The small things...Need to be corrected!

This, above, is one of the images that Nero use to advertise their burning software. It is a 'pun'. They share the name with the Roman Emperor, Nero, who according to myth, 'fiddled while Rome burnt' (the truth is perhaps a little different in that he didn't fiddle, he actually made a rather concerted and at times proposed clever demolitions to prevent the fire spreading). Yet, the reputation of Nero (who, in other areas was far from perfect, or indeed, normal), means we can picture him playing a fiddle while watching the heart of the world at that time get devoured by fire, set by Christians (if we're replicating all the myths). Rome Burned. It was close to total destruction. It would be like 60+% of London being destroyed in a fire. It was catastrophic.

So, as you see, the connection is Nero's great fire of Rome, connected to the Colosseum, the other still physical and most recognisable symbol of Ancient Rome. That's the pun, Nero is burning software, as Nero burnt the city, so Nero will burn your software.

I have a few issues. One is, why would a multi-million pound company not actually check their history books, or if American watch a program on Nero via the 'History Channel', almost a contradiction in terms that is, in itself.

In 64 AD, The great fire of Rome, devastated most of Rome, Nero was emperor at the time. Within 4 years, Nero would commit suicide (The first Roman Emperor to do so (before he was assassinated, but hey..) and with his death, ended the Julio-Claudian Dynasty that traced itself back to Julius Caesar, but technically started in the princeps form by Octavian/Augustus. For fans of BBC drama, this period is where, 'I, Claudius' reigns through. And yes, you should watch it. If you see nothing of any other classical drama then watch this, it is the best, even though nearly 40 years old.

Nero, surveying the wreckage of the city before him, embarked on a massive rebuilding program, what else could he do? Yet, Nero being Nero built what would become known as the 'Domus Aurea' (the golden palace). The size we have from sources varies, but it was enormous and contained 300 rooms, at least and the best room, the rotating dining room! estimates range from 100 acres to 300 acres! It was lavish, opulent and totally over the top. It suited Nero. It offended the Romans, who were,as a race, aghast at such a public display of wealth, this was not seen as a good virtue (Nero, didn't have many virtues). 

Soon after his death, when Vespasian finally emerged triumphant in the Imperial purple, after the year of the 4 emperors, the Domus Aurea began to be removed. The ivory and marble stripped from the buildings, soon demolished and the land filled in, covered until they were re-discovered in the 15th Century, when a Roman fell through the ceiling and awoke in what he thought was a cave, with perfectly preserved wall painting that launched a new style in art, from that moment on then the Domus aurea has truly begun to decay. To the point now where, every now and again great sections collapse. It is not open to the public anymore. It first closed for restoration work in 2005. It briefly reopened in 2007 then shutting again in 2008. One of my greatest claims to fame is that I was one of the few who have actually gained access to the Domus Aurea and it was a truly, haunting place. For me personally, I found the atmosphere inside what is a dark, cave like building at times, awfully strange. Which Nero, would probably have enjoyed. 

However, back to the point. Vespasian, one of the better Roman Emperors, had the masterstroke of beginning a vast complex for the people of Rome. It was to be called the 'Flavian Amphitheatre'. It was completed by his son, the Emperor Titus (who only reigned for 2 years and curiously is one of the Emperor's who it would have been interesting to have played, what if? with as he was a very capable and clever leader and general and should he have reigned for 20 years as was possible then the Roman Empire could have been altered  quite considerably). Instead he was succeeded by, Domitian, his rather less virtuous brother who is now classed as one of the mad Emperors, next to Caligula, Nero, Commodius. Domitian was a vile, piece of humanity.

So, in 80AD, 16 years after work on the domus aurea had begun, Titus unveiled in its previous grounds the completed, Flavian Amphitheatre. It became know as the 'Colosseum' in the middle ages. The name came from the statue that had been placed by the Amphitheatre that originally had been sculpted as a 30m statue of Nero for the vestible of the Domus Aurea (for those with big ego's this is pretty much the equivalent of standing a 30m statue of yourself just outside of the front door! Nero knew how good he was). Suffice it to say that the statue was moved to outside the amphitheatre and the Colossus of Nero, was re-carved into the god, Sol. The rest as they say, is history, ancient history, so to speak.

So, Nero company. Your pun doesn't work. Nero was dead long before the colosseum was constructed. Your pun is rubbish; your historical accuracy is rubbish; It is such a glaring and unforgiveable error that there are even people out there in the world who do now associate Nero with the burning of a building constructed after his death. Cheers.