L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano century, Renaissance artists like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Pinturicchio explored its frescoes, studying and repli- cating these ancient designs. Their fascination with the palace led to the develop- m e n t o f t h e " g r o t e s q u e " style, which featured surreal and whimsical figures, ani- mals, and mythical themes inspired by the ancient fres- coes they found in Nero's forgotten palace. This influ- ence profoundly impacted Renaissance art, reviving R o m a n m o t i f s a n d t e c h - niques that had been long buried . D o w n f a l l a n d a b a n - donment of the Domus Aurea Following Nero's death in 68 AD, his successors sought to erase his memory and dis- m a n t l e h i s a r c h i t e c t u r a l legacy. Emperor Vespasian, who succeeded Nero, filled in parts of the estate and drained the artificial lake, repurposing the land for the construction of the Colosse- um. Vespasian's sons, Titus Colossus of Nero—a 120- foot bronze statue portray- ing the emperor as Sol, the sun god, which stood at the main entrance of the com- plex. This statue eventually inspired the name Colos- s e u m f o r t h e n e a r b y a m p h i t h e a t e r b u i l t a f t e r Nero's death . Decorations and influ- ence on Renaissance art The Domus Aurea's inte- r i o r s w e r e d e c o r a t e d b y Famulus, an artist known for his innovation in Roman fresco techniques; in the palace, he decorated sever- a l r o o m s i n w h a t i s n o w known as the Fourth Style o f R o m a n w a l l p a i n t i n g , which included vivid colors, mythical creatures, architec- tural motifs, and detailed paneling. These decorations used a mixture of stucco, marble cladding, and paint- e d s u r f a c e s t o c r e a t e a n immersive visual experience that matched the opulent vision of Nero. When the Domus Aurea was rediscovered in the 15th a n d D o m i t i a n , a l s o c o n - tributed to erasing Nero's influence by building over a n d a r o u n d t h e D o m u s Aurea. In the 2nd century AD, Emperor Trajan com- pleted the dismantling by c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e g r a n d B a t h s o f T r a j a n a t o p t h e palace site, burying much of the complex under tons of earth and stone. I r o n i c a l l y , t h i s a c t o f obliteration inadvertently preserved portions of the Domus Aurea. The weight of the earth, while eventually causing structural issues, s h i e l d e d t h e f r e s c o e s , mosaics, and architectural elements from further dam- age, allowing parts of the G o l d e n H o u s e t o s u r v i v e underground for nearly two thousand years . T h e D o m u s A u r e a today: ongoing restora- tion and preservation Today, the Domus Aurea is a remarkable archaeologi- c a l s i t e o p e n t o v i s i t o r s , albeit with restricted access. Preserved under the Oppian Hill near the Colosseum, the palace continues to be the f o c u s o f r e s t o r a t i o n a n d preservation efforts. Howev- er, the ruins face numerous challenges, including dam- age from water infiltration, the effects of modern urban development, and structural collapses. In 2010, a large section of the ceiling col- lapsed due to moisture and soil weight, which forced c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t s t o h a l t tours for several years. Since then, experts have worked meticulously to sta- bilize and restore parts of the palace, particularly the grand octagonal hall and the elaborate frescoed corridors. In 2014, some sections of t h e D o m u s A u r e a w e r e reopened to the public, and ongoing excavations aim to further reveal the grandeur of this ancient architectural beauty. The Domus Aurea repre- s e n t s b o t h t h e h e i g h t o f N e r o ' s a m b i t i o n a n d t h e l o n g - l a s t i n g l e g a c y o f Roman art and engineering. T h o u g h i t w a s q u i c k l y buried after his death, the palace influenced genera- tions of artists and archi- tects, its rediscovery spark- ing an artistic revival in the Renaissance. Today, Nero's G o l d e n H o u s e r e m a i n s a s y m b o l o f o p u l e n c e a n d i n n o v a t i o n , a l l w h i l e r e m i n d i n g u s a b o u t t h e c o m p l e x h i s t o r y o f t h e Roman Empire. palace . Architectural marvels of the Golden House More than a palace, the D o m u s A u r e a w a s a n expansive, self-contained estate that included vine- yards, pastures, gardens, a lake, and a forested land- scape, creating a "country- side within the city." This estate featured more than 300 rooms, elaborately dec- orated with frescoes, mar- ble, mosaics, and rare mate- rials from across the empire. Among the notable architec- tural features was the octag- onal hall, a grand dining space with a domed ceiling, which included a unique r o t a t i n g m e c h a n i s m designed to scatter flower petals and perfume upon guests. The architects also added grand corridors, fountains, and waterfalls in halls and rooms, creating an almost mythological ambiance. The p a l a c e w a s a d o r n e d w i t h s t a t u e s a n d s c u l p t u r e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e f a m o u s T h e D o m u s A u r e a , o r "Golden House," i s p e r h a p s t h e m o s t r e c o g n i z - able and widely known sym- b o l o f E m p e r o r N e r o ' s extravagant ambitions; built between 65 and 68 AD after the Great Fire of Rome — remembered because of the (fictitious) image of Nero playing his lyre while watch- ing the city turn into ashes, the palace stretched across 300 acres and incorporated revolutionary architecture and lavish decor. A sprawl- ing complex, the Domus is remembered not only for its opulence but also for the controversies and legends surrounding its construc- tion, eventual abandonment, and rediscovery during the Renaissance. Emperor Nero and his vision Nero, who ruled as the fifth Roman emperor from 5 4 t o 6 8 A D , i s o f t e n remembered for his exces- sive lifestyle and controver- s i a l r e i g n . H i s m o t h e r , Agrippina the Younger, played a significant role in securing his position, but as he grew older, he became infamous for his ruthless- ness, ultimately having her m u r d e r e d i n p u r s u i t o f power. With interests in arts a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t , N e r o h a r b o r e d a s p i r a t i o n s t o reshape Rome according to h i s v i s i o n o f l u x u r y a n d grandeur, and the Domus A u r e a w a s s u p p o s e d t o become the centerpiece of this ambition. In 64 AD, a catastrophic fire devastated Rome, and while Nero wasn't in the city at the time, rumors circulat- ed that he had played a role in starting the blaze to clear land for his palace. Nero's Domus Aurea was indeed constructed on newly vacat- ed land, a vast estate occu- pying parts of the Palatine, Caelian, and Oppian hills. To achieve his vision, Nero c o m m i s s i o n e d a r c h i t e c t s Severus and Celer, who introduced innovative tech- niques, styles, and materials, t o c r e a t e a n e s t a t e t h a t would show Nero's wealth a n d p o w e r . A c c o r d i n g t o s o u r c e s , t h e e m p e r o r famously declared, "Now I am beginning to be housed a s a h u m a n b e i n g , " u p o n e n t e r i n g t h e c o m p l e t e d CHIARA D'ALESSIO Nero's Domus Aurea and the golden majesty of Rome The remains of a dome inside the Domus Aurea (Photo: Stevenheap/Dreamstime) and, bottom left, a part of the ancient building (Photo: Salajean/Dreamstime) HERITAGE HISTORY IDENTITY TRADITIONS PEOPLE

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