Roman Emperor Nero’s revolving dining room found by archaeologists
September 30th, 2009 - 1:10 pm ICT by ANILondon, September 30 (ANI): A team of archaeologists in Rome has claimed to have found the remains of a legendary revolving dining room built by Emperor Nero to impress his guests.
According to a report in The Guardian, digging on the Palatine Hill, archaeologists stumbled on the remnants of a circular room, 16 metres (53ft) in diameter, which they believe formed part of Nero’s palace, built in the first century AD.
Sixty years after Nero’s reign, the historian Suetonius wrote that the dining room revolved “night and day, in imitation of the motion of the celestial bodies”.
Archaeologists have yet to determine how the room revolved. Known as the Domus Aurea, or Golden Room, the palace also featured an artificial lake and was dominated by a 100-foot statue of Nero.
“This discovery has no equal among ancient Roman architectural finds,” said dig leader Francoise Villedieu.
He said that the room was supported by a pillar with a diameter of 4m (13ft). Traces of a wood platform which possibly floated on water in the room have also been found.
Italy’s government has granted 200,000 Euros to let the dig continue. (ANI)
- Roman emperor Nero's first home reconstructed virtually - Apr 17, 2011
- Part of Nero's palace collapses in Rome - Mar 30, 2010
- Nero's palace's ceiling collapses due to heavy rain - Mar 31, 2010
- 2000-year-old birthplace of Roman emperor Vespasian found - Jan 28, 2010
- A Fragment Of Ex-Roman Emperor Nero's Palace Disintegrates - Mar 31, 2010
- Water Damages Ceiling Of Nero's Golden Palace - Mar 31, 2010
- Tomb robber finds 'final resting place of Caligula' - Jan 19, 2011
- Mismanagement caused Pompeii disaster: Italian minister - Nov 11, 2010
- 2,000-year-old palace discovered in Mexico - Sep 02, 2011
- Archaeologists unearth place where Roman Emperor Caligula was murdered - Oct 18, 2008
- Ancient wooden version of Stonehenge found in Britain - Jul 22, 2010
- Archaeologists find Roman emperor Vespasian's villa - Aug 07, 2009
- Roman emperor's luxurious summer villa found by archaeologists - Aug 13, 2009
- Evidence of St Peters' underground prison found - Jun 25, 2010
- Crime scene where Mary Queen of Scots' husband was killed to be unearthed - Aug 14, 2010
Tags: archaeologists, celestial bodies, circular room, diameter, discovery, domus aurea, foot statue, francoise, guardian, historian, italy, london, palatine hill, pillar, remnants, revolving dining room, roman emperor nero, rome, sixty years, traces
