Roman Antiquite ?????the torches of Nero; First Martyrs of the Church of Rome; name gives an indetermine group of Christians victims of the first episode of persecution of Christians that took place in Rome between 64 and 68 at the instigation of Neros torches following the great fire of Rome (Neros torches; The First Martyrs of the Church of Rome were Christians martyred in the city of Rome during Neros persecution in 64) Engraving from ??Storia di Roma??by Francesco Bertolini