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64

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Jul

Ancient Rome

Nero’s Rome burns

The great fire of Rome breaks out and destroys much of the city beginning on July 19 in the year 64. Despite the well-known stories, there is no evidence that the Roman emperor, Nero, either started the fire or played the fiddle while it burned. Still, he did use the disaster to further his political agenda.

The Roman Emperor Nero (AD 37 - AD 68) surveys the city of Rome after the disastrous fire of AD 64. Rumours abounded that the fire was started by Nero himself, to clear land for a palace complex, but Nero deflected the blame onto the Christians, ordering mass executions. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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64

Nero’s Rome burns

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