After the devastating fire of 64 years, along with the restoration of Rome, the new residence of Nero was founded. A palace was erected in a huge villa, artificial lakes were created, picturesque wastelands were built, gardens were built.
Murals in the underground halls of the Golden House of Nero, franz-wegener.de
The history of the Golden House
When Nero came to power, on the Palatine, where Roman emperors traditionally lived, there was no place for a new villa. The ruler had to settle in the palace of Caligula. This home seemed to him too modest.
For ten years, the emperor could not find a suitable place for residence in Rome: public buildings were everywhere, they could not be demolished even at the highest command. In the year 64 there was a Great Fire. The fire raged for six days, many Roman buildings were completely destroyed. During the restoration of Rome, a new imperial residence was founded. She was called the Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea). The project was developed by architects North and Celer.
Nero Villa
Archaeological site of Nero Villa, photo by Richard Mortel
In a huge villa, a palace was erected, artificial lakes were created, picturesque wastelands were created from which amazing landscapes opened, gardens that looked more like forests were set up, and they settled them with tamed animals. The Golden House ensemble was built on the site of burnt quarters - on four of the seven Roman hills. The villa occupied over a hundred hectares. Its center was a huge statue of the emperor in the image of the god of the Sun - Helios. The colossus stood at the entrance to the palace framed by a portico. Next was a rectangular pond filled with sea water. At the whim of Nero, boat trips were organized there. Between the individual parts of the villa stretched long galleries with rows of columns.
The interior of the palace
Hall in the public part of the palace, photo by Domus Aurea
The emperor’s palace was crowned with a gilded dome, so it was called Golden, the internal walls were covered with gold stucco molding, luxurious halls are painted with frescoes on mythological subjects. Most of the paintings were performed by the main artist of Nero - Fabull. The architects carefully thought out the lighting of the palace - the sun penetrated its farthest corners.
Destruction
In 68, the emperor moved into his residence, but did not live there for long. A few months later he was stabbed to death by his own servant. After the death of Nero, the Golden House was destroyed. On the lands previously occupied by the imperial villa, the Colosseum, Terme Trajan (Terme di Traiano) and Traian's forum, the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine (Basilica di Massenzio e Costantino), the Arc de Triomphe of Titus (Arco di Tito) and others were built. The lower sections of the former buildings were filled with soil.
Archaeological find
Antique Murals by François Spilliaert
For centuries, the ruins of the Golden House remained beneath the earth. In the XV century, the lower palace rooms were accidentally discovered, as a result of archaeological excavations, 30 of the 150 halls were cleared. At that time, the wall paintings were well preserved inside the buildings, but after opening they quickly began to collapse from moisture. Antique frescoes were repeated in the works of Raphael and other artists of the XVI century. From these copies today you can get an idea about the decoration of the ancient palace.
The Golden House of Nero Today
Range of the Golden House of Nero, the emperor who considered himself equal to God, photo by William Warby
Fragments of the walls of Domus Aurea can be seen on Esquiline Hill near the entrance to Colle Oppio Park. The interior of the complex is hidden underground. Light penetrates there only through a round hole in the dome of a large octagonal hall.
In the XX century, a series of collapses of the ceiling of the palace took place. In 2010, 60 m² of the ceiling collapsed, people involved in the reconstruction of the complex suffered. Today, visiting the ruins is possible only as part of the educational tour Open for restoration, accompanied by a guide.
Take a look at my Rome guide here and learn about other sights of the Italian capital.
How to get there
Take the metro or bus 51, 75, 85, 87, N2 to the Colosseo stop.
