Nero and the Christians: Scapegoats After the Great Fire

Everyone knows the story: Nero fiddled while Rome burned, then blamed the Christians. But what really happened in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 64 AD? In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the historical evidence—from Tacitus's Annals to early Christian traditions—to separate fact from legend. They explore why Nero needed scapegoats, who the Christians actually were in first-century Rome, and what forms their persecution took. Was it a widespread pogrom or a localized punishment? Did Peter and Paul really die under Nero? And how did this event shape Christian identity for centuries? With careful attention to contested sources and later embellishments, this episode offers a nuanced look at one of history's most infamous moments of religious persecution. #Nero #GreatFireofRome #Christians #Tacitus #Annals #Suetonius #CassiusDio #Scapegoating #Persecution #ApostlePeter #ApostlePaul #VaticanHill #CircusMaximus #RomanHistory #EarlyChristianity #AncientRome #History #FexingoHistory #RomanEmpire #JulioClaudianDynasty Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo