Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – The Domus Aurea has as soon as once more revealed a rare discovery associated to the workshops accountable for the frescoes on this monumental residence, which Emperor Nero commissioned.
The Domus Aurea, Emperor Nero’s grand palace in historical Rome, was accomplished within the 1st century C.E. This spectacular Golden Home was constructed following the Nice Fireplace of 64 C.E., an occasion for which Nero confronted accusations of getting began to make room for his new palace.
Domus Aurea, Nero’s Golden Home, Rome. Credit score: Andy Montgomery – CC BY-SA 2.0
Throughout archaeological work on the Domus Aurea, researchers found a uncommon and wonderful piece of Egyptian blue, often called the world’s first artificial pigment. Egyptian blue is acknowledged because the oldest synthetic pigment, courting again roughly 5,000 years to a tomb portray from the reign of Ka-sen, Egypt’s First Dynasty’s final king.
Egyptian blue was extensively utilized in historical instances and performed a big function in artwork and ornament. It was generally utilized in wall work, tombs, mummies’ coffins, and as a ceramic glaze known as Egyptian faience. This pigment’s use prolonged past Egypt to Mesopotamia, Greece, and even distant areas of the Roman Empire. Since Egyptian blue was not naturally occurring, its inclusion in artworks signified appreciable status and worth.
Credit score: Parco archeologico del Colosseo
The ingot discovered on the Domus Aurea weighs 2.4 kilograms (5.2 kilos) and is comparable in dimension to a swollen grapefruit. Usually encountered in powdered type or as small fragments—similar to these discovered at Pompeii—Egyptian blue not often seems in such substantial items. This extraordinary discovery has astonished scientists attributable to its unprecedented dimension and weight inside archaeological data, indicating a excessive stage of experience amongst artisans concerned in crafting Nero’s residence.
Sala della Sfinge (Sphinx Corridor) inside Domus Aurea. Credit score: Public Domain
The Colosseum Archaeological Park has introduced in a press assertion that current excavations have uncovered vital findings, together with traces of workshops the place supplies for the palace’s frescoes have been ready. Among the many discoveries are two jars from the palace’s development interval, containing remnants of pigments similar to yellow ochre, crimson earth, and realgar—a crimson mineral pigment. These findings present worthwhile insights into the strategies used to create the intricate frescoes that adorned the palace partitions.
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The workshops performed a vital function in producing supplies for Domus Aurea’s elaborate inside. Researchers on the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum are hopeful that their ongoing work will reveal extra about Egyptian blue and the way historical artisans utilized these vibrant pigments.
Credit score: Parco archeologico del Colosseo
Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, remarked on this discovery: “The attract conveyed by this pigment’s deep blue is unimaginable.” She additional famous that after once more, Domus Aurea captivates by showcasing the brilliance of colours utilized by painters who expertly adorned this beautiful imperial palace.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Employees Author
