Origin of this phrase . . .
The source of this phrase is the story that Nero played the fiddle while Rome burned, during the great fire in AD 64. There are two major flaws with the story.
Firstly, there was no such instrument as the fiddle (violin) in first century Rome. There's no definitive date for the invention of the violin, or of its synonym as fiddle, but it certainly wasn't until at least the 16th century. If Nero played anything during the Rome fire, it was probably the lyre.
Secondly, the story may be completely false and Nero may very well not have neglected his duty at all. Nero died four years later, and we should remember that history is written by the victors. The historian Suetonius records that Nero was responsible for the fire and that he watched it from a tower while playing an instrument and singing about the destruction of Troy. Others record this story merely as a rumor.
By modern-day standards, Nero certainly appears a bizarre character, but that doesn't make this story true. Roman scholars differ over interpretations of the events surrounding the fire. The rivalries and conflicting accounts, even those in contemporary reports, make the 'fiddling' story uncertain.
Just for the record . . .
Nero (Latin: Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; 15 Dec 37 - 9 Jun 68) was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 AD following Claudius' death.
This is the Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains), consecrated in 439. Pretty nondescript on the outside.
It houses the relic of the chains that bound St. Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem.
The basilica is probably most famous for Michelangelo's statue of Moses . . .
completed in 1515.
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All over Rome (and much of Europe) are aqueducts. We took a photo each time we saw a portion of one.
There are 11 aqueducts that supplied Ancient Rome from 140 BC and spanned 500 years.
They not only supplied drinking water, but also supplied indoor sewage systems carrying water away from the city.
This is the Porta Maggiore. This aqueduct alone provided the city with 2/3 of its water supply.
Not all aqueducts were above ground. The bulk of it ran below ground with the system relying on gradient and gravity to maintain a continuous water flow.
This is Nero's Aqueduct, built by the Emperor Nero between 54 -68 AD.
Toward the last days of the Roman Empire, many aqueducts were destroyed by invading German tribes seeking to cut off the water supply.
Two thousand years later, it is a true testament to Roman engineering genius.
Next we went to this - the official church of the Pope. It's not St. Peter's Basilica, but the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran (Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano).
It is the basilica of the Church of Rome and the official seat of the Bishop of Rome -the Pope. It is also known as the mother church of Catholics and ranks above all Catholic churches, including St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
This "sign" on the front of the church declares in Latin "The mother and the head of all churches of the city and the world the sacred Lateran".
There appeared to be some kind of ceremony involving these priests.
The basilica was consecrated in the year 324. Two destructive fires ravaged the church in 1307 and in 1361.
All along the nave (the main approach to the high altar - the main body of the church) are these huge sculptures of the 12 Disciples.
You can see by the size of this woman how large they are.
The mother church of Catholics - San Giovanni in Laterano
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