I used that title to make people curious to read what was in this blog post. The word "conspiracy" makes me think of juicy news or of finding out a big, eye-popping secret plan! In the lessons I've been listening to in my self-initiated YouTube Seminary Study, I heard today about one of the Common Era's earliest big CONSPIRACY THEORIES.
In the year 64 A.D., the great city of Rome burned. The fire started at night in a merchant area (think New Orleans' French Market). Flames were then spread by I think maybe a million people lived there at that time, and this huge fire destroyed or severely damaged at least half the city.
(Side note: Contrary to folklore, Nero did not "fiddle while Rome burned" - he was, in fact, gone to his palace at Antium when the fire took place.)
After the fire, Rome was rebuilt - more flashy, fancy and fabulous than ever before. Nero's palace, which had burned in with much of the city, was rebuilt. The ashes of what had once been a city people called home became part of the foundation of a greater city... and a greater palace.
And so it was that rumors began to spread that Nero had ordered the burning of Rome. The destruction of what was less desirable for the construction of something better.
Hearing this story made me think of New Orleans residents claiming the government broke the barrier holding back the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina, to get rid of the Ninth Ward; the poorer, less "desirable" section of the Big Easy. But no one can prove a thing. From Nero to New Orleans, it's all just whisperings and words.
The burning of Rome loosed the rumors from conspiracy theorists of the first century A.D.
People look for somewhere to place blame when bad things happen. Even when there is no way to truly determine the cause of those bad things.
While New Orleans has, for the most part, gotten back on its feet, the non-democratic civilization back in 64 A.D. suffered greatly after blaming Nero. Nero found a scapegoat. Nero blamed the new guys, so to speak... the Christians. He had masses of believers tortured and killed, crucified and burned alive.
In the 1960's in the U.S., the big thing was not wanting to work for "The Man." Maybe Nero was "The Man" of the first 60's in the Year of our Lord. "The Man" wielded a heavy fist. He used it.
Funny how history repeats itself in different forms. Learning about Rome today was very interesting; just wanted to share my thoughts.
Later, friends!
