The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-10-26
BURNING OF ROME.


AS everything connected with great
fires has a. peculiar interest at the
present time, we reproduce the narra-
| tive of the historian Tacitus concern
ing the conflagration which occurred
at Rome, A. ID. "a:
"There followed dreadful disaster
whether fortuitously, or by. the wicked
contrivance of the prince, (Nero) is
not determined, for both are asserted
| by historians-but of all the calamities
which ever befel this city from the
rage of fire, this was the most terrible
and severe. 1t broke out in that part
of the Circus which is contiguous to
Mounts Palatine and Celius where
by reason of shops in which were
kept such goods as minister ailment
to fire, the moment it commenced it
acquired strength, and being accelera-
ted by the wind, it spread at once
through the whole extent of the Circus,
for neither were the houses secured
by enclosures nor the temples environ
ed with walls, nor were there any
other obstacles to intercept its pro-
gress; but the flames spreading every
way impetuously, invaded first the
lower regions. OF the city, then mount
| ed to the higher; then again ravaging
the lower, it baff1ed every effort to ex-
tinguish it. by the rapidity of its des-
tructive course, and from the liability
of the city to confagration in conse-
quence of the narrow and intricate
alleys, and the irregularity of the
streets of ancient Rome. Add to this
the wailings of terrified women, the
infirm condition of the aged, and the
helplessness of childhood; such as
strove to provide for themselves, and
those who labored to assist others !;
these dragging the feeble, those wait
ing for them some hurrying, others
lingering; altogether creating scene
of universal confusion and embarrass-
ment and while they looked back up
on the danger in the rear, they often
found themselves beset before and on
their sides and if they escaped into
the quarters adjoining, these, too,
were already seized by the deyouring
flames; even the parts which they be-
Ievn1 remote and exempt, were found
to be in the same distress, At last,
not knowing what to shun or where
seek sanctuary, they crowded the
streets and lay along the open fields.
Some from the loss of their whole
substance, even the means of their
daily sustenance, others from afHiction
for their relations, whom they had
not been able to snatch from the flames
suffered themselves to perish in them,
though they had opportunity for es-
cape. Meth dared any man attempt
to check the fire, SO repeated were the
menaces of many who forbade to ex-
tinguish it, and because others openly
threw fire brands, with loud declara-
tons 6 that they had one who author
lied them )" whether they did it that
they might plunder with the less re-
straint, or in consequence of orders
given. i ainfa t'i-ti az aia
Nero, who was at the juncture So
journing at Antium, did not return to
the city till the fire approached that
quarter of his house which connected
the palace with the gardens of Mecen-
as; nor could it, however, be prevent
ed from devouring the house and
everything around. But for the relief
of the people thus destitute and driven
from their dwellings, he opened the
field of Mars and the monumental
edifices erected by Agrippa, and even
his own gardens. He likewise reared
temporary houses for the reception of
the torlorn multitude, and from Ostia
and the neighboring cities were bro't
up the river household necessaries,
and the price of grain was reduced to
three sescerces the measure. All of
which proceedings, though of a popu-7
lar character, we're thrown away, be-
cause rumor had become universally
current, that at the very time when
the city was in flames, Nero, going on
no ~ @H v1ns~v -
the /" Destruction of Troy" assimila-
ting the present disaster to that catas-
trophe of ancient times.
At length, on the sixth day the con-
fiagration was stayed at the foot of
quantity of buildings, so that an open
air space, and as it were, void air,
might check the raging element by
breaking the continuity. But ere the
CONSERVATION had subsidized the fire
broke out afresh, with no little vio-
lence, but in regions more spacious,
and therefore with less destruction of
human life, but more extensive havoc
was made of the temples and porticos
dedicated to amusement.
Nero seemed to aim at the
glory of building new city, and
calling it by his own name; for of the
fourteen sections into which Rome is
divided, four were still standing en-
tire, three were levelled with the
ground, and in seven others there re-
mained only here and there few
remnants of houses. shattered and
half consumed.
= 1t were no very easy task to recount
the number of tenements and temples
which were lost, but the following.
most venerable for antiquity and
sanctity. were consumed: The tenn
pie and great altar consecrated by
Eyander, the great Arcadian, to Her.
cules while present, the chapel vowed /
by Romulus to Jubiter Stator; the
palace of Numo, with the Vesta, and |
in it the tutelar gods of Rome more
over the treasures accumulated by so |
many victories, the beautiful produc-
tions of Greek artists, ancient writings
of authors celebrated for genius, and |
till then preserved entire, were con-
sumed; and, though great was the
beauty of the city in its renovated |
form, the older inhabitants remember,
ed many decorations of the ancient |
which could not be replaced in the
modern city. 13T5 I