Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 7773825, member: 99554"][ATTACH=full]1333358[/ATTACH] Karl Theodor Von Piloty (1861) After yesterday's thread about his new Nero's sestertius by [USER=80783]@Julius Germanicus[/USER] , we can't forget today's sad anniversary. On July 18, 64, a fire broke out in the city center of Rome, then the rich and luxurious capital of the Roman Empire. According to ancient sources, the fire lasted at least six days and ravaged much of the city and, with it, its republican heritage. When the fire was finally extinguished six days later, 10 of Rome’s 14 districts had burned. This fire particularly marked the memories, because it signed the death sentence of the emperor Nero, who saw his management of the crisis being severely criticized and who, in order to find a scapegoat, initiated the first Christian' persecution. The dead numbered in the thousands and about two hundred thousand homeless were counted. This first episode lasted about six days, that is until July 24. One might have thought that the scourge was circumscribed, but the flames revived, destroying, for three other days, an area of the Campus Martius, with more sparse buildings: several monumental groups were destroyed, but the loss of life was limited. Here are the reports by some historians: There followed a disaster, whether due to chance or to the malice of the sovereign is uncertain — for each version has its sponsors — but graver and more terrible than any other which has befallen this city by the ravages of fire. It took its rise in the part of the Circus touching the Palatine and Caelian Hills; where, among the shops packed with inflammable goods, the conflagration broke out, gathered strength in the same moment, and, impelled by the wind, swept the full length of the Circus...(Tacitus Annals  XXVIII) After this Nero set his heart on accomplishing what had doubtless always been his desire, namely to make an end of the whole city and realm during his lifetime. At all events, he, like others before him, used to call Priam wonderfully fortunate in that he had seen his country and his throne destroyed together. Accordingly he secretly sent out men who pretended to be drunk or engaged in other kinds of mischief, and caused them at first to set fire to one or two or even several buildings in different parts of the city...(Cassius Dio, Roman History, book LXII, 16) 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 fire-brands, 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. (Suetonius, life of Nero XXXVIII) [ATTACH=full]1333357[/ATTACH] This is my only coin of 64 AD. An interesting aspect of this coin is the meaning of the use of Salus on the reverse. Purely figurative depictions of the goddess had not been featured in Imperial coinage before. Nero, following the great fire at Rome and his own scrape with death, may have adopted the symbol in order to indicate the wellbeing of both himself and the city. In any event, Nero also dedicated a temple to the goddess. Please show us your coins of 64 AD, related to fire or anything you feel relevant ![/QUOTE]

Create my FREE Account!

Log in or Sign up

Reply to Thread

Useful Searches