Nero and the Roman Earthquake of AD 62

Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History · Sep 16, 2026 · 7m · transcript

While the Great Fire of 64 dominates popular memory, a massive earthquake in Campania in AD 62 reshaped Nero’s reign long before the flames. This episode explores how Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Cumae were devastated by tremors that shook the Bay of Naples. We look at how Nero responded with state funds for reconstruction, a move that bolstered his popularity among the provincial elite. The narrative follows the efforts of Governor Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo to oversee repairs and the architectural shifts visible in the ruins today. By examining the archaeological evidence alongside Tacitus’s…