Una exceptional discovery what happened a few days ago heart of Rome, after years of excavations, of a building that coincides with what must have been the Theater of Nero where the emperor performed his poetic and singing works.
The ancient theater of Nero
Of this building, the Theatrum Neronis, from XNUMXst century AD., they had also talked about it in their works too Pliny, Suetonius and Tacitus describing it in great detail. The great Latin authors report that Nero had a large theater built where he tried his hand at his poetic, singing and musical performances.
No trace of it had ever been found so far.
Structure
In the courtyard of the building a few steps from Vatican, in the center of Rome, two structures were found in opus latericium which overlooked an open courtyard perhaps surrounded by a portico. The buildings date fromJulio-Claudian age as also evidenced by the dates six brick stamps found on the bricks.
The first structure has a hemicycle plan, with radial entrances and stairs and walls, and coincides with the theater cave, where the bleachers for the public were located. There scaenae frons was oriented to the west.
The decorative apparatus is of the Ionic type and from the remains it can be deduced that it was covered with white and colored marble and with stucco covered with gold leaf, as in the famous Domus Aurea of Nero.
The second building, however, perpendicular to the first, was used for service functions.
The finding
The discovery took place following the campaign of Archaeological excavations, started in 2000, led by Special Superintendence of Rome in the courtyard and gardens of Oak Palace, headquarters ofEquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
The remains concern the left side of the hemicycle cavea, the stucco and gold leaf decorations, columns worked with precious marbles and some rooms used as costume and stage set deposits. Also discovered the Horti of Agrippina; here Caligula had a large circus built for horse racing, and later Nero the theatre.
Also found were coins, worked bone utensils, glass and ceramics.
The archaeological investigation, which is still ongoing, has returned exceptional finds ranging from the late Republican age to the XNUMXth century, thus also including the medieval era.
The Superintendency and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem are working together on the creation of a project that will allow the excavations to be valorised and made at least partially usable; some of the objects found will be exhibited inside the Palazzo della Rovere.
cover photo from Pixabay
