The perplexing nature of members of higher status within Roman society taking part in public spectacles did not just end at the elite, however. In fact, a few Roman emperor’s themselves took part in such festivities. Those that were of the most criticized included Nero and Commodus. Nero was not only a fan of the arena, but he became infamous for his performances as a gladiator, “pushing the public persona required for an emperor to an extreme that conservative Roman values… found disgraceful” (Futrell 37). It began within the walls of the Vatican valley where he “[drove] his horses, remote from the public eye” (Tacitus Annals 14.22). But this soon changed and he was often seen, as Dio put it, “publicly [singing] to the lyre… [driving] a chariot,
