Poppaea Sabina that it is not a drama that promotes the triumph of virtue. Poppaea is portrayed as cynically plotting to become empress of Rome by manipulating the emperor Nero into marrying her, and her machinations include the execution of Seneca the Younger, who opposes her plans, which are successful at the end of the drama. Poppaea is a principal character also in Handel's opera "Agrippina" of 1709, but as a victim, not a perpetrator, of deceit and manipulation. Here the schemer is Agrippina, Nero's mother, intent on promoting her son's claim to the throne. Poppaea, the ingenue, is portrayed as the
Publius Cornelius Lentulus Scipio of their ministers." Scipio is known to have married twice. Evidence for the name of his first wife has not yet been recovered, but she was the mother of his oldest son, Publius Cornelius (Lentulus?) Scipio, suffect consul in 56. His second wife was the beautiful Poppaea Sabina the Elder. They had a son, Publius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus, suffect consul in 68; his agnomen reflects Scipio's tenure as governor of Asia. Poppaea Sabina had a reputation for promiscuity. Messalina, empress and wife of Claudius, suspected Poppaea had been the lover of Decimus Valerius Asiaticus; she had Publius Suillius Rufus prosecute