Designed and Developed by PenciDesign, The Domus Aurea in the words of Suetonius, Domus Aurea Tickets: how to book a visit to Domus Aurea, Where is the Domus Aurea and how to get there, The best things to see in the Domus Aurea, Fun and interesting facts about the Domus Aurea history, Small-Group Domus Aurea and Colosseum VR Tour. At his time, they were still referred as grotesque (of the grottoes). Built in the I century AD by the design of Nero himself, it is one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Rome and a fantastic historical site in Rome that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. At the start, the guide stops at a plan of the Domus and explains the basics of its structure. Location of the Esquiline wing excavations indicated in red within some of the areas of the Domus Aurea, Rome. To these he added a large part of the Caelian and Oppian hills and the valley between them and the Palatine. Taxis can drop you at the park entrance from where you can reach the main door with a less than 2 minute walk. In 64 AD most of the centre of Rome was destroyed in an enormous fire which started in the area of the Circus Maximus and reached the top of the Esquiline. With so much land to work with and Neros seemingly endless funds, they had the ability to be inventive and created a grand complex worthy of an emperor. The new palace featured areas such as forests, a man-made lake (which was large enough to fit battleships used for performances), and vineyards. The frescoes' effect on Renaissance artists was instant and profound (it can be seen most obviously in Raphael's decoration for the loggias in the Vatican), and the white walls, delicate swags, and bands of friezeframed reserves containing figures or landscapeshave returned at intervals ever since, notably in late 18th century Neoclassicism,[23] making Famulus one of the most influential painters in the history of art. Suetonius tells us that the Domus aura used to have a circular room that rotated on itself. Cartwright, Mark. Work on the Domus Aurea was never completed. My name is Marta, I am a travel-loving mama born and bred in that messy, wonderful, infuriating, awe-inspiring unbelievably beautiful city that is Rome. You can choose between two types of tickets. When Nero died, his memory was banned and his creations were also erased and destroyed (this process was called damnatio memoriae. The best preserved part of the complex is the west wing which hints at the sumptuous nature of this one-time pleasure palace. It also had an upper floor on the same level as the hill against which it rested (to the north). It is not entirely clear where this room was however, there is a reconstruction of it in the octagonal hall of the Domus: the rotating effect is recreated with light games and it is very impressive! Renowned for its opulence and splendor, the Domus Aurea covered a vast area, including gardens, pavilions, fountains, pools, and even an artificial lake. The west wing, for example, had one rectangular courtyard surrounded by no fewer than 50 banquet rooms. The statue was considered a monstrosity by most; it was built in imitation of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. World History Encyclopedia. (photo: ERCO GmbH), Severus and Celer, Nymphaeum of Polyphemus, Domus Aurea, 6568 C.E. He also built a nymphaeum on the eastern side of the Caelian, visible across the valley from the pavilion, and against the eastern wall of the unfinished Temple of Claudius. Finally, I can start living like a human being. According to some accounts, perhaps embellished by Nero's political enemies, on one occasion such quantities of rose petals were dropped that one unlucky guest was asphyxiated (a similar story is told of the emperor Elagabalus).[11]. To have enough space for the project the emperor - already unpopular due to accusations of a slow response to the fire and even possibly having started it - seized large areas of land owned by aristocrats and even carved into the Oppian hillside in the building's rear. I believe this experience will help you get ready for your own visit, also if you opt for a different tour provider. The Domus Aurea in Rome. _______________________________________________________________________________________. Nero, however, with his love of the impossible, endeavoured to dig through the nearest hills to Avernus, and there still remain the traces of his disappointed hope. The barrel-vaulted ceiling was covered in reddish-brown pieces of pumice, designed to look like small stalactites, inserted into stucco. Please support World History Encyclopedia. The Domus Aurea has several water areas and one of the is famous for a peculiar mosaic depicting Ulysses and Polyphemus. Please note: this post contains affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission. We care about our planet! This was a vast palace that was built by the depraved Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) who killed his mother and many others. He also began a pool, extending from Misenum to the lake of Avernus, roofed over and enclosed in colonnades, into which he planned to turn all the hot springs in every part of Baiae; acanal from Avernus all the way to Ostia, to enable the journey to be made by ship yet not by sea; its length was to be a hundred and sixty miles and its breadth sufficient to allows ships with five banks of oars to pass each other. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. This building took the name "Colosseum" in the Middle Ages, after the statue nearby, or, as some historians believe, because of the sheer size of the building.[32]. Nearby was the 'room of Achilles on Skyros' with marble and painted stucco walls. Suetonius also offers a famous description of one of the domed ceilings or perhaps even the room itself: '[there was a] circular banquet hall, which revolved incessantly, day and night, like the heavens'. The guides are fantastic and bring the place back to life. 07 Jun 2023. [47], The Golden House building (pavilion) on the Oppian Hill (part of the Esquiline Hill) was extended from Nero's earlier Domus Transitoria and designed mainly as a place of entertainment, as shown by the presence of 300 rooms with few sleeping quarters.[11]. . The influence of the grottesche went well beyond its time and that of Raphael: Klee, Dali, Miro and surrealists, in particular, were highly influenced by them, which they interpreted in both aesthetic and symbolic terms. If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. The historian Tacitus describes the ambitious Emperor's vision: Nero meanwhile availed himself of his country's desolation, and erected a mansion in which the jewels and gold, long familiar objects, quite vulgarised by our extravagance, were not so marvelous as the fields and lakes, with woods on one side to resemble a wilderness, and, on the other, open spaces and extensive views. [10] Such devices are mentioned elsewhere in both earlier and later Roman buildings and excavations have revealed evidence that water may have powered this wonderful entertainment for Nero's guests. Nero commissioned a 120-foot bronze statue of his likeness to be built by the entrance to the palace. It was built in only 5 years and was ordered after the destruction of the Domus Transitoria, Neros house on the Palatine, during the devastating Rome fire of 64AD. What is the Domus Aurea? The surviving remains of the Esquiline wing only provide hints of the original grandeur of the complex. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Flavians filled in Neros artificial lake and constructed the, View of the unexcavated "Chamber Of The Sphinx," rediscovered in 2019 (photo: Parco archeologico del Colosseo). [21][13] Fresco technique, working on damp plaster, demands a speedy and sure touch: Famulus and assistants from his studio covered a spectacular amount of wall area with frescoes. This whole area was laid out as a park with porticoes, pavilions, baths, and fountains, and in the centre an artificial lake was made; under the emperor Vespasian the lake was drained to provide a site for the Colosseum. Golden House of Nero, Latin Domus Aurea, palace in ancient Rome that was constructed by the emperor Nero between ad 65 and 68, after the great fire of 64 (an occasion the emperor used to expropriate an area of more than 200 acres [81 hectares] of land in the centre of the city). 11 Frequently Asked Questions 12 Conclusion History of the Domus Aurea Nero died in 68 AD, at which point the construction of Nero's Domus Aurea was nearly complete. Check out our guidebook to Rome, with detailed history and Past & Present images of the Pantheon, the Colosseum, Trajans Market and all the greatest historical and archaeological sites of the eternal city. Frescoes covered every surface that was not more richly finished. I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to the Domus Aurea and it helped you plan your visit. ): an incredible act of PR! had cleared away the aristocratic dwellings on the slopes of the Palatine Hill. Most of the current work on the site is focused on conservation of the archaeological remains. The things my kids enjoyed the most in the Domus Aurea are: You dont need special gear to visit the Domus Aurea however, you should make sure you carry with you: The Colosseum just in front of the Domus Aurea, it can be visited on the same dayThe Roman Forum and Palatine Hill also in front of the Domus Aurea, it can be visited on the same day (please note: visiting the Domus Aurea, the Colosseum and the Forum is technically possible in one day but it is too much and I advise against it)The Caelian Hill, the wonderful home of Santo Stefano Rotondo and San Clemente Churches, as well as the fabulous Santi Quattro CoronatiThe Monti Neighborhood, a lovely local area with historical and hipster charm (includes Santa Prassede and Santa Pudenziana, two of the best places to see mosaics in Rome) and Santa Maria Maggiore. The video only lasts a few minutes and it is projected on one of the walls. However, the house is not a place with much to do as such nor one you can visit in your own time so you need children who are happy and able to keep their attention up for the tour duration. Dreamstime Domus Aurea Roman ruin in Rome Italy Related: Roman Baths In Germany Are The Largest Outside Of Rome The Short History Of The Embassing Domus Aurea The Domus Aurea was built on Oppian Hill, and it was almost completed when Nero committed suicide as he was overthrown in 68 AD. Designed by architects Severus and Celer and decorated by the painter Fabullus, the palace consisted of a series of . The aqueduct fed the nymphaeum and ultimately the lake. The Domus Aurea was the largest palace ever seen in the city and allegedly had . Built for Emperor Nero after the great fire that devastated Rome in 64 AD, the Domus Aurea (the Golden House) was a huge, extravagant - and somewhat megalomaniacal - palace covering dozens of acres! On the slopes of the Velia at the east end of the Forum, a grandiose colonnaded approach and vestibule were constructed, within which stood a colossal gilded bronze statue of Nero. He had baths supplied with sea water and sulphur water. [29][11] Pliny the Elder, however, puts its height at only 30.3m (106.5RF). Prior to the Great Fire, Neros Palace was known as the Domus Transitoria, or the House of Passage, and ranged from the Palatine Hill to the Esquiline Hill. The Domus Aurea is the palatial residence in Rome built by Emperor Nero. Excavations also show that the tower was powered by water-driven mechanisms and gears which allowed the room to gently rotate while diners were treated to a panoramic view of Rome. (photo: Jessica Mingoia, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), The painter Famulus and his team of assistants painted much of the vast complex in what we now call the. Ancient sources tell us that Nero supervised every detail of the building and ended up satisfied with it. Description of the work. In the rest of the house all parts were overlaid with gold and adorned with gems and mother-ofpearl. The octagonal hall led to rooms on five sides, each of which had a waterfall running down their back wall. [54] Pliny the Elder watched it being built and mentions it in his Naturalis Historia.[55]. The principal entrance was along the via Sacra coming from the Forum. Roman emperors traversed its labyrinthine rooms and passageways, and centuries later the ruins were explored by renaissance artists. The peculiar history of the Domus is an excellent introduction to Imperial Rome in terms of topography and history. The Domus Aurea. Most of the structure has disappeared under the foundations of later buildings such as the Baths of Trajan or lies buried. You are sure to marvel at the height and might of the palaces corridors and spaces, even if the light that flooded the place and the views over Rome are now gone! Ancient historians tell us that the Domus had a rotating dining room and the impression it must have left has been recreated with a light show. Seen as an embarrassment to Neros successors, the Domus Aurea was stripped of all its marble, jewels and ivory within the decade after Neros death. Within 40 years, the palace was obliterated. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. The lower floors contained sunken gardens, two pavilions and an art gallery. One innovation was destined to have an enormous influence on the art of the future: Nero placed mosaics, previously restricted to floors, in the vaulted ceilings. Inside (the Domus Aurea), there were fields, vineyards, pastures and forests, with domesticated and wild animals of all sorts. Hidden underground for centuries and still nowadays lying below street level, the Domus Aurea is a peculiar and challenging building for archaeologists and a treat for history lovers. The main one of these salons was round and turned on itself, continuously, like the earth.. Scientific archeological excavations did not begin in earnest until the late 20th century and the Esquiline site officially opened to visitors in 1999. This was certainly one of the banqueting halls of the domus, perhaps the main one which Suetonius recounts rotated continuously on its own axis, like the earth. [29], The Domus Aurea complex covered parts of the slopes of the Palatine, Oppian, and Caelian hills,[25] with an artificial lake in the marshy valley. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. What remained of the house was later filled with soil and turned into the foundations of the Thermal Baths of Trajan, which condemned the Domus to become an underground space, as it still is today. The upper portion of the structure was destroyed and the lower level rooms were filled in with soil. Updates? This is not by chance! According to ancient sources and archaeological findings, it extended over three of the seven hills of Rome and occupied over 50 hectares (over 123 acres). Bibliography The mosaic is high on the ceiling (an info panel has a reproduction of it that helps see its details) and it is beautiful and significant as one of the first examples of figurative mosaic work we have. Disclaimer: Articles on this website may contain affiliate links and, should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you. They thought the space underground where grottoes and even gave a name to the style of art found it in: grottesche, a type of art that became very popular and influential over artists such as Raphael and his contemporaries (see below)! The website is rather confusing and the names given to the different tours are not always descriptive. 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