New exhibit inside Nero's Golden House - Isis and Domus Aurea

[@Santisaez1]

Three days ago right before finishing some vacations in Italy, I left my family at the apartment packaging, and visited by myself Domus Aurea and this exhibition, early in the morning. Just the guide and 5 visitors with me. Amazing palace and architecture, floors and paitings, multiple connections with Ancient Egypt and its Gods...200% worthed, a treasure.

[@fanroche8573]

not been to the Domus since 2005 so need to get back . so glad the flooding and collapse did not completely destroy it

[@alissahhodges5854]

The fallen ones. Responsible for the pain and suffering of man kind!

[@juancarlostealdo]

Darius,somebody told me ,like 20 years ago ,that famous young painter Rafaello entered the ruins,watched the frescoes ,and was so impressed that his drawings were changed forever.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes. the paintings were copied profusely - and imitated- by many Renaissance artists. You can see them all over - Villa Farnesina, Vatican Museums, etc. They were VERY popular. Known as "grotesqui" referring to the "grotto-like" settings - the vaults were the only portions not buried...

[@samright4661]

It’s Amazing to think about how fast the Golden House was built!! It don’t think Modern Architects could compete with the Ancients

[@pfranks75]

Not up to code!

[@jacksongeorge2629]

It’s not amazing. It was only built that fast because of the amount of slaves that were used with each person being worked to literal death

[@unknown81360]

Every time I watch a video of yours I want to go back to Rome.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Music to our ears! Darius is dropping a new video on the underground of the Colosseum- stay tuned on his channel!

[@michaelm5894]

I I visited the Domus Aurea in 2017 and it looks like a lot of work has been done since then to enhance exhibits (there really weren't any back then) and upgrade access to the site. Then access was provisional, depending on what archeological work was going on and how safe the site was at the time. Now it looks much more like a permanent, almost museum like facility. Bravo!

[@chriss9198]

I was in Rome twice in June and both times the Domus Aurea was closed for putting in this exhibit. Wish we could have been there in person, but this is a great look at what we missed!

[@Mr.Death101]

I just put that together after your comment. I missed it also by 2 days. That's why this is a great channel cuz at least I can see it now

[@patwaddington]

Yeah mate I was there same time. The mausoleum of Augustus was closed too which I was pretty upset about

[@chriss9198]

@@patwaddington Domus Aurea, Domus Transitoria, Curia Julia and Mausoleum of Augustus were all closed. The Ara Pacis museum also had a network crash when we went but we got in because we had cash fortunately! Just means we have to go back to Rome! Think Mausoleum of Augustus is set to re open in 2025.

[@CHAS1422]

I am nearly certain that Nero himself walked down the hall of the Criptoportico with his entourage, stopping and looking up to admire the frescos he had commissioned.

[@solinvictus39]

It certainly is an awe-inspiring feeling when you admire and look at artwork you know that people 2,000 years ago looked at as well.

[@chriss9198]

It's called the Neronian cyptoportico but I think a version of it must have existed in Caligula's time because a creator on another channel mentioned that the Cryptoportico was where Caligula was stabbed? Daryus, do you know if that is correct?

[@CHAS1422]

It makes sense that Nero completed what a prior Emperor had started. The Golden House looks to be too big to complete in such a short time.@@chriss9198

[@Artemide6677]

​​@@solinvictus39Sono italiana e vivo in una città del nord dove abbiamo resti di un tempio romano, teatro e tanto altro. Come dici tu quando cammino per le strade del centro storico penso a tutte le persone romane che fecero i miei stessi passi e videro quello che vedo io. Sono i miei antenati.

[@Krommer1000]

Fantastic video! Who's ever idea it was to implement the projected running water, hats off to them. Really adds to an already fabulous exhibit. Also, kudos to you and your team for really showing the scale this complex had in it's heyday. A truly staggering monument to the ego of a single man who would claim that much space in the very center of a city as well established as Rome was at the time.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you liked it! Yes, it's an engaging exhibit!

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

Gigantic! Thank you so much for keeping us updated on the latest Roman archaeology🤗

[@AncientRomeLive]

Our pleasure!

[@martinstensby2011]

Good video again, Darius! I’ll have to go and visit again. I was a participant of the long course at the Swedish Institute/Gothenburg University in the spring 2022; and had the oppurtunity to visit Domus Aurea, and it’s kind of emotional visiting there, maybe because the roofs are still existing and give you the feeling of visiting ”for real”. I’m so grateful that you show us all the good work that is done in preserving and maintaining the Roman heritage. There is more to see all the time! Thanks!

[@brober]

So much has been done to the Domus Aurea since I visited when it first reopened a decade ago. Fantastico!

[@ak9989]

Great content. Love the history. I got my two sons into ancient history, and they now collect the coins. Keep it up Darius.

[@ham472]

Amazing! On my to-visit list the next time I am in Rome 🙂

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes a great site to visit!

[@anthonylagano2371]

Very cool video . This exhibit wasn’t open the last time I was in Rome. I did throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain ⛲️ so I’m destined to go back and will definitely go see this . 😎😎😎

[@AncientRomeLive]

Very cool! Yes, we'll be here!

[@johnnyboyvan]

Gorgeous. I have always loved Rome. 😊 I will visit this in a few years ftom now...God willing.

[@daviddilley8310]

What a fantastic channel. I was in Rome last May and after 10 or so previous visits over 50 years I finally got into the Domus Aurea. Another member of our group, from Switzerland, also related how he had waited years for the chance to visit. Mind blowing, and the virtual reality stop, showing how it was imagined to be, is a highlight. For me, the frescoes and especially Achilles in Skyros, were especially fascinating. My next trip will be in a year or so, but in low season so I can once again just drink in the city without the distraction of so many who are "ticking off the sights" and really fail to appreciate fully what they are looking at.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you!!!

[@edgarsnake2857]

I was just in a grand Victorian mansion the other day. The Domus Aurea is next level...and then some. I love it and hate it all at the same time. The most august architecture and exquisite handiwork, done in the service of an overindulgent tyrant. The tour was great. Thanks.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you

[@Bruh-lp3nd]

12:14 what I find really amazing is the fact that they made this look 3D! This is either just good observation or an advanced painting technique similar to using a vanishing point

[@jennifersiegrist8440]

Truly amazing, those pendants are beautifully carved, pausing and zooming in, wow. Thank you for sharing ❤❤❤❤❤

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thanks for watching!

[@ericastier1646]

One of your better videos with nice calm narrating flow and good visuals of the fresques. I love these fresques and thinking about interior decor based on this.

[@dirksawyer5667]

Great preview to actually visiting the site/exhibition. Just need to make sure that my next visit straddles the weekend and I don’t visit Rome midweek!

[@austindogwalker]

Looks great. So glad its finally open for us to see.

[@AncientRomeLive]

We are happy to see it consistently open !

[@jan-toreegge9252]

Thanks for the update. I haven't been since 2005, and there seems to be a lot more on display these days, including this very interesting exhibit.

[@seanboudreau]

Great video, as always. Thank you for these information, high quality and well produced videos. You've become one of my favorite channels on KZbin!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Wow, thanks!

[@cindybroders4531]

Great video!! We just had the amazing experience of going to the Domus Aurea!! I could have stayed all day!! The use of the goggles and head phones for experiencing what the palace really looked like was absolutely one of the best parts of the tour!! However, being in the actual palace of Nero was truly exciting!!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Totally agree!

[@ericmoore571]

The only thing wrong with this video was that it ended too soon!! I was fascinated from the start! Thank you!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bbrown333]

This is so fascinating. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@AncientRomeLive]

You bet!

[@denizalgazi]

More fantastic finds! 👍

[@davidolien2828]

Thank you once again for a wonderful presentation.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Our pleasure!

[@fredpierce6097]

I had no idea that Nero and his home had been so connected to The Cult Of Isis. When I travel for the first time to Rome, I will include a visit to the Domus Aureus for sure! Thank You So much Darius!

[@John_Fugazzi]

Thank you for this informative presentation. That Nero had some possible affinity to Isis ia a recent discovery and something entirely new. It's good to see how far the exploration of the Domus Aurea is coming. What the Romans disliked about it was not the extravagant building, but the large park with which it was surrounded. They'd never seen anything like it and thought it a waste of space.

[@davecorlett7326]

Great visuals on the on-site scale of the complex!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thanks a lot for your observations!

[@deepthinkingopinion]

love your work, your videos, informative yet NO boring 🙌🏻👍🏻

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you like them!

[@zou6492]

Beatiful video 👍 very interesting... Thanks Darius ! Greetings from Belgium 😉🇧🇪👋🇮🇹🏛️

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching !

[@KonradAdenauerJr]

Thank you for the interesting tour of the structure.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you for continuing to watch our content! Check out @dariusarya for more KZbin content!

[@jg90049]

Excellent piece. My own supposition about the Esquiline building is that it was constructed as a "winter" pavilion for dining and entertaining. It faces southwest, I believe, where the exposed rooms and promenades would catch the sunlight. It also doesn't appear to have facilities for prolonged residence nor does it appear to have quarters for servants. I think the imperial residence was elsewhere, perhaps on the Palatine. I also wonder what happened to the so called "vestibule" building at the summit of the arcades leading up from the Forum. Whatever the case, it was several decades after Nero's death that Hadrian replaced it with the Temple of Venus and Rome. There must have been some remaining part(s) of Nero's building and it must have been used for something. Unfortunately, my go-to source, The Atlas of Ancient Rome, is vague on the subject and offers little in the way of description or even supposition about what lies beneath Hadrian's temples and porticoes.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thanks very much! Yes the Esquiline was for banquets. The residence on the Palatine was replaced by Domitian’s palace. There are a few remains around the Velia, but mostly obliterated by the Temple of V and R. Some foundations along the Vis Sacra are visible (from Nero’s higher road).

[@jg90049]

@@AncientRomeLive I have read scattered references to some of Nero's successors using parts of the DA occasionally, but this was before Domitian replaced it with his palace. From what I can tell, though, the "vestibule" on the Velia just fell into disuse.

[@kaloarepo288]

I've watched two baroque operas about Nero in the last few months - one was the early 17th century masterpiece by Monteverdi "The Coronation of Poppaea" from Madrid and the other was "Agrippina" by Handel that debuted in Venice to great acclaim in about 1700. This second video was from the royal opera house at the Drottingholm palace near Stockholm - and the Swedish royals were in attendance. To enjoy late Renaissance and baroque operas you have to get used to the male soprano voice which is an attempt to reproduce the sound of the castrato singers of the past. "Agrippina" is about the machinations of Nero's mother in trying to get her son crowned emperor but apparently has also a kind of cryptic plot in the opera that relates to machinations in the papal elections in Handel's time.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Amazing!

[@NadaAlawadhi]

I went there last year! It’s definitely worth checking out. The VR experience made it even more special.

[@2MuchPurple]

What an amazing place! The cult of Isis was extremely popular and widespread 2000 years ago, and except for a blip in history we might be worshiping Isis today. Nero was a fascinating character. I lrarned a lot about him, not all bad, from two fictionalized biographies by Margaret George. Thanks, Darius!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Our pleasure. A team effort!

[@yang_guoer3463]

Fabulous work thanks so much to show us and explain all about Domus Aurea, very intriguing the egyptian cult in Imperial Rome and how they put on paints all their beliefs

[@dbrown9495]

Thank you for this excellent video! You're an excellent teacher.

[@CristianaCalinescu-jv3li]

Absolutely fantastic!!!! Extraordinary! Thank you!!!

[@LuppoEgberts]

I visited the Domus when it was just open for public about three years ago....very impressive...would love to it now with the current exhibit. There was inside also a place where you could walk through the site with a VR device what showed how it looked like in the time of Nero...

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes, that it still available on weekends.

[@andymartinez767]

Just so much to see, need so much time to see all this beauty.

[@randyhebbebusche3644]

Very interesting. Nice that it is being preserved.

[@ROMA--AETERNA]

Great perspective from where Darius was standing outside.

[@mushymagazineonlocation7328]

What a fabulous pad. Ya got to admire the Romans.

[@theedxqboi]

Someday, hopefully next year, I'll get my chance to visit Italy and see this kind of stuff. And then visit again and again!

[@scanlonpat3433]

Absolutely fascinating. Thank you so much!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@monicacall7532]

I’m so ready to return to Rome!!! So many places and things have been discovered since my last visit. Perhaps this autumn?

[@indiasimble3002]

wonderful.thanks for the video

[@kathrynschenk7432]

Wow! Thanks!

[@RP-mm9ie]

Thanks

[@ignacio.carral]

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing this.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BotsWeekendCovers]

Great video and btw your doppelganger is Carlos Sainz in Formula 1 :)

[@danielroque8504]

I truly enjoy your vids~Will you be doing a vid on the recent findings (that will be covered again, for the Four Seasons hotel)???

[@AncientRomeLive]

thanks!! Yes, will try to gain access. We were actually invited to press conference but couldn't make it on time!

[@vasp99]

At last I can finally live like a human being!

[@hangman960]

Love to visit there wasn't open last time i went to Rome

[@RadhaVanIsa]

Excellent! Thankyou!

[@AlkalineAjay]

Amazing! Thanks Darius!

[@timhazeltine3256]

Thank you for the great presentation. I wonder if Nero's veneration of Isis is related to his status as a direct descendant of Marc Antony.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you. Yes, another aspect addressed in the exhibit.

[@timhazeltine3256]

@@AncientRomeLive Thank you for the the follow-up. Your channel is illuminating, especially for those of us who have not visited Italy.

[@helenalago1320]

Hello. Do you know what is the official ticket seller for Nero´s Golden House?

[@sharonsmith6151]

Great video Darius. Clive and I are hoping we can get in to see the exhibit when we come. Finger's crossed! One thing I was curious about is that I had been told on a tour one time that the colossal statue of Nero was next to where the Coliseum stands now, but you mentioned Arch of Titus I think. Apart from writings, which likely only list general area, is there any physical proof of where a colossal statue may have been situated?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Statue stood originally atop the Velia. Moved by Hadrian to make room for the Temple of Venus and Roma. The base of the Colossus was found - and has a modern encasing of the area- next to the Colosseum. (See our Colosseum videos).

[@tariqskanaal8187]

I was there last week it’s a good visit

[@havefunbesafe]

Darius, do you have Persian ancestry ? Love your content btw!!

[@erinaltstadt4234]

Thank you, Nero is really interesting

[@hangman960]

Any idea how long it took to complete when it was built? is there any record of that?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Yes, dates are 64-68.. Evidence of further building under Flavians, through ultimately cancelled by time of Domitian...

[@snotnosewilly99]

@@AncientRomeLive Amazing that this entire complex could have been built in such a short time with just hand tools, as with many other big structures in the roman empire.

[@dojufitz]

Great Stuff.

[@johnbender5356]

how would they have the light to see all of this. to my thinking , fire would have soot blacken the ceilings ans walls.

[@seandyer93]

Nero was clearly a philhellene he most likely got his inspiration from the luxury and opulence of the ptolemaic kings

[@timhazeltine3256]

Yes, I think Nero was much inspired by the structure and forms of the Ptolemic monarchy. After he was a descendant of Marc Anthony. And, for all its demonstrable flaws, in the ancient world, the monarchical form of government provided for generally stable succession, a process that was sorely lacking for much of the Empire's history.

[@AncientRomeLive]

Absolutely- covered in the exhibit, as well.

[@Gunslinger1875]

What I fascinating is in this modern world we can't build anything like this, much less have it survive for a few thousand years. That the Roman's just filled it with rumble and built on top of it. Like, taking out the trash.

[@erinaltstadt4234]

I would love to learn more about the golden dome, Nero, the cult of Isis, and Nero’s architecture in general

[@lunes-1]

Really impressive, definitely Romans were great builders 👍

[@r0ky_M]

So how many actual rooms of Nero's palace has archeology discovered?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Over 150 for the Esquiline wing.

[@r0ky_M]

@@AncientRomeLive Wow..ok so are many of these room relatively intact/original/well preserved , or have they been stripped out over the ages ?..if well preserved from the actual time of Nero. then it's a true rare archeological goldmine like Pompeii and Herculaneum.

[@FrancisMoyer-r6n]

thank you very interesting more please love

[@AncientRomeLive]

More to come!

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Thanks for the video, it gives perspective to the opulence & greed of Nero

[@AncientRomeLive]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Пекинка-с9х]

Thank you

[@rwoggle1735]

What do you have against the past tense?

[@patwaddington]

I was in Rome last month for a trip and this was closed. I was so gutted. Ah well I’ll just have to plan another trip haha

[@neon-kitty]

Does anyone know where I could find close-ups of the landscape panels from the cryptoportico?

[@susanarojo3906]

Sometimes you can find incredible things in google

[@MrCarGuy]

It would be nice to light some rooms the way they were meant to be originally

[@BorselinoThadchack]

Good stuff, sir. Good stuff

[@AncientRomeLive]

Thank you kindly

[@TheJesster711]

I am confused by you saying the colossal statue of Nero stood where the Arch of Titus is now. But the statue stood for centuries after Titus.

[@AncientRomeLive]

The Colossus was moved by Hadrian down to its location by the Colosseum.

[@erinaltstadt4234]

I would love to hear more about Nero

[@michaelhoffmann2891]

Argh! When we were in Rome in 2013, it was still not accessible - and back then sounded like it likely never would be, except to professionals with permits (i.e. historians or archaeologists). I wanted to visit the site so badly! 😭

[@marthaarya167]

I want to go there again

[@SJam491]

Fascinating. I still feel bad for Poppea, though.

[@motoguzzigriso]

Last September we stayed in an apartment that now sits abeam the Pantheon, basically the Saepta Julia. We could gaze down on the Temple of Neptune from our balcony. Nearby is the incredible Catholic Church “Santa Maria sopra Minerva” which sits on top of (sopra) the ancient Temple of Minerva! What an incredible part of town.

[@susanarojo3906]

If that was a rentable place could you give some data?

[@The-NightWatchman]

This gives an insightful look into what the Apostle Paul was dealing with, the idolatry and corruption of Roman rule of that era, it brings the scriptures into better perspective.

[@TWOCOWS1]

Excellent work again. Thanks for making and posting. Wonderful. Thank you. I was there twice, and everybody spoke of how much of the Domus was "buried" and other buildings built on top of them. How? That makes no sense since the Domos is so tall, hugely tall. Pls explain with maps and photos how was that done. Thanks.

[@AncientRomeLive]

You're very welcome. Many of the rooms of the Domus Aurea remain filled to the ceiling with dirt and abandoned material from workers employed to construct the Baths of Trajan above. Many additional supportive walls were installed. You can see some filled-in rooms in the video, as well as the Trajanic walls (that don't have any frescoes on them)- esp. visible at the "entrance ramp" into the Domus Aurea.

[@TWOCOWS1]

@AncientRomeLive Thank you for all that. I had heard these, but still it does not make sense. As Darius says, the roof of the buildings are 10 meters high or even more. Filing in the building with dirt without compacting it (and destroying what is below) could hardly support the weight of the bath house above, at least 10 meters high in the sky above. I still cannot imagine that. Could you one day make some three denominational sketch, pls? It is like the tour guides in the Domus kept saying that that entire building was for pleasure only and not for habitation. Reason: no kitchens and no toilets! When I asked (from few of them), what kind of pleasure could be had without hot food and the ability to visit the letrines after all the food and drinks, they would illogically say: "Food was brouight in (why?) and people did it in the chamber pots (why again?)! So there: cliches of the old lingering, despite their inconsistencies.

[@4cyran]

thanks 4 posting!

[@AncientRomeLive]

Our pleasure!

[@floydiandreamscapes5145]

Rome must have been a beautiful city. Imagine being a Roman living at that time wandering through the city streets. To bad we don't build cities today that are made to be beautiful to look at.

[@jond181]

It prob smelled like 💩, overcrowded, no AC, etc. Sure, if you’re the emperor or wealthy senator I’m sure it was nice. Otherwise…

[@David-sk9vv]

I wrote an assignment on this at University - University of Wales, Lampeter (now University of Wales, Trinity St David, Lampeter Campus). My Lecturer gave me a 1st! 😁

[@luisalbertozambon3853]

How long this exhibition will be opened for?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Check the website link in the description of the video

[@stephanielitton2929]

Isis's Hubby however, doesn't seem to be mentioned...Heh! I guess she was a widow....for a time. A lot of missing pieces here.....there was a piece Isis never found also. Seriously beautiful things here. To have seen them in all their glory .....just..Wow!

[@clivebaxter6354]

why is a tour only just over an hour? looks like 2 hours minimum

[@AncientRomeLive]

The exhibit has that standard policy; small groups, at any rate. There is another longer tour with the VR googles.

[@clivebaxter6354]

@@AncientRomeLive Cant see a tour longer than 1 hour 15 minutes on the coopculture booking site, thats weekends

[@clivebaxter6354]

When we went the tour was meant to be in English but nobody could understand the guide , so it was a bit of a waste of time. The virtual reality show was good.

[@petersutherland1985]

Went last sept, nobody could understand the English of the Italian guide, would be better with audio guide

[@thomasmedlin1908]

Brilliant Engineers

[@ijyoyo]

Okay during the middle I understood everything better

[@wlperie]

I thought the Colossus of Nero was closer to the Arch of Constantine rather than the Arch of Titus? What is the history here?

[@AncientRomeLive]

Originally located on the Velia Hill. Hadrian had it moved to the location by the Colosseum.