Although it is not confirmed, Emperor Nero is believed to be the culprit of the Great Fire of Rome that caused widespread devastation in the city on 18th July, 64 AD. During the fire, the emperor was at his villa at Antium 35 miles (56km) away from Rome, however, which meant that he could not be held accountable for the fire that ravaged the city.

Nonetheless, Nero used the destruction caused by the fire as an opportunity to have the city reconstructed in the Greek style and build a palace that would have covered a third of Rome, if only it were finished.