER NERO'NUN BÜYÜK HAMLESİ: ACHAIA EYALETİ'NİN ÖZGÜRLEŞTİRİLMESİ

M.S. 54-68 yılları arasında hüküm sürmüş olan Nero, yönetiminin başlarında icraatıyla olumlu bir tablo çizmiş olsa da, zamanla, özellikle de Burrus'un ölümü ve Seneca'nın devlet işlerinden çekilmesinden sonra, tiranlığa eğilimli doğasını göstermeye başlamıştır. Annesini, karısını ve yakın dostlarını ölüme gönderen Nero, yalnızca zalimliğiyle sivrilmemiş; aynı zamanda, Romalı gelenekçilerin "yoldan çıkarıcı" olarak gördüğü Hellen kültürüne kendini fazlasıyla kaptırmıştır. Öyle ki, ilk defa bir Roma imparatoru devlet işlerinden ziyade atletik yarışmalar ve sahne gösterileriyle ilgilenmiş; askeri zaferleri değil, yarışma galibiyetlerini arzulamıştır. Seleflerinden farklı olarak Nero; şarkı söyleyen, şiir yazan, tiyatro gösterilerinde yer alan ve araba yarışlarına katılan sıra dışı bir imparator olmuştur. Hellen kültürüne bu denli tutkun olan ve "Hellensever" olarak bilinen Nero, bu tutkularını asıl vatanında gerçekleştirmek için M.S. 66 yılının sonlarında Hellas'ı ziyaret etmiş; burada bir yıl kalarak Hellenlerin gelenekselleşmiş oyunlarına katılmıştır. Hellenlerin, gelenekselleşmiş oyunlarının tarihlerini Nero'nun katılabilmesi için değiştirmeleri ve Nero'nun katıldığı her oyunda zafer tacını kazanmasını sağlamaları imparatoru tatmin etmiştir. Bunun sonucunda da, imparator Hellas'tan ayrılmadan önce, Achaia Eyaleti'ne özgürlük bahşetmiştir. Nero'nun bu hamlesine karşılık, kentler imparatoru onurlandırmış; Hellen entelektüelleri de genel olarak tepkili oldukları imparatora karşı yumuşamışlardır. Bu çalışmada; önce Nero'nun hükümdarlığı hakkında kısa bir giriş yapıldıktan sonra, Nero'nun Hellas ziyaretine değinilecek, ardından Hellenlere nasıl ve niçin özgürlük bahşettiği anlatılacak ve son olarak, Nero'nun bu hamlesine Hellen kentleri ile entelektüellerin verdiği tepki incelenerek Hellenler nezdinde imparator Nero'nun imajı tanımlanacaktır.

Philhellene Nero's Great Attempt: The Liberation of Achaea

Philhellene Nero's Great Attempt: The Liberation of Achaea Nero, who ruled the Roman Empire between 54 and 68 AD, gave a positive political impression in the early years of his administration. However, especially after the death of Burrus and retirement of Seneca from state affairs, Nero began to show a tendency towards tyranny. He, after punishing his mother, his wife and his close friends with death in a very cruel way, exceedingly devoted himself to Greek culture which some Roman traditionalists regarded as "corruption". It was for the first time that a Roman emperor was interested in athletic competitions and stage performances rather than state affairs and he desired not military victories, but competition winnings. Unlike his predecessors, Nero was an unusual emperor; he was singing, writing poetry, taking part in the theatrical spectacles and participating in chariot races. As a man who was fond of Greek culture and known as Philhellene, Nero visited Greece at the end of 66 AD in order to realize these enthusiasms in its native region. Nero spent a year in Greece and during this year he attended the Greek traditional games. The Greeks changed the dates of these games to allow Nero to participate in them and they caused him to win the crown of victory in each competition he took part in. This act pleased the emperor. As a result of this, Nero granted freedom to Achaea before he left Greece. In response to Nero's this attempt, the cities honoured the emperor. And furthermore, from that time onwards Greek intellectuals who generally criticized Nero, began to soften their attitude towards him. In this study, first, a brief introduction to the reign of Nero will be made. Secondly, details of Nero's visit to Greece will be given. And then, the question how and why the emperor granted freedom to the Greeks will be explained. Finally, the response of Greek cities and intellectuals to Nero's this act will be examined and by this way, the image of Nero in the eyes of Greeks will be described.

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