History Literature / QuoVadis

** [[spoiler:Dressed in clothes covered in pitch, tied to posts, and burned alive.]] At this point [[EveryoneHasStandards even the Romans expressed unease.]]

* FedToTheBeast: Christians are fed to massive dogs and lions in a truly gruesome scene.

* HeelFaithTurn: Vinicius, then Chilon.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Chilon after seeing people he sold out being burned alive. The fact that they forgive him leads to his HeelFaithTurn.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Chilon. After he takes a HeelFaithTurn, he's tortured to death along with the other Christians.

** 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.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Petronius and Vinicius are shown playing chess, which even in primitive form wouldn't be invented for a couple of centuries after this time setting and wouldn't reach Europe until several centuries after that.

* 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.

* SaintlyChurch: The early Christian church in Rome is portrayed in such a manner.

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

%%* FaceDeathWithDignity

%%* HeadbuttOfLove: The 2001 movie
%%* HollywoodToneDeaf: Nero's singing.

* EverythingISBetterWithPrincesses: Lygia is a [[TheChiefsDaughter barbarian princess]].

A HistoricalFiction novel set in AncientRome, ''Quo Vadis'' (1896) is internationally the most well-known work of Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, also known for the ''Literature/SienkiewiczTrilogy''. ''Quo Vadis'' tells the story of a romance between Marcus Vinicius, a young pagan Roman officer, and Lygia, a Christian barbarian {{princess}} raised in a Roman household. The novel is set during the events surrounding the Great Fire of Rome of AD 64, including the Roman persecution of Christians.

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* TheCaligula: Emperor Nero.

* DamselInDistress: Poor Lygia.

* NobleSavage: Ursus.

* FaceDeathWithDignity

* HeadbuttOfLove: The 2001 movie
* HollywoodToneDeaf: Nero's singing.

* WhileRomeBurns: Quite literally.

* GoodIsNotSoft: Ursus is calm, gentle and devoted Christian, but he won't hesitate for a second to kill you with his bare hands if you try to harm Lygia. It's sort of automatic for him, which makes him a little AfraidOfTheirOwnStrengh.

* TheFundamentalist: Crispus, until [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome called out by St. Peter]].

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

A HistoricalFiction novel set in AncientRome, ''Quo Vadis'' (1896) is internationally the most well-known work of Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, also known for the ''Literature/SienkiewiczTrilogy''. ''Quo Vadis'' tells the story of Marcus Vinicius, a young pagan Roman officer, and Lygia, a Christian barbarian {{princess}} raised in a Roman household. The novel is set during the events surrounding the Great Fire of Rome of AD 64, including the Roman persecution of Christians.

* AuthorAppeal: Lygia hails from the Lugii, an ancient tribe that (supposedly) lived in present day Poland during the time of the Roman Empire, probably an example of GeniusBonus by the author, who was Polish.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Chilon. After switching sides so many times and causing so much harm to his friends, he ends up completely broken.

* GoodIsNotSoft: Ursus is calm, gentle and devote Christian, but he won't hesitate for a second to kill you with his bare hands if you try to harm Lygia.

* HappilyMarried: Pomponia and Aulus. They form (possibly the only in Rome) a perfect family.

* ProfessionalButtKisser: Nero's court. Anyone who doesn't kissthe aforementioned butt is liable to be DrivenToSuicide. Or worse.

* TakeThat: [[spoiler: Petronius' suicide note]] is an enormous one to Nero. To the point of stating that his wanton slaughter and destruction of Rome is still way less abhorrent than his [[TerribleArtist art]].

''Quo Vadis'' has been adapted to film several times, including in 1951 by Mervin [=LeRoy=] (starring Robert Taylor, Creator/DeborahKerr, and Creator/PeterUstinov as Nero) and in 2001 by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler: Petronius is more than aware his fate was already sealed, so instead he commits suicide]] while reading aloud a huge TakeThat to Nero. For a book all about Christian values, this choice is still portrayed as a noble one, rather than one of the ultimate sins.

* EverythingISBetterWithPrincesses: Lygia is a [[ChiefsDaughter barbarian princess]].

* EverythingISBetterWithPrincesses: Lygia is a barbaric princess.

* FlorenceNightingaleEffect: Vincius was obsessed with Lygia for a long time, but after caring for him, Vinicius began to see her as a person and truly care for her, rather than just lusting after her pretty looks.

* HappilyMarried: Pomponia and Aulus, Lygia's adoptive parents.
* HappinessInSlavery: Eunice. One must admit that Petronius treated his home slaves [[DeliberateValuesDissonance pretty well]].
* HeelFaithTurn: Vincius and Chilon.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Petronius, Nero, Poppaea, Saint Peter and Saint Paul play prominent roles.
* LoveAtFirstSight: Averted; more like lust at first sight, leading to LoveRedeems

* LoveRedeems: It moves Vincius to grow from an impetuous hothead and warmonger into a loving, compassionate person.

* ProfessionalButtKisser: Nero's court.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Chilon. After he takes a HeelFaithTurn, he's tortured to death like other Christians.
* RunningGag: Petronius' dislike of craftsmen and him comparising others' rude or barbaric behaviour to different occupations. ("Calm thyself," said Petronius. "Thou hast the longing of a carpenter from the Subura.")

* StalkerWithACrush: Vincius, but he gets better.
* TakeThat: [[spoiler: Petronius' suicide note]] is an enormous one to Nero. To the point of stating that his wanton slaughter and destruction of Rome is still way less abhorrent than his art.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Petronius and Vincius are shown playing chess, which even in primitive form wouldn't be invented for a couple of centuries after this time setting and wouldn't reach Europe until several centuries after that.
* 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 time frame of this film.

* NeckSnap: Ursus does this with ''a goddamn bull''.

A HistoricalFiction novel set in AncientRome, ''Quo Vadis'' (1896) is internationally the most well-known work of Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, also known for the ''Literature/SienkiewiczTrilogy''. ''Quo Vadis'' tells the story of Marcus Vinicius, a young pagan Roman officer, and Lygia, a Christian barbarian {{princess}} raised in a Roman household. The novel is set against the events surrounding the Great Fire of Rome of AD 64, including the Roman persecution of Christians.

* AuthorAppeal: Lygia is from the Lugii, an ancient tribe that lived in present day Poland during the time of the Roman Empire, probably an example of GeniusBonus by the author, who was Polish.

* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler: Petronius is more than aware his fate was already sealed, so instead he commits a suicide]] while reading aloud a huge TakeThat to Nero. For a book all about Christian values, the choice is still portrayed as a noble one, rather than one of the ultimate sins.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Petronius and Eunice.]]

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 [[{{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 1951 movie also has examples of:

* WhileRomeBurns: Quite literally.
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!!The 2001 film also has examples of:

* HeadbuttOfLove

!!The movies also have examples of:

* HeadbuttOfLove: The 2001 film.

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A HistoricalFiction novel set in AncientRome, ''Quo Vadis?'' (1896) is internationally the most well-known work of Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, also known for the ''Literature/SienkiewiczTrilogy''. ''Quo Vadis?'' tells the story of Marcus Vinicius, a young pagan Roman officer, and Lygia, a Christian barbarian {{princess}} raised in a Roman household. The novel is set against the events surrounding the Great Fire of Rome of AD 64, including the Roman persecution of Christians.

''Quo Vadis?'' has been adapted to film several times, including in 1951 by Mervin [=LeRoy=] (starring Robert Taylor, Creator/DeborahKerr, and Creator/PeterUstinov as Nero) and in 2001 by Jerzy Kawalerowicz.