When did the Great Fire of Rome begin and how long did it last?
The Great Fire of Rome began on the evening of the 18th of July 64 AD. It burned for nine days total before authorities finally brought the fire under control.
Questions about Great Fire of Rome
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What percentage of ancient Rome was destroyed during the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD?
Nearly three quarters of Rome lay destroyed after nine days of destruction. Ten out of fourteen districts suffered some level of ruin while four districts escaped damage entirely.
Did Emperor Nero start the Great Fire of Rome or blame Christians for it?
Rumors claimed he ordered the fire to clear space for a new palace but historical accounts state 979 Christians died under his orders according to Jerome. Modern historians often view this persecution as political maneuvering rather than genuine guilt.
How much currency devaluation occurred when Nero funded rebuilding after the Great Fire of Rome?
Nero devalued Roman currency for the first time in imperial history by dropping the denarius weight from 3.80 grams to 3.30 grams. Silver purity fell from 99.5 percent down to 93.5 percent during these financial adjustments.
Who wrote surviving historical accounts about the Great Fire of Rome and when were they published?
Cassius Dio wrote his Roman History around 229 AD, Suetius published The Lives of Twelve Caesars circa 121 AD, and Publius Cornelius Tacitus composed Annals XV approximately 117 AD. Primary histories written by Fabius Rusticus, Marcus Cluvius Rufus, and Pliny the Elder no longer exist.