Fiddling While Rome Burns
In 64, Nero watched on with fascination as Rome was consumed by fire — the Emperor’s idea of performance art.
64
In 64, Nero watched on with fascination as Rome was consumed by fire — the Emperor’s idea of performance art.
64
The expression ‘fiddling while Rome burns’ is used today of those who are idle in a crisis. It derives from the Great Fire of Rome in 64, during the reign of Emperor Nero, though the Emperor did not ‘fiddle’ (play the violin) while a week-long fire consumed two-thirds of the imperial capital, nor was he exactly idle. No indeed: he dressed up and sang a musical melodrama he had composed himself.
WHEN someone in a general conversation said: “When I am dead, be earth consumed by fire,” he rejoined “Nay, rather while I live,” and his action was wholly in accord. For under cover of displeasure at the ugliness of the old buildings and the narrow, crooked streets, he set fire to the city so openly that several ex-consuls did not venture to lay hands on his chamberlains although they caught them on their estates with tow and firebrands, while some granaries near the Golden House,* whose room he particularly desired, were demolished by engines of war and then set on fire, because their walls were of stone. For six days and seven nights destruction raged,* while the people were driven for shelter to monuments and tombs.
* Tacitus was more cautious. “Whether it was accidental or purposely contrived by the Emperor, remains uncertain: for on this point authorities are divided.” Annals, XV 38.
* At the time, the estate was named the House of Passage (Domus Transitoria). Following the Great Fire, Nero took advantage of the devastation to expand it into The Golden House (Domus Aurea). “Its vestibule” Suetonius tells us “was large enough to contain a colossal statue of the emperor a hundred and twenty feet high.” This is some 22 feet higher than the UK’s tallest sculpture, ‘The Kelpies’ in Falkirk, and almost twice the height of ‘The Angel of the North’. “There was a pond too, like a sea, surrounded with buildings to represent cities, besides tracts of country, varied by tilled fields, vineyards, pastures and woods, with great numbers of wild and domestic animals.” The many interiors were suitably magnificent: there was gold and mother of pearl, the dome of the dining hall revolved like the heavens and there were salt and sulphur spa baths. “When the edifice was finished in this style and he dedicated it, he deigned to say nothing more in the way of approval than that he was at last beginning to be housed like a human being.”
* The fire was brought under control on the sixth day, but broke out afresh and the whole event lasted nine days.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
A fire started in Rome. It started on July 18th, 64. ‘Nero started it’ said Suetonius.
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IBlame. IIBreak out. IIITrace.