DOI chapter:
Chap. VI: Observations on Ancient Names - On Roman Architecture - Defects of the Modern Style - Progress of the Art - Papal Government - Its Character - Consequences of the French Invasion and Preponderance of the present and future State of Rome
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0228
SIS
CLASSICAL TOUR
α.νυ
like Lis uncle Julius Caesar, and the other great
popular leaders before him, he was content to in-
habit a plain unadorned mansion, while he dis-
played all his riches and munificence in edifices
devoted to public use*. Nero was the first who
ventured to expend the public treasures in the
erection of an imperial residence \ and he built
that celebrated palace of which Pliny f relates
some wonderful particulars, and which, from the
gold that shone in such profusion on every side,
was called Domits Aurea\. His example, how-
ever wras deemed opposite to the civic character
affected by the earlier Emperors, who, as Taci-
tus judiciously observes, satisfied with the reality
avoided the parade of power. Hence Vespasian
* Suet. Oct. 72. f Lib. xxxvi. f Suet. Nero. 31.
The latter gives somes curious details of this enormous
edifice. In the vestibule stood a colossal statue of Nero,
one hundred and twenty feet in height; there were three
porticos, each a mile in length, and supported by three rows
of pillars ; the garden seems to have resembled a park, and
contained an immense piece of water, woods, vineyards, and
pasture ground, herds* and even wild beasts. On the banks
of the Jake rose various edifices that resembled towns. In
the palace itself the rooms were lined with gold, gems, and
mother of pearl. The ceilings of the dining rooms were
adorned with ivory pannels, so contrived as to scatter flowers,
and shower perfumes on the guests. The principal banquet»
CLASSICAL TOUR
α.νυ
like Lis uncle Julius Caesar, and the other great
popular leaders before him, he was content to in-
habit a plain unadorned mansion, while he dis-
played all his riches and munificence in edifices
devoted to public use*. Nero was the first who
ventured to expend the public treasures in the
erection of an imperial residence \ and he built
that celebrated palace of which Pliny f relates
some wonderful particulars, and which, from the
gold that shone in such profusion on every side,
was called Domits Aurea\. His example, how-
ever wras deemed opposite to the civic character
affected by the earlier Emperors, who, as Taci-
tus judiciously observes, satisfied with the reality
avoided the parade of power. Hence Vespasian
* Suet. Oct. 72. f Lib. xxxvi. f Suet. Nero. 31.
The latter gives somes curious details of this enormous
edifice. In the vestibule stood a colossal statue of Nero,
one hundred and twenty feet in height; there were three
porticos, each a mile in length, and supported by three rows
of pillars ; the garden seems to have resembled a park, and
contained an immense piece of water, woods, vineyards, and
pasture ground, herds* and even wild beasts. On the banks
of the Jake rose various edifices that resembled towns. In
the palace itself the rooms were lined with gold, gems, and
mother of pearl. The ceilings of the dining rooms were
adorned with ivory pannels, so contrived as to scatter flowers,
and shower perfumes on the guests. The principal banquet»