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C O U R S E L E C T U R E The Significance of Nero's Octagonal Room on Roman Architecture Notes taken on March 7, 2014 by Edward Tanguay |
64 AD: the great fire of Rome
after the fire, Nero expropriated 300 acres of downtown real estate to build his private Golden House
only one part remains today on the Esquiline hill, which is why it is called the Esquiline wing
dozens of rooms around a five-sided courtyard
the single-most important room in Roman architecture
a series of radiating alcoves, but much larger than the ones we saw in the frigidaria at Pompeii or in the thermal bath at Baia, and each one different
represents a break from the tyranny of the rectangle
creates vistas in every direction
fully realizes the technical and expressive and potentiality of Roman cement
*** switches emphasis from solids to voids, from walls and roofs to the insubstantial space they enclose and shape
*** light now plays a key role, natural light that creates drama as well as illuminates
*** the heralds the Roman architectural revolution
quote from Nero when it was finished: "At last, I am going to be housed like a human being."
architects were Severus and Celer [kell-AIR]
this palace had a number of gimmicks
125-foot statue of Nero himself
assimilated to the sun god Sol
done in bronze by Zenodorus
coffered ceilings would drop fragrances and flower petals onto you as you dined
gave you a choice of seawater or saltwater, or water from the sulfurous springs of Tivoli
ceiling that revolved with the heavenly bodies
referred to as "Fabullus' prison" because it would take a lifetime to paint paintings for all the rooms
series of bridges that carry water from one part of the palace to another
much brick because they realized stone burned to easily
stuccoed over and painted
Romans because to use brick exposed but not yet in the first century