Archaeologists Find Nero's Dining Room
Archaeologists say they have unveiled what they believe to be remains of the "dining room" of the Roman emperor Nero, part of his palatial residence built in the first century.
Lead archaeologist Francoise Villedieu says her team discovered part of a circular room, which experts believe rotated day and night to imitate the Earth's movement and impress guests.
Villedieu told journalists Tuesday that the room on the ancient Palatine Hill was supported by a pillar with a diameter of 4 meters (more than 13 feet).
She says only the foundation of the room was recovered during the four-month excavation.
The Golden Palace, also known by its Latin name Domus Aurea, rose over the ruins of a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64 A.D. and was completed in 68 A.D.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Lead archaeologist Francoise Villedieu says her team discovered part of a circular room, which experts believe rotated day and night to imitate the Earth's movement and impress guests.
Villedieu told journalists Tuesday that the room on the ancient Palatine Hill was supported by a pillar with a diameter of 4 meters (more than 13 feet).
She says only the foundation of the room was recovered during the four-month excavation.
The Golden Palace, also known by its Latin name Domus Aurea, rose over the ruins of a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64 A.D. and was completed in 68 A.D.
Popular in SciTech
- Last telegram ever to be sent July 14
- Airborne laser reveals hidden city in Cambodia
- Solar plane lands at Dulles Airport Play Video
- Chinese supercomputer named world's fastest
- NASA unveils plans to capture asteroids
- Valentina Tereshkova: First woman in space 13 Photos
- Was there a rape joke at Microsoft's Xbox One event?
- "Tweet" added to Oxford English Dictionary
5 Comments Add a Comment
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- Not unlike the rotating restaurants of today.
- reply
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- How the hell did finding Nero's dining room get turned into a political blog about Liberals & Conservatives?
- reply
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- Remember...What happens in Rome stays in Rome.
- reply
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- What was the motive power for this rotating room? Animals, people??
- reply
-
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- They speculate that it was a water-powered mechanism. Good story on BBC World.
