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The Great Fire of Rome was an urban fire that started on the night between 18 and 19 July in the year 64 AD. It caused widespread devastation, before being brought under control after six days. Differing accounts either blame Emperor Nero for initiating the fire or credit him with organizing measures to contain it and provide relief for refugees. In response to the accusations that he was responsible for the fire Nero blamed the devastation on the Christian community in the city, initiating the empire's first persecution against the Christians.〔 ==Varying historical accounts== The varying historical accounts of the event come from three secondary sources—Cassius Dio, Suetonius and Tacitus. The primary accounts, which possibly included histories written by Fabius Rusticus, Cluvius Rufus and Pliny the Elder, did not survive. These primary accounts are described as contradictory and gross exaggerations.〔Tacitus, Annals XV.38〕 At least five separate stories circulated regarding Nero and the fire: * Motivated by a desire to destroy the city, Nero secretly sent out men pretending to be drunk to set fire to the city. Nero watched from his palace on the Palatine Hill singing and playing the lyre.〔Cassius Dio, ''Roman History'' LXII.16-17〕 * Motivated by an insane whim, Nero quite openly sent out men to set fire to the city. Nero watched from the Tower of Maecenas on the Esquiline Hill singing and playing the lyre.〔 * Nero sent out men to set fire to the city. Nero sang and played his lyre from a private stage.〔Tacitus, Anal XV.38–44〕 * The fire was an accident. Nero was in Antium.〔 Tacitus, Annals XV.38–9〕 * The fire was caused by Christians.〔 Tacitus, Annals XV.44〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Great Fire of Rome」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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