公元64年罗马大火，皇帝尼跑跑被疑

那日闲得，杜撰新闻稿一则~
--Dec. 2005
      It was the sixth day of the great fire in Rome. A new outbreak of flames in the vicinity of the Esquiline Hill panicked the public, causing terrible destruction of temples and arcades.
 
       The fire, which is the biggest and the most disastrous one ever seen in Rome, first began in the Circus, where it adjoined the Palatine and Caelian hills, on 19th July in the eleventh year of Emperor Nero’s reign. When immense demolition confronted the raging flames with bare ground and open sky, and the last shower of sparkles was stamped out at the foot of the Esquiline Hill, there had been hope that the catastrophe was finally brought to an end. A new blaze, however, was somewhat triggered in the nearby open region, where no walled mansions or any other obstruction could have it arrested.
 
       First, the conflagration swept violently over the level space. Fanned by the high wind, it instantly grew and swept the whole length of the area, and began to climb the hills- but returned to ravage the lower ground again, outstripping every counter-measure.
 
       There was observation that the ancient city’s crooked, narrow winding streets have encouraged the progress of the fire.
 
       The residents were horrified. The flames spread so fast and wild, against which any kind of battle seemed futile. Before people could elbow their way to a neighboring quarter, the menacing blaze sprang up before them or outflanked them from behind. Hope of escape was slight. Some of those who could have successfully retreated chose to stay, failing to rescue their loved ones. Fortunately, the most assaulted area was not densely populated, and the casualty was limited.
 
       Throughout the night the sky was bright with flares as if it was sheer daytime, and at dawn a grew curtain of smoke rolled above the city, shrouding everything in its thick pall.
 
Of Rome’s fourteen districts now only four remained intact: three were leveled to the ground, the other seven reduced to scorched, smouldering debris. Destruction of historical mansions and religious sites was astounding. Hundreds of shrines disappeared in the licking of the flames, including Servius Tullius’ temple of the Moon, the Great Altar dedicated to Hercules, and Vesta’s shrine containing Rome’s household gods. Among the loss, too, were the precious spoils of previous victories, and myriad of invaluable Greek masterpieces.
 
Emperor Nero threw open the Field of Mars and built emergency accommodation for the fugitive masses. Food was brought from neighboring countries, and the price of corn was cut to little more than nothing. Yet these efforts earned no gratitude, and did no good in ending the rumor that the arson was committed under the order of the Emperor, so that he could clear space for his new palace and private zoo near the Gardens of Maecenas. There was also hearsays that the Emperor, while the city was burning to its last breath, had been on his imperial stage, and sung of the destruction of Troy.
      So far, not much success has been achieved in damping down the fire. Attempts to do so were hindered by threatening gangsters. Torches were seen thrown in by mobs crying that they were acting to the instruction of Omnipotence. Some feared that these were men who had received orders, or they might have intended to plunder unhampered.