When did the Great Fire of Rome start?
The Great Fire of Rome began on the evening of the 18th-the 19th of July, AD 64. It burned continuously for six days, was briefly brought under control, then reignited and burned for another three days.
Questions about Great Fire of Rome
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where did the Great Fire of Rome begin?
The fire started in merchant shops storing flammable goods near the Circus Maximus, Rome's chariot stadium, in the region neighboring the Caelian and Palatine Hills.
How much of Rome was destroyed in the Great Fire of 64 AD?
Ten of Rome's fourteen districts were destroyed or severely damaged. Three districts were completely devastated, seven were reduced to scorched ruins, and only four escaped damage entirely.
Did Nero start the Great Fire of Rome?
No definitive evidence confirms that Nero ordered the fire. At least six competing ancient accounts exist, ranging from deliberate arson to a straightforward accident. The primary historical sources that might have resolved the question have not survived.
Who did Nero blame for the Great Fire of Rome?
Nero blamed Rome's Christian community for the fire. According to Tacitus and later Christian tradition, this led to the empire's first organized persecution of Christians. Jerome records that 979 Christians were killed.
What did Nero build after the Great Fire of Rome?
Nero built the Domus Aurea, or Golden House, a palace complex extending roughly 2.5 square kilometers across the Palatine, the Esquiline slopes, and part of the Celio. He also imposed new building codes whose influence can still be traced in Rome's city layout.