230 NERI over which he especially ruled). His attribute was the trident, and he frequently appears in ancient works of art. The Nereids were the nymphs of the Mediterranean, as the Naiads were of the fresh water, and the Oceanides of the outer ocean. Their individual names are given by several authors, but are not always the same in different passages. They were represented as beautiful girls, generally grouped about the cars of marine divinities, or in dances or revels with tritons and monsters; some- times they are represented as mermaids. They were thought to be especially propitious to sailors, and were widely worshipped in the Greek seaports. Perhaps the most celebrated of the Nereids was Thetis, the wife of Peleus and mother of Achilles. NERI, Filippo de> (commonly called in English ST. PHILIP NEEI), a saint of the Roman Catho- lic church, born in Florence in July, 1515, died in Rome, May 26, 1595. He was the adopted heir of a rich uncle, but secretly left his house and went to Rome, and while fulfil- ling there the duties of tutor studied philos- ophy, theology, and canon law. In 1538 he sold all that he possessed, distributed the pro- ceeds among the poor, and devoted himself to serving the sick in the hospitals and the pil- grims who flocked to Rome. He founded, with the help of Ignatius Loyola, a guild of nobles, to provide hospitality for pilgrims, and obtain lodging and work for destitute young people. In June, 1551, he received holy orders, took up his abode in the monastery of San Girolamo, and gave his whole time to instruct- ing youth and children. Several young clerics joined him in this labor, and stationed them- selves each morning and evening on Sundays and festivals before the door of some church, rang a bell to attract the crowd, sang psalms and hymns, or persuaded people to enter the chapel. To make these assemblies more at- tractive, he invited the most eloquent men to preach, and the best singers and musicians volunteered their services. He had dramas, with rnusiCj on Scriptural subjects, performed in an adjoining monastery. The efforts of the guild were next directed to securing perma- nent employment for the reclaimed. The aid of such companions as Baronius and Salviati, afterward cardinals, enabled Philip to found a society of priests, called from their prayer meetings and sacred concerts " the Priests of the Oratory," which soon had branches in many cities. This foundation was approved by Greg- ory XIII. in 1575. (See OBATOEIANS.) Phil- ip was canonized in 1622 by Gregory XV., and his feast is celebrated on May 26. His litera- ry remains consist of letters, poems, and advice to youth. See F. W. Faber, "Spirit and Ge- nius of St. Philip Neri " (London, 1850). NERIUM. See OLEANDER. NERO, a Roman emperor, born at Antium on the coast of Latium, probably Dec. 15, A. D. 37, died by his own hand, June 9, 68. He was the son of Oneius Domitius Ahenobarbus, NERO by Agrippina, the sister of Caligula, and liis original name was Lucius Domitius Ahenobar- bus. When he was 12 years of age his mother married her uncle the emperor Claudius, who four years afterward gave his daughter Octavia to Nero in marriage, having formally adopted him under the name of Nero Claudius Cassar Drusus Germanicus. Under the care of the philosopher Seneca he is said to have made some progress in learning, and in his 16th year he delivered an oration in Greek in be- half of the inhabitants of Ilium and Rhodes. In 54 the murder of Claudius by Agrippina placed him on the throne, his mother causing the emperor's death to be kept secret until he could be safely proclaimed by the soldiers. The senate and the provinces at once submit- ted to him, and no attempt was made to se- cure the purple for Claudius's own son Bri- tannicus, who was four or five years his ju- nior. The first five years of his reign were distinguished for clemency and justice, though his private life was from the first extreme- ly licentious. The conduct of affairs was left principally to Seneca and Burrhus, under whose influence many reforms were intro- duced into the state, and Nero daily rose in popularity; but the jealousy of Agrippina, who found herself shut out from power, soon overthrew the ascendancy of Seneca, though it did not establish her own. She threatened to disclose the circumstances of Claudius's death, and to incite the legions to support the claims of Britannicus; she abused Nero and upbraided him for his disgraceful amour with a low-born woman named Acte. Nero retaliated by causing Britannicus to be poisoned, and by plunging into still lower depths of immorality. In company with other dissolute young men he roamed the city by night, beating and robbing passengers and breaking into houses. One of his boon companions was Otho, with whose beautiful but profligate wife Poppsea Nero became enamored, and sent Otho to Lusi- tania to get him out of the way ; but Poppaea, who aspired to share the imperial throne, en- countered in Agrippina an enemy who thwart- ed all her plans. Persuading the emperor that his mother entertained designs upon his life, she finally procured an order for her assassi- nation (59), and her death was communicated to the senate by Seneca, who was an accom- plice in the crime. (See AGEIPPINA.) This was followed by the divorce of Octavia, who was soon afterward put to death, and the marriage of the emperor to Poppsea. In 62 Burrhus died, and Seneca wisely asked leave to retire. Two years afterward a dreadful con- flagration raged in Rome for a week, total- ly destroying three of the 14 districts of the city, and leaving only a few half -ruined houses in seven of the others. Dion Cassius and Suetonius relate that Nero fired it himself, and it is said that, as he watched the progress of the flames from the top of a high tower, he amused himself with chanting to his OWD
