emperor of [the] Romans. This man, while consolidating his power, drifted into profane doings and practiced deeds foreign to rule, playing the cithara and acting a tragedy and dancing in choruses in the theatres. And in addition to all his unlawful deeds, he added the defilement of fighting against God, becoming the first persecutor of the word of God. And after these things, he killed both his mother[1] and himself.
Nero, while still young, studied with philosophers and was examining closely the things concerning Christ; for he supposed that he was still living among men. And when he understood that [Christ] had been crucified by the Jews, he felt irritation and commanded that the chief priests Annas and Caiaphas and Pilate himself, who had been ruling then, come [to him] in chains. And having presided over the Senate, he learned the things that happened concerning him. Therefore those around Annas and Caiaphas were saying about him that "we handed him over to the laws and we did not err in our loyalty;[2] for the ruler who had authority, did what he wished." Therefore, Nero, irritated, threw Pilate into prison and released those with Annas and Caiaphas. Simon the Magus was then at his prime. And when Peter and Simon were arguing in the presence of Nero, Pilate was brought from the prison. And when the three were standing before Nero, he asked Simon, "Are you the Christ?" and he said, "Yes". Next he asked Peter, "Are you the Christ?" and he said, "No; for while I was standing beside him, he was taken up into heaven". And [Nero] also asked Pilate, "Which out of these men is the one called Christ?". And he said, "Neither one; for on the one hand, Peter became his disciple and was brought into my presence as his disciple and he denied him, saying, 'I do not know the man.'[3] And I let him go. On the other hand, this Simon was in no way known to me, and he had nothing in resemblance to that one; for this one is both Egyptian and quite filled out and with long hair and dark, entirely different from the form of that man". Therefore, the emperor, irritated, on the one hand against Simon, having falsely called himself the Christ, on the other hand against Peter, having denied his teacher, threw them out from the council. He cut off Pilate's head, as one daring to kill such a great man without royal command.
And Nero acquired the name "clay mixed with blood".
[sc. This material] is in the [entry on] Alexander Aigaios.[4]