No one fiddled while Rome burned (the violin hadn't been invented!)

Nero didn’t “fiddle while Rome burned”, but he did throw open the grounds of the Palace to the destitute, personally helping in the provision of food, shelter and clothing. The Great Fire began naturally and spread rapidly throughout Rome, destroying 10 of its 14 districts, the Palace included. Nero was not in Rome at the time, but returned from Naples when he heard the news; as all others of his class fled the city to their country estates. Those remaining were the poor of Rome and Nero’s aid was viewed by his peers as a desecration of State property and unnecessary prevention of a much-needed ethnic cleansing of the city. It was yet another black mark against his name, though we wouldn’t view it as such today. He also personally designed the fire-resistant grid system, which now forms modern Rome and so many major cities around the world, including New York. That’s Nero’s own handiwork; though we know him better for “fiddling”.

Nero - The Last Caesar