Lygia

Lycia is a literary character--a beautiful princess hostage of the Senate and people of Rome and a Christian convert at the time of Emperor Nero. The character was created by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz in the novel Quo Vadis? (1895).

<Fiction : Lygia (literature) -- Lygia (art) -- Lygia (cinema) -- Lygia (music)>

Overview

In Sienkiewicz's novel (Quo Vadis?), Lygia survives Nero's persecution and lives happily ever after, as the beloved wife of Roman patrician Marcus Vinicius, who for her also converted to Christianity.

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

In another cinematic adaptation (Nero, 1922), Marcia) and Horatius are the couple of Christian lovers who face persecution from Nero.