Rome: Apostles and Martyrs

11. Domus Aurea

Roma, Lazio

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In 64, the great fire in Rome raged through the tightly knit streets, burning much of the city. In its wake, Nero made plans for the gentrification of the suburbs around the Palatine, Esquiline and Caelian hills and the construction of a new palace for himself, Domus Aurea, or the Golden House, and a large lake for his viewing pleasure. Opinion on the cause of the inferno is still debated. Some say that Nero started the blaze deliberately, while he blamed the Christians. However, the most likely reason was an accident that began in one of the many warehouses near the Circus Maximus. Either way, once the flames had been doused, Nero unveiled plans for a massive house and grounds, including an artificial lake, a rotating dining room, and acres of rambling parkland from where he could survey Rome. The fire gave Nero the perfect excuse to persecute the newly established Christian religion, a persecution that was carried out with great enthusiasm over the next 300 years. Between the burning of Rome in 64 and Nero's suicide in 68, hundreds of Christians and criminals met their deaths in the circuses of Rome, some crucified along the main streets, and others tied to posts and burnt to light Nero's garden. It was during this deadly period that both Saints Peter and Paul were martyred, and the arenas of Rome ran deep with Christian blood. After Nero's death, little time was wasted in destroying his self-indulgent accommodation, which was wiped of the face of the earth within 40 years. Gone were the gold leaf covered walls, the brilliant mosaic ceilings and the gem encrusted corridors. The vast Trajan Baths soon covered the site of the former house, and the lake was filled in to make way for construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre. The ruins remained undisturbed for 1,500 years, until one day, when a young man accidentally fell through a hole in the ground. Excavation of the site revealed many details about the former glory of Nero's houses and the extravagance that the egotistical Emperor lavished on his guests. The frescoes that survived provided inspiration for generations of artists such as Ghirlandiao and Lippi, who visited the ruins. Famous tourists Casanova and the Marquis de Sade also left their mark, scratching their names into the soft plaster. Photo credit: Ireed76