Marcus Vinicius

Marcus Vinicius is a literary character--a Roman patrician who converted to Christianity for love of the beautiful Lygia at the time of Emperor Nero. The character was created by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz in the novel Quo Vadis? (1895).

<Fiction : Marcus Vinicius (literature) -- Marcus Vinicius (art) -- Marcus Vinicius (cinema) -- Marcus Vinicius (music)>

Overview

In Sienkiewicz's novel (Quo Vadis?), Marcus Vinicius survives Nero's persecution and lives happily ever after, as the beloved husband of princess Lygia.

In Barrett's adaptation (The Sign of the Cross), Marcus Vinicius becomes Marcus Superbus and Lygia is named Mercia. The ending of the story is different--Marcus and Mercia sacrifice their lives in the arena to the lions.