Roman archaeology continues to surprise us; a new discovery has in fact been made atop the famous Palatine hill where a huge room which try to imitate the earth’s movement has been found.
According to many experts the room could be the place described by Suetonius in The Lives of the Twelve Caesars.
In this book he wrote at length about this amazing room which was the work of a prodigy architect.
The room was probably part of Nero’s famous Domus Aurea, a luxurious palace surrounded by an immense portico.
Everything was covered in gold and lavishly decorated with jewels.
According to Suetonius the ceiling of the dining room was made up of sliding ivory panels and innumerable pipes from which beautiful, scented flowers would come out and rain down upon the guests.
The room which has just been discovered was always turning around itself just like earth does and was powered by a constant flow of water from the sea and two small lakes ( Albula waters).
Maria Antonietta Tomei, the chief superintendent, told reporters that he discovery was made by accident while doing maintenance works.
The excavation will continue for several weeks , so stay tuned for more information on Emperor Nero’s rotating banquet hall!
