The Great Fire of Rome
The Great Fire of Rome occurred in July of 64 CE and devastated much of the city. The fire lasted for six days and seven nights, leaving large portions of the city in ruins. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, some ancient sources suggest that it may have been started intentionally, possibly as a way to clear space for new construction projects, including Nero's grand plans for a new palace complex, the Domus Aurea (Golden House).
The Origins of the Myth
The idea that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned originates from a combination of factors, including the political climate of the time and the portrayal of Nero by later historians. The Roman historian Suetonius, writing several decades after Nero's death, offers a damning description of the emperor. He states that Nero, when he heard the news of the fire, supposedly “climbed to the roof of his palace and played the lyre, singing of the fall of Troy.” This image of Nero as a detached and indifferent ruler soon became a popular narrative.
However, there are several problems with this account. First and foremost, the fiddle as an instrument did not exist during Nero's reign. The fiddle, or violin, was not developed until much later in history, around the 16th century. It is likely that what Suetonius referred to was Nero playing a lyre, a stringed instrument that was common in ancient Rome. shutdown123