![]() The baths required strong foundations, so new walls were erected within the Domus Aurea in between existing walls, often crossing several rooms and creating strange shapes and angles.īefore burying the Domus Aurea under tons of rubble, Trajan thought well to empty the palace of all useful materials, like the marble that he used to decorate parts of the baths. What remained of the complex was filled with rubble and used as a foundation by Emperor Trajan to build his bathing complex known as the Baths of Trajan. In 104 CE, another fire destroyed part of the Domus Aurea. He decided to drain Nero’s lake and, in its place, build an amphitheater for the Roman people. This was until Vespasian became emperor in 69 CE. Each of them was either killed or died by suicide. (Emperors, they’re just like us?!) The Domus Aurea After Nero’s Death Photo Credit: Roxana FanaruĪfter Nero died in 68 CE, three emperors succeeded him for brief periods between 68 and 69 CE. Aurea refers to the reflection of the sunlight on the golden decorations.Īccording to Suetonius, when Nero entered the nearly completed Domus Aurea for the first time, he exclaimed “I can finally live like a human being”. The architecture was designed in a way to allow sunlight to penetrate indirectly and hit the decorated walls which were covered in gold leaf and precious gems, making them sparkle. The word Aurea refers to the golden effect of the sunlight on the decorated walls.Īlthough it may be hard to imagine it nowadays when you visit the subterranean site, the Domus Aurea used to be flooded by light. The decoration of the Domus is attributed to the master painter Fabullus, who oversaw the works and painted some of the rooms. The Domus Aurea was designed by the architectural engineers Severus and Celer. In the valley now occupied by the Colosseum, a huge artificial lake was created.Īll around the lake, there were imposingly tall buildings, beautiful gardens, and forests with all kinds of animals. Not only would the room rotate on itself (caused by water movement underneath the floor), but the ceiling also had panels that would open to let rose petals and perfume drop on the guests. One of the most evocative areas described was the coenatio rotunda, a dining room that would constantly rotate, like the world… think of it as the original rotating restaurant! It also reportedly had a vestibule with a colossal statue of Nero that was 120 feet tall and supposedly inspired by the Colossus of Rhodes! Nero died by suicide in 68 CE after finding out that the Roman senate had declared him an enemy of the state and sentenced him to death.ĭespite not being completed, the Domus Aurea was still nothing short of majestic.Īccording to the testimony of several figures of the time, including the historian Suetonius, the palace featured a mile-long triple columned portico, several bathrooms, quite a few pavilions, and many dining rooms. However, the Domus Aurea was never completed. This is especially wild when you learn that the original Domus Aurea is believed to have contained over 300 hundred rooms! What is striking is that the massive complex only took four years to build. It was not only the size and magnificence of the Domus Aurea that was so impressive. Spreading over 300 acres, the vast complex covered an area now corresponding to the Colosseum / Colosseo (rione Celio), part of rione Monti, and part of rione Campitelli. The Domus Area (which is Latin for Golden House) truly was the most magnificent palace in Rome. The fire also destroyed Nero’s prior residence, the Domus Transitoria.Īs a result, the emperor decided to take advantage of the now empty space across the Oppian, Palatine, and Esquiline Hills.Īs a result, he built a palace unlike any other Rome had ever seen! About the Domus Aurea (Nero’s Golden House) Photo Credit: Roxana Fanaru ![]() However, what is clear is that the Roman emperor took advantage of the fire to further his personal and political plans. In 64 CE, a great fire destroyed most buildings in the center of Rome, and for centuries Nero was considered responsible for the fire, although this theory was never proven true. Thank you for supporting the free content on this site! For more information on affiliate links and cookies, see my disclosure page for more details. Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase something through one of these links.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |