How Nero's legendary golden palace bankrupted the Roman Empire

Nero's Domus Aurea, or Golden House, was one of the most extravagant and opulent palaces of ancient Rome.

Built during the reign of Emperor Nero in the 1st century AD, the palace was a marvel of engineering and design that incorporated some of the most advanced technology of its time.

The construction of the Domus Aurea began after the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, which destroyed much of the city.

Nero seized the opportunity to build his dream palace on the charred ruins, covering an area of more than 200 acres.

The palace was designed by the architect Severus and was completed in just a few years.

The palace was a lavish complex of buildings, gardens, and fountains, decorated with precious stones, gold, and ivory.

The walls and ceilings were adorned with intricate frescoes and mosaics, depicting scenes from mythology and everyday life.

The centerpiece of the palace was a vast circular room, the Rotunda, which was decorated with a giant statue of Nero as the Sun God.

But what really made the Domus Aurea unique was its innovative design and technology.

The palace was built on a series of vaulted arches, which allowed for a more open and airy interior space.

The walls and ceilings were made of a lightweight concrete called pozzolana, which made them not only strong but also resistant to fire and moisture.

The palace also had an ingenious system of water supply and drainage. Water was brought into the palace from a nearby aqueduct and was distributed through a series of pipes and channels.

The palace was equipped with dozens of fountains and water features, including a massive artificial lake that could be drained and refilled in a matter of hours.

There was even a story of a mechanical revolving floor in the Domus Aurea that served as a kind of "dancing room" or banqueting hall.

It was circular in shape with a floor was made of ivory and it could rotate, allowing guests to enjoy different views of the frescoes on the walls as they danced.

Apparently, the rotating floor was powered by a sophisticated system of gears and pulleys located beneath the floor.

The mechanism was so advanced that it could also produce waves and simulate the movement of a boat. 

In 2009, archaeologists announced that they may have finally found evidence of this mythical part of the palace.

The creation of Nero's Domus Aurea had a significant impact on the economy of the Roman Empire.

The construction of the palace required massive amounts of resources, including materials, labor, and skilled artisans.

Many of these resources were imported from other parts of the empire, leading to a significant increase in trade and commerce.

The construction of the palace also provided employment opportunities for a large number of workers, including architects, builders, engineers, and craftsmen.

These workers were paid well for their skills and services, helping to stimulate the local economy.

However, the construction of the palace also came at a great cost.

The extravagance of the project led to a significant drain on the imperial treasury, and Nero was forced to implement several unpopular taxation policies to finance the project.

Moreover, the creation of the palace caused significant resentment among the Roman people, who were already struggling with economic and political instability.

Many saw the construction of the palace as a symbol of Nero's excesses and a waste of resources that could have been better used to address the needs of the Roman people.

The Domus Aurea was not only a symbol of Nero's wealth and power but also a testament to the architectural and technological achievements of ancient Rome.

Unfortunately, the palace did not last long. After Nero's death in 68 AD, his successors stripped the palace of its treasures and much of the palace complex was eventually dismantled or buried.

The area around the palace was subsequently redeveloped, with new buildings and public spaces constructed on top of the ruins.

One of the most famous structures built in the area was the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum.

This iconic amphitheater was built by Nero's successors, the Flavian Emperors Vespasian and Titus, on the site of an artificial lake that was part of the Domus Aurea complex.

The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built, and it quickly became a symbol of Roman power and engineering prowess.

Other notable buildings that were constructed in the area include the Baths of Trajan and the Temple of Venus and Rome.

The Baths of Trajan were one of the largest public bath complexes in Rome, while the Temple of Venus and Rome was a massive temple dedicated to the goddesses Venus and Roma.

For centuries, the Domus Aurea remained hidden and forgotten, until its rediscovery in the 15th century.

Today, the area around the former site of the Domus Aurea is known as the Oppian Hill and it is a popular tourist destination.

Despite the destruction of much of the palace complex, the ruins of the Domus Aurea that remain are still a testament to the architectural and technological achievements of ancient Rome.