When the Roman Emperor Nero took power in October 54 CE, one could have assumed greatness would ensue as he was descendent from the Julio-Claudian family line, a lineage that traced back to Julius Caesar. The result of Nero's rule, however, was far from rosy. From the murder of his mother in 59 BCE to his growing conflicts with the Roman Senate in the years following, Nero's control of Rome was rather tumultuous <ref> Barrett, Anthony A., "Nero."<i>The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome.</i> (Oxford University Press, 2010)</ref>
===Nero and His Golden House===These tensions came to a head in July 64 CE, when a raging fire broke out and burned across the city of Rome for almost a week. <ref> Dando-Collins, Stephen. <i>The Great Fire of Rome</i> (Da Capo Press, 2010). </ref> While interpretations of how Nero responded to the blaze and its aftermath vary, it is clear that, in the midst of the city's recovery Nero was tasked with rebuilding substantial portions of the city. In this project, Nero planned a massive new palace complex for himself. Know as the <i>Domus Aurea</i>, or "Golden House," the fantastically decorated palace stretched across the heart of the Roman Forum. Including lavish reflecting ponds and a monumental bronze sculpture of the god Sol that stood just outside its main entrance, the <i>Domus Aurea</i> irked many Romans as it consumed a significant amount of land that was previously used for the citizens.
===Vespasian and Flavian Favoritism===
