When they write about the reigns of the emperors, historians of the imperial period are forced to be somewhat cautious, especially where disclosing the truth is concerned. Nero’s reign, reported by Tacitus in the Annals, is an interesting example. In seeking to disclose the truth, the historian employs rhetorical techniques and the art of insinuation to come as near as possible to historical reality and to reveal the character of the people, and the motivations and passions which animate them.