The Great Fire became the catalyst for the first wave of state sponsored persecution of [[Christians]] in the Roman Empire when Nero claimed that local Christians started it. According to the Roman historian [[Tacitus]], apart from being killed in the arena, their bodies were also used as lamps to help light the city at night. | The Great Fire became the catalyst for the first wave of state sponsored persecution of [[Christians]] in the Roman Empire when Nero claimed that local Christians started it. According to the Roman historian [[Tacitus]], apart from being killed in the arena, their bodies were also used as lamps to help light the city at night. |