Quo Vadis (novel)

"A Christian Dirce", by Henryk Siemiradzki inspired by the novel

Quo Vadis: a narrative of the time of Nero commonly know as Quo vadis ? is an historical novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Quo vadis is Latin for "Where are you going?" and alludes to a New Testament verse (John 13:36). Quo Vadis is a lovestory that develops between a young Christian woman, Ligia (also Lygia) and Marcus Vinicius, a Roman. The novel takes mainly place in the city of Rome, while under the rule of emperor Nero.

Henryk Sienkiewicz studied the Roman empire extensively prior to writing the novel, in the aim of getting historical details correct. As such, several historical figures appear in the book. As a whole, the novel carries a strong pro-Christian message.

Published in installments in three Polish dailies in 1895, it came out in book form in 1896 and has since been translated into more than 50 languages. This novel contributed to Sienkiewicz's Nobel Prize for literature in 1905.

Several movies have been based on this novel (see here). In the English language, the best known is the Hollywood production Quo Vadis filmed in 1951.

Characters in Quo vadis

• Marcus Vinicius (fictitious), a military tribune who recently returned to Rome. Upon arrival he meet and fell in love with Ligia. He asks for the counsel of his uncle Petronius so that he can possess her.
• Calina (fictitious), but everybody calls her Ligia (Lygia in some translations), the daughter of a deceased king of the Ligians, a germanic people (hence her nickname). Ligia is officially a hostage of the Senate and people of Rome, but she was forgotten years ago by her own people. A gorgeous beauty, she is a Christian (a fact unknown by Marcus).
• C. Petronius "Arbiter of elegance" (historical), former governor of Bythinia. Petronius is a courtier of Nero who uses his wit to adulate and mock him at the same time. Somewhat amoral and a bit lazy, he tries to helps his nephew but his cunning plan is thwarted by Ligia's Christian friends.
• Quilon Quilonidas (fictitious), is a charlatan and a private investigator. He is hired by Marcus to find Ligia. This character is commonly severely reduced in several movies (with the exception of the 2001 Polish version), but in the novel Quilon is of major importance. A doublecrossing traitor, his end is clearly inspired by Saint Dismas.
• Nero (historical), is an incompetent and petty emperor, manipulated by his courtesans. He is listens most intently to flatterers and fools.
• Tigellinus (historical), is the prefect of the feared Praetorian Guard. He is a rival of Petronius for Nero's favours and incites Nero into many cruel acts.
• Poppaea Sabina (historical), the wife of Nero. She envies and hates Ligia passionatly.
• Acte (historical), is a slave and a former lover of Nero. He grew tired of her and mostly ignores her, but she still loves him. She studies the cristian faith, but does not consider herself worthy enough to convert fully.
• Aulus Plautius (historical), a respected Roman general which commanded the invasion of Britain, Aulus is quite blind (or simply doesn´t care) to the fact that Pomponia and Ligia profess the Christian religion.
• Pomponia Graecina (historical), is a Christian convert. Quite dignified and much respected. Pomponia and Aulus are Ligia's adoptive parents but they were unable to legalize that fact. According to the letter of the law Ligia is still a hostage of the Roman state, i. e. the Emperor, being cared and guarded by the elderly couple.
• Ursus (fictitious), is the bodyguard of Ligia. Her tribesman, he served her mother and is strongly devoted to his princess. A Christian convert, he struggles to follow his religion despite his great strength. He is clearly the proverbial noble barbarian.
• Saint Peter (historical), is an old preacher with the task of converting Rome itself. He is amazed by the power of Nero (in the novel Peter names him the Beast).
• Saint Paul (historical), takes a personal interest in converting Marcus.
• Crispus (fictitious), is clearly a Christian zealot, one could describe him also as a fanatic.

Historical events

Henryk Sienkiewicz alludes to several historical events and merges them in his novel, although some of them are of doubtful accuracy:

• The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, which in the novel is started by orders of Nero. There is no hard evidence to support this, and it is worth pointing out that fires were very common in Rome at the time.

• The death of Claudia Augusta, sole child of Nero.

• The suicide of Petronius is clearly based in the account of Pliny the Elder.

• In 57 AD Pomponia was indeed charged with practicing a "foreign superstition", usually understood to mean conversion to Christianity. According to ancient Roman tradition she was tried in a family court, by her own husband (the pater familias), to be subsequently acquitted. However, inscriptions in the catacombs of Saint Callistus in Rome suggest that members of Graecina’s family were indeed Christians.

See also

List of historical novels

External links

• Quo Vadis: a narrative of the time of Nero at Project Gutenberg