Fire of Rome, AD 64 (July AD 64)

In July AD 64 the fire began by the Circus Maximus and burned for almost a week. Nero was in Antium; after returning he opened his gardens to the homeless and lowered the price of grain. Even so, a rumor circulated that he sang of the fall of Troy. There were no fiddles in Rome. Benario believes that Nero did not start the fire, and that after it he put the blame on the Christians.