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Nero domus aurea
Nero domus aurea









To his surprise, he found himself surrounded by paintings.Īt first, the palace ruins were thought to be caves or grottos. Famulus’ frescos were preserved for 14 centuries.Īt the end of the 15th century, the Domus Aurea was discovered by accident when a young man fell into a crevice. In fact, much of the Golden House remained intact underground. Domus Aurea: Birthplace of the Grotesqueīut the destruction of the Golden House wasn’t quite as extensive as the Flavian emperors intended. In an ironic turn of events, the Colossus Neronis became the source of the amphitheater’s nickname, the Colosseum. Commodus later replaced its head, transforming it into a statue of himself as Hercules. Hadrian subsequently moved it, with the help of 24 elephants, to the Flavian Amphitheater. The Colosseum, built on the spot of Nero’s artificial lake Vespasian put a sun crown on the statue and renamed it Colossus Solis. Only one thing remained from the palace - the Colossus of Nero. The foundation of Trajan’s Baths is, in fact, interwoven with the walls of the Domus Aurea. The baths of Trajan and Titus and other forum temples were also built directly over the palace ruins. Vespasian built the Flavian Amphitheater, or Colosseum, on its site. The Golden House was looted, filled in, and built over by Nero’s successors in the Flavian Dynasty. According to the historian Tacitus, the vile structure was “reared from the spoils of his countrymen.” Emperors, especially Vespasian, wanted every symbol of Nero erased. Destruction of Nero’s Golden HouseĪfter Nero’s death, his rivals wanted to obliterate his ostentatious palace. It may well have part of Nero’s collection. It was found in 1500 near the site of the Domus Aurea. If you’ve been to the Vatican Museums, you’ll have seen the famous Laocoön sculpture. Nero was also a lover of Greek sculpture and known to acquire (and steal) statuary on his travels. Four spherical mechanisms beneath the floor rotated the structure.įrescos in the Achilles Room of Domus Aurea

nero domus aurea

The Octagonal Room also had a revolving or rotating floor, mimicking the movement of celestial bodies. Natural light flooded in from the oculus (or eye), enhancing the effect of the glass mosaics. In one niche, a waterfall rushed over marble stairs, cooling the room.

nero domus aurea

The Octagonal Room had radiating alcoves of different shapes where guests reclined on couches while looking into a central space used for dining or entertainment. It had a sophisticated dome with an oculus, which no doubt inspired Hadrian’s Pantheon. It was the exquisitely decorated main banqueting hall of the palace - a backdrop for Nero to meet people, do business, and throw orgies.

nero domus aurea

The Octagonal Room was a place of entertainment. Octagonal Roomĭomus Aurea’s most significant room is the Octagonal Room, which you visit on the guided tour and is largely intact despite Trajan’s rebuilding efforts. The Octagonal Room at Nero’s Domus Aurea, with its niches and oculus 3. He was the last of the Julio-Claudian emperors. Rather than face the Senate, Nero committed suicide, lamenting that a “great artist” had died. The Senate condemned him to death for his misdeeds (and artsy temperament) and declared him a public enemy. When Nero moved in, he grandiosely announced he could finally “live like a human.”īut rebellion was brewing and soon erupted. The Domus Aurea was financed by increased taxes, theft, and sale of official positions. It occupied three of Rome’s fabled seven hills. Promptly after the fire, Nero built the Golden House, his massive pleasure palace. He then ruthlessly murdered them, but that was the punishment for arson in that era. To try to quell the rumors, Nero blamed the Christians for setting the fire. Most historians disagree with this sentiment. Nero’s enemies whispered that Nero set the fire or “fiddled” (played an instrument) while Rome burned to make way for his planned palace.

nero domus aurea

In 64 AD, most of Rome was destroyed by a great fire. Bust of Nero in the Capitoline Museums in Rome











Nero domus aurea