Born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, the Emperor Nero was the fifth and last Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. He was born 15 December AD 37 and died 9 June AD 68, but he was ahead of his time. Regarding an extravagant summer festival sponsored by the emperor in AD 64, the historian Tacitus wrote: "Nero was already corrupted by every lust, natural and unnatural. But he now refuted any surmises that no further degradation was possible for him. For ... he went through a formal wedding ceremony with one of the perverted gang called Pythagoras. The emperor, in the presence of witnesses, put on the bridal veil. Dowry, marriage bed, wedding torches, all were there. Indeed everything was public which even in a natural union is veiled by night."
We fail in our appreciation of history when we suppose that such customs are unique to the twenty-first century. Considered from a certain angle, if it was good enough for the Emperor Nero, it is certainly good enough for us. Of course, disaster followed the emperor's marriage to a man. "Whether it was accidental or caused by a criminal act on the part of the emperor is uncertain," noted Tacitus. "Now started the most terrible and destructive fire which Rome had ever experienced." It began in the Circus and spread to shops selling "inflammable goods." It was fanned by the wind, climbed the hills of Rome, outstripping every countermeasure, raging for five days. According to Tacitus, "Terrified, shrieking women, helpless old and young, people intent on their own safety, people unselfishly supporting invalids or waiting for them, fugitives and lingerers alike -- all heightened the confusion."
Menacing street gangs prevented effective firefighting measures. It was reported that these gangs threw flaming torches into buildings, either on orders or to facilitate looting. The flames even consumed Nero's palace. It is recorded that three city districts were leveled to the ground. Seven other districts suffered damage. Ever progressive in his measures, the emperor was keen to relieve the homeless. But the people were far from grateful. Tacitus wrote: "For a rumor had spread that, while the city was burning, Nero had gone on his private stage and, comparing modern calamities with ancient, had sung of the destruction of Troy."
It is a famous adage that Nero "fiddled" while Rome burned. In reality, Nero was a singer and not a fiddler. He was very keen on it, and fancied himself a first-rate performer. As in our time, celebrities were worshipped and followed by the multitude. Obsessed with popularity, Nero craved celebrity for himself and therefore recited poetry, gave concerts, and sang in competitions. To be sure, he always won first prize.
In his liberality, Nero sought to rebuild Rome and win the approval of heaven. "But neither human resources," wrote Tacitus, "nor imperial munificence, nor appeasement of the gods, eliminated sinister suspicions that the fire had been instigated. To suppress this rumor, Nero fabricated scapegoats -- and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called). " After rounding up a number of Christians, Nero publicly fed them to dogs or crucified them or made them into human torches. "The victims were pitied," wrote Tacitus. "For it was felt that they were being sacrificed to one man's brutality rather than to the national interest."
When rulers become corrupt, and licentious behavior is normalized, unprecedented disasters occur, and scapegoats are fabricated. These may be Jews, Christians or the bourgeoisie. It is a vain declaration to say such things will never happen again. The mob is variable in its appetite for blood, and appetite always returns. As for the state, when leaders crave popularity then none are leaders and accomplishment is falsified. If First Prize is awarded to Nero, we may doubt that his singing is worthy of such merit.
