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I've always had suspicions about the conclusion that Nero burned down Rome. I've always wondered if it was possible that radical Christians could have been the actual culprits. Stay with me.
The conventional thought has been that Nero set fire to the city to provide an excuse for him to build one more to his liking. Uncorroborated legend also adds that he fiddled while the city burned, given the impression he was more than thrilled to see it go up in smoke. On Nero's part, he blamed the Christian community, but the word has come down to us that Nero was the more likely suspect. It did not help Nero's case that he was crazy and that Christian propaganda, over the centuries, presenting themselves as victims, claimed that Nero was hell bent on exterminating them. But who had more invested in Rome being burned?
The Book of Revelation is the greatest propaganda literature piece in Christian writing. In highly symbolic language, it hammers the city of Rome and its leadership, namely the emperor. Rome was presented as a vile, demonic entity on a mission to wipe out the people of God. The general belief, based on the book's content, was that Jesus was soon to return to destroy Rome, but often with radicals, they feel the strong need to help their deities out with dispensing justice on earth.
When I look at Romans 13, it appears some Christians were drawing unwanted attention to the sect by scorning Roman authority and failing to recognize or respect it. The writer warns these Christians to obey the laws and to look at Roman authority as God ordained. Clearly there were some Christians who wanted to rock the boat and like SOME Muslims today, may have seen Rome as a "Great Satan" that had to be destroyed.
Well, you got me curious. I was just reading something that said that scholars say it was a full moon, and arsonists would have wanted the cover of a dark night. So, not likely that it was purposely set by anyone. Forget the conspiracy theories; blame the cow.
Well, you got me curious. I was just reading something that said that scholars say it was a full moon, and arsonists would have wanted the cover of a dark night. So, not likely that it was purposely set by anyone. Forget the conspiracy theories; blame the cow.
Yeah, could have been a cow or pet cat, who knows, but it is more intriguing with the humans.
Yup...this is part of the reason I believe Nero MAY have gotten pinned unfairly. It might have been that cow or possibly some radical.
Mind you. Following the Fire, Nero did build a magnificent series of villas and pavilions set upon a landscaped park and a man-made lake, called the Domus Aureawas in the wake of the fire.
Certainly, it’s hard to know whether to trust the allegations in the writings of Tacitus. What about the explanation offered by Nero, that the Christians were to blame? At least one scholar believes Nero was on the mark. Professor Gerhard Baudy of the University of Konstanz in Germany has spent 15 years studying ancient apocalyptic prophecies. He has learned that in the poor districts of Rome, Christians were circulating vengeful texts predicting that a raging inferno would reduce the city to ashes. “In all of these oracles, the destruction of Rome by fire is prophesied,” Baudy explains. “That is the constant theme: Rome must burn. This was the long-desired objective of all the people who felt subjugated by Rome.” The Great Fire of Rome | Clues and Evidence | Secrets of the Dead | PBS
Certainly, it’s hard to know whether to trust the allegations in the writings of Tacitus. What about the explanation offered by Nero, that the Christians were to blame? At least one scholar believes Nero was on the mark. Professor Gerhard Baudy of the University of Konstanz in Germany has spent 15 years studying ancient apocalyptic prophecies. He has learned that in the poor districts of Rome, Christians were circulating vengeful texts predicting that a raging inferno would reduce the city to ashes. “In all of these oracles, the destruction of Rome by fire is prophesied,” Baudy explains. “That is the constant theme: Rome must burn. This was the long-desired objective of all the people who felt subjugated by Rome.” The Great Fire of Rome | Clues and Evidence | Secrets of the Dead | PBS
Hmm...If true, what better way to usher Jesus in than to allow him to get a whiff of Rome burning so he could jump into the fray, you know, like Achilles being drawn into the Trojan War after they killed his friend Patroclus.
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