The fierce persecution of Christians by Nero anticipated by nineteen centuries those of the Jewish Bolsheviks

Historians now explain the persecutions of the Christians in the early centuries by pointing out how easy it was in those days to ascribe the crimes of the Jews to Christians, because Christianity originated in Judea. Christians were also accused of cannibalism, because of the Lord’s Supper and of Atheism, because of them not accepting the numerous gods.

“The institutions which have prevailed among them are tainted with low cunning, for the scum and refuse of our nations, renouncing the religion of their country, were in the habit of bringing gifts and offerings to Jerusalem - hence the wealth and growth of Jewish power; and also because among themselves they keep inviolate faith, and are always ready to show compassion to one another, while they cherish bitter enmity against all others.” (Histories, Book V, Section 5) “When the Assyrians, and after them the Medes and Persians, were masters of the Oriental world, the Jews, of all nations then held in subjugation, were deemed the most contemptible.”(Annals, 15) Like most of the best people in ancient Rome, Tacitus considered the Jews a menace to the majority people in their unending subversion of religion, country and family. He coined a motto for the Jews that was widely repeated by other writers: "Adversus onmes alios hostile odeum" (Enemies of all races but their own). On money movements into Jerusalem, see also Cicero.

“Jews reveal a stubborn link with each other, in contrast to his hatred for the rest of humanity ... Among them, nothing is illegal. Those who embrace the same religion practiced, and the first thing you are taught is to despise the gods, to forget the patriotism and disown their parents, children and siblings.” Source: History, Chapters 4 and 5

“Jewish customs are sad, dirty, vile and abominable, and if they have survived is because of its wickedness. Of all enslaved peoples, the Jews are the most despicable and disgusting ...”: History

Tacitus also wrote “Germania” which spoke of the Germans as pure-bred, frighteningly tall, dazzlingly blond warriors with their piercing blue eyes, their chastity and their courage. These were from second-hand reports. He also wrote negative terms which have been challenged for centuries to instead declare the Germans as brilliant farmers, who drank sparingly, lived in nice houses and did not practice human sacrifice as earlier charged.

In three things the Germans were admirable, and here Tacitus is able to hold them up as examples to be imitated by his countrymen. They were exemplary in their loyalty, especially within the limits of the comradeship, when once they had given their word to the leader. They were exemplary in their hospitality, a virtue practiced among the Germans as among no other people. They were exemplary in their high ideal of marriage and in their conjugal fidelity. Marriage among the Germans, writes Tacitus, ‘is regarded as strictly sacred, and in this matter the Germans deserve the highest praise. They are practically the only people among the barbarians who are content with monogamy.’ Tacitus also pays a tribute to their conjugal fidelity.

Gaius Petronius Arbiter (ca. 27–66 AD) was a Roman courtier during the reign of Nero. He is generally believed to be the author of the Satyricon, a satirical novel believed to have been written during the Neronian age. When he claimed that "the Jews worship the hog and the ass" (Poetic Fragments), it is usually assumed that he was merely being sarcastic. But actually, he was probably referring to the widespread belief that these animals were somehow involved in the religious proceedings in the Temple at Jerusalem. Plutarch's De Iside, for example, summarized reports on ass worship in the temple made by Antiochus Epiphanes and other conquerors who had penetrated its 'Holy of Holies.'