While the popular story that he "fiddled" (or played his lyre) while Rome burned is considered a myth, his absence during the fire and subsequent seizure of land to build his lavish "Golden House" (Domus Aurea) created massive public resentment.
The story takes a dark turn when Nero, seeking to escape the influence of his overbearing mother, Agrippina, became increasingly paranoid and cruel. He ordered his mother’s murder and later his first wife, Octavia. sr-nero.iso
Alienated from the Senate and the people, Nero was eventually declared a public enemy and committed suicide at age 30 in 68 C.E.. His final words, "What an artist dies with me!", highlighted his self-absorption, and his death marked the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. While the popular story that he "fiddled" (or