Expert: Maria - 1/24/2008

Question
there is a scene in the godfather movie where frank pentangile and tom (the
lawyer) have a conversation about what happened to people in old rome after
a plot against the emperor failed. according to the conversation, they were
given the option to commit suicide so that their families would be protected
and taken care of. I would like to know specific examples from ancient rome
when this happened. thank you

Answer
Hello,

I could mention Gaius Piso, the Roman senator who in 65 AD led the Pisonian Conspiracy to overthrow  and murder the Emperor Nero.

After  the plot was discovered  and the conspirators were all arrested, Gaius Piso committed suicide as ordered, so that his family would not lose their holdings to the state.

This order of suicide came from Nero to Gaius Piso as well as to the philosopher Seneca, Nero's rhetoric teacher, and the poet Lucan, Seneca's nephew, who were given the option of suicide or death and chose suicide, while many others were executed by Nero.

Best regards,
Maria