In July 64 CE, a massive fire devastated much of ancient Rome during Emperor Nero's reign, destroying or damaging ten of the city's fourteen districts. Nero was accused of arson (though likely false) and used the disaster to rebuild grandly while persecuting Christians. The event inspired enduring literary accounts, including poetic reflections on imperial power, urban catastrophe, and scapegoating in classical and later works.

The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, along with Nero's subsequent actions, became a focal point in literary works by historians like Tacitus. This event also inspired moralistic poetry that critiqued tyranny and explored themes of suffering and resilience in the face of persecution.