Parts of the palace were filled with dirt and rubble, which helped to preserve some of its frescoes and decorations. Furthermore, Nero’s Golden Palace was a vast complex, and as such, it was impossible to destroy it completely. It seems that emperor Nero intended for the Domus Aurea, or at least some parts, to be open to the citizens of Rome, with the emperor playing the role of the protector and the patron of the arts. To start with, Nero was hated by the senators but not by the people. While Nero’s enemies tried to erase all traces of his reign, they ultimately failed. The Domus Aurea Has Survived Until the Present Day The interior of Nero’s Domus Aurea, mid-first century CE Emperor Hadrian moved the Colossus to the new amphitheater, built on the site of the artificial lake – the Colosseum. However, due to its enormous size, parts of the palace (most notably many of its sculptures and decorations) were transferred to other places in Rome. Thus, soon after Nero’s death in 68 CE, the Flavian emperors demolished the palatial complex, identified with the controversial emperor. It did not help that Nero commissioned a giant bronze statue of himself – the Colossus Neronis – which was placed at the entrance to his grand palace. The senators considered the Domus Aurea a waste of money and an ultimate illustration of the emperor’s megalomania. The great extent of the destruction and the sight of Nero’s grandiose palace - the Domus Aurea - built so soon after the Great Fire of Rome fanned the flames of rumor, which Nero’s enemies readily embraced. Emperor Nero had many enemies, including the Senate of Rome, who despised the absolutist emperor. Nero’s “Golden House” Was Short-Lived Marble Bust of Nero, Rome, 1st century CE, restored in the 17th centuryĭespite its grandeur, the Domus Aurea did not last for long. The Domus Aurea even had an artificial lake, its water supplied by the Arcus Neroniani, built to divert water from Aqua Claudia, one of Rome’s eight aqueducts. According to ancient sources, Nero’s palatial complex was a “countryside in the city,” built in a park-like setting with gardens, pavilions, groves of trees, vineyards, pools, and fountains. Covering Rome’s Palatine, Caelian, and Esquiline Hills, it was the place to behold. Even the lower estimates, 100 acres (0.40 km2), suggest that the Domus Aurea was majestic, outshining the more famous Hadrian’s Villa. In fact, Nero’s “Golden House” was one of the largest and most opulent palaces ever built in Rome, covering an area of more than 300 acres (1.2 km2). The Domus Aurea was not a palace, but a palatial complex. While Nero did not start the fire, he undoubtedly profited from it, claiming large parts of the devastated city to realize his dream project.Įmperor Nero Constructed a Vast Palatial Complex Visual reconstruction of the Domus Aurea, built after the Fire of Rome in 64 CE, by Josep R. The emperor’s zeal, however, was seen by some as the evidence of his guilt, of his involvement in the Great Fire of Rome. ![]() To construct a majestic palace that would reflect his wealth, power and prestige. Emperor Nero, who ruled the Roman Empire at that time, saw this as an opportunity to embark on an ambitious building project. In 64 CE, the Great Fire of Rome destroyed a significant part of the city, including the aristocratic residences on Palatine Hill. The Domus Aurea, Nero’s “Golden Palace” was built immediately after one of the greatest calamities that struck ancient Rome. The Domus Aurea Was Built Immediately After the Great Fire of Rome The Fire of Rome, Robert Hubert, 1771, Musée d’art moderne André Malraux, Le Havre Today, visitors can still see some of the Palace’s remains, including the stunning frescoes that once adorned its walls. Following Nero’s suicide, the Domus Area was destroyed by the Flavian emperors, and many of its parts were incorporated into other buildings, most notably the Colosseum. The Palace’s fate mirrored that of its builder. It did not help that Nero embarked on the ambitious project following the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE, and that he used a large area of the devastated area to build the “Golden House”. Unsurprisingly, Nero’s extravagant palace was used by his enemies as the ultimate evidence of the emperor’s megalomania. A marvel of Roman engineering, the Domus Aurea was designed to showcase emperor Nero’s wealth, power and prestige. The Palace’s many rooms were covered in gold and decorated with precious stones and gems. ![]() Renowned for its opulence and splendor, the Domus Aurea covered a vast area, including gardens, pavilions, fountains, pools, and even an artificial lake. The Domus Aurea, or the “Golden House,” was a large and extravagant palatial complex built by Emperor Nero in Rome in the mid-first century CE.
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