With Agrippina out of the way Nero pursued his interest in music and poetry with renewed vigour. He read his poems in public, played the lyre and acted in plays. In the year 60 he created games similar to those of the Greeks, these games included music, poetry, wrestling and chariot racing. For the games he created a new amphitheatre, and he participated in the chariot racing.
In 62AD Nero's minister, Burrus, died and Seneca retired. Ofonius Tigellinus who amused Nero with his callousness replaced Burrus. Tigellinus described Stoics as hypocrites for proclaiming a preference for living simply, and he began exerting influence on Nero.
Also in 62AD a number of conspiracies against Nero surfaced. One of them was led by the husband of Octavia's half-sister who was in touch with troops in Gaul, the other conspirator was Rubelius Plautes: Nero had both men charged with treason and put to death. Also at this time Nero divorced his wife Octavia, an action that outraged Conservatives. On the day of Nero's marriage to Poppaei Sabina supporters gathered at Octavia's mansion. This alarmed Nero who accused Octavia of adultery and treason before having her executed.
The Fire of Rome.
The fire broke out on the night of the 18th July 64 AD in the part of the Circus Maximus near to the Palestine and Esquiline hills. Of the 14 regions into which Augustus had divided the city only I, V, VI and XIV were undamaged, III, X and XI were completely destroyed. Nero, who had been at Antium, arrived back in the city when the fire was threatening the Domus Transitoria that was later destroyed. He immediately instigated measures to relieve the homeless. Food was brought in from Ostia and nearby towns and the price of corn was artificially lowered. Demolition was undertaken which halted the fire at the foot of the Esquiline but it broke out again in other parts of the city for a further three days.
According to Tacitus, it was uncertain whether the fire was accidental or had been deliberately started by Nero: many other sources cheerfully attribute the disaster to the emperor.
