History Literature / QuoVadis

** Nero would never have been able to get away with crucifying, let alone burning alive, a Roman citizen of the Senatorial class like Aulus Plautius, regardless of whether he was a Christian (even St. Paul wasn't crucified due to his Roman citizenship).

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Paul has a prominent supporting role in the first part of the film, but vanishes afterward, apart from a mention of him going to Greece. Odd since he's also believed to have died during Nero's persecutions.

* ChristianityIsCatholic: The book takes place in very early days of Christianity, before there were any denominations, but it is pretty obvious that the book follows the history of Christianity as tought by the Roman Catholic Church; Peter is very clearly considered Christ's representative on Earth and even quotes the famous Bible verse used in favor of Papacy "Upon this Rock, I will build my Church". And he does get crucified upside down, very much a Catholic tradition. While he never gets referred to as "Pope", it's quite obvious that this is what the story is aiming for in his role. This is justified since Henryk Sienkiewicz was a Roman Catholic (like most of his native Poland).

''Quo Vadis'' has been adapted to film several times, including a 1951 version directed by Mervin [=LeRoy=] (starring Creator/RobertTaylor, Creator/DeborahKerr, and Creator/PeterUstinov as UsefulNotes/{{Nero}}, with a young Creator/SophiaLoren as an uncredited extra) and a 2001 film directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.

* DateRapeAverted: Ursus defends Lygia from Vinicius' unwanted advances at Nero's feast.

* LadyMacbeth: Nero has Pomponia executed on this excuse.

* AdaptationalDyeJob: Lygia is described as having dark hair in the book, whereas in both versions of the movie she has reddish-blond to [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold straight blond hair]].

''Quo Vadis'' has been adapted to film several times, including in 1951 by Mervin [=LeRoy=] (starring Creator/RobertTaylor, Creator/DeborahKerr, and Creator/PeterUstinov as UsefulNotes/{{Nero}}, with a young Creator/SophiaLoren as an uncredited extra) and in 2001 by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.

The title comes from a Christian legend, which recounts that as St. Peter was fleeing Rome as a result of persecution, he saw a vision of [[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Christ]] and asked Him, ''Domine, quo vadis?'' ("Lord, where are you going?") -- to which the reply was "I go to be crucified again." Thus realizing that he was abandoning the faithful of Rome to their fates, Peter turned around and was martyred.

The name comes from the Christian legend that recounts that when St. Peter was fleeing Rome as a result of persecution, he saw a vision of [[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Christ]] and asked Him, ''Domine, quo vadis?'' ("Lord, where are you going?") -- to which the reply was "I go to be crucified again." Thus realizing that he was abandoning the faithful of Rome to their fates, Peter turned around and was martyred.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/quo_vadis_poster_1951.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"It is not enough to live well. One must die well."'']]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/domine_quo_vadis.jpg]]

* LoveRedeems: It moves Vinicius to [[CharacterDevelopment grow]] from an impetuous hotheaded warmonger into a loving, compassionate person.

* PromotedToLoveInterest: Downplayed, in the sense of "promoted to lust object", with Vinicius for Poppaea in the 1951 film. In the book, her lust for him is a short flight of fancy that comes and passes in the middle of the book, and she is more furious that he spurned her for ''Lygia'' than that ''he'' spurned her. In the film, she is very attracted to him from the beginning.

** Nero would never have been able to get away with crucifying, let alone burning alive, a Roman citizen of the Senatorial class like Aulus Plautius, regardless of whether he was a Christian.

* ButLiquorIsQuicker: Vincius gives Lydia a goblet of wine and calls it "the panacea for all reticence."

* GodivaHair: Notably when Lygia is tied on the bull.
* HeadbuttOfLove: The 2001 movie

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Chilon.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion:
** There's a cross at the underground Christian church service and a cross in Lygia's house. The cross would not become the main symbol of the Christian religion until a few more centuries after the events portrayed.
** Oddly Peter refers to James and John as his brothers, considering his brother in the Gospels was Andrew, unless he was being figurative in the sense of "Brothers in Christ."

* BeastAndBeauty: Vinicius and Lygia.

* CastingGag: In the 2001, Nero, who is HollywoodToneDeaf, is played by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michal_Bajor Michał Bajor]] - a sung poetry performer, very famous in Poland for his high vocal skills.

%%* DamselInDistress: Poor Lygia.

* DateRapeAverted: Ursus defends Lygia from Vincius' unwanted advances.

* TheFundamentalist: Crispus, until called out by St. Peter.
* GentleGiant: Ursus.

* LoveAtFirstSight: Averted; more like lust at first sight, but eventually leading to True Love which [[LoveRedeems redeems]] Vinicius.

%%* NobleSavage: Ursus.

* StalkerWithACrush: Vinicius, for the first couple of chapters.

''Quo Vadis'' has been adapted to film several times, including in 1951 by Mervin [=LeRoy=] (starring Creator/RobertTaylor, Creator/DeborahKerr, and Creator/PeterUstinov as Nero, with a young Creator/SophiaLoren as an uncredited extra) and in 2001 by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.

** Also, the individual death of [[spoiler:Chilo. Tortured, has his tongue ripped out, dragged onto a theater, crucified, and left there to be EatenAlive by a bear.]] [[EveryoneHasStandards The Romans' unease becomes straight-up disgust.]]

Note that although it is quoting a question (and thus technically qualifies as a QuestioningTitle), the novel's title does not itself contain a question mark.

Note that although it is quoting a question, the title does not itself contain a question mark.

[[quoteright:230:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/220px-Domine_quo_vadis__1147.jpg]]

--->No one laughed, for there was in that [[spoiler:crucified man]] something so calm, he seemed so old, so defenceless, so weak, calling for so much pity with his lowliness, that each one asked himself unconsciously how it was possible to [[spoiler:torture and nail to crosses]] men who would die soon in any care. The crowd was silent. [...] Others were looking for [[spoiler:the bear]], [[MercyKill wishing the spectacle to end at the earliest]].