Nero’s Domus Aurea

“At last I can begin to live like a human being”

The Emperor Nero

Portrait Bust of Nero from Cap. Museum

The city burned for 9 daysNero’s Domus Aurea was built after the fireHistorians blame Nero for the fire

Nero

Graffito

Map of Rome

The Lower Story

Three main blocks separated by trapezoidal courts

150 rooms

Water features in this part of the house

The Lower Story

The Upper Story

Octagonal room

Used for summer dining

Baths supplied sea and sulfer water

The Upper Story

The Oculus

The Domus Aurea

Prior to the restoration

120 foot statue of Nero at entrance

Grounds originally covered the area where the colosseum is today

Plan of Domus Aurea

Wall Paintings

Wall Paintings

Features of the Property

Zoo

Enormous Lake

Giant statue of Nero

Nero’s Dining Room

Dining Room had rotating ceiling?

Guests saw the constellations

Scented perfume and flowers fell from the sky

The Oculus

Design similar to Pantheon

Main rotunda revolved day and night

Vault of heaven

Ceiling Frescos

Famous for decorations

Painter was Famulus

Painted only a few hours a day and in his toga

Extravagant Style

Vespacian destroyed part of the house

Drained the lake and built the colosseum

Later emperors took the art collection