The Domus Aurea and the Roman Architectural Revolution

Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea (Golden House), is an influential building in the history of Roman architecture. Because it has been incompletely studied and poorly understood since its most important sections were excavated in the 1930s, Larry Ball's study of the palace includes a needed comprehensive analysis of its masonry, design, and abundant ancient literary evidence. Highlighting the revolutionary innovations of the Domus Aurea, Ball outlines their implications for the later development of Roman concrete architecture.