Colossus of Nero
The Colossus of Nero is an enormous statue the Emperor Nero had erected in his image in the vestibule of the Domus Aurea. The Greek architect, Zenodorus, designed the bronze statue which reached one hundred to one hundred twenty Roman feet (37m) high, depending on the source. Pliny the Elder, however, suggests that it was made out of marble. After Nero's reign, the Emperor Vespasian gave it a second life as the sun-god Helios (Colossus Solis) after the memory of Nero had fallen into disrepute. The Emperor Hadrian created a masonry base for the colossus and purportedly moved the statue to create space for the Temple of Venus and Roma near the Colosseum (Amphitheatrum Flavianum). Marble originally covered the masonry face of this pedestal which was filled with concrete in typical Roman fashion. The remains of the masonry pedestal were removed in 1936. [1] Many experts believe that the name for the Colosseum is derived from this monument.
External links
Categories
Ancient Roman architecture | Roman amphitheatre buildings | 1st century architecture | Julio-Claudian Dynasty