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Vespasian’s Dream of Nero’s Tooth

 “From a dream [Vespasian] learned that when Nero Caesar should lose a tooth, he himself should be emperor. This prophecy about the tooth became a reality on the following day; and Nero himself in his dreams once thought that he had brought the car of Jupiter to Vespasian's house.”

 -          Cassius Dio, Roman History Book LXVI

 Actually, three short-lived emperors (Galba, Otho and Vitellius) took the throne before Vespasian in the violent “Year of the Four Emperors” that followed the death of the infamous Nero.

Vespasian, who had been a leader of the Roman invasion of Britain, a transport boss (in the mule-team business) and a governor of Judea, was emperor from 69-79. He was denounced for avarice and stinginess – he put a tax on public urinals – but was milder than many other emperors. In his reign the doors of the temple of Janus were closed (signifying peace) when his son Titus ended the Judean revolt.