Murphysboro Centuries, 1st secular

Nero, 54-68 AD (adopted son and nephew to Claudius, last relative to Julius Caesar) He came to the throne when he was 17, and thought of himself as an actor and poet. He killed his mother in 59 (to have all the power for himself) and his wife in 62 (so he could marry another woman). Probably in 62, Paul appears before one of Nero's judges, and is released from custody. In 64 AD, the “Great Fire” in Rome which totally destroys a quarter of the city and damages a half. Nero does his best to help people, but public opinion turns against him when he builds a 300 acre palace on the ashes (so large there was a lake inside big enough for sailing on). Because of the complaints he began accusing people of treason and executing them, thereby losing support of the Senate. He committed suicide rather than be captured by “rebels.” Also in 64, tried to blame the fire on a group of “atheists” who worshiped a “Chrestus.” In 66 AD Jews in Judea revolt against Roman authority.