Encyclopedia Ichnographica | Thermae Neronianae | 1/1 |
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The second bathing establishment in Rome, the thermae Neronianae, was built by Nero in 64 A.D., after the great fire. It was near the Pantheon and is spoken of as remarkable for its magnificence. For some unknown reason these baths were entirely rebuilt by Alexander Severus about 228 A.D., and were henceforth known only as the themae Alexandrinae. They occupied a rectangular area extending from the northwest corner of the Pantheon to the stadium of Domitian (piazza Navona), and although nothing remains above ground except a few portions of walls built into the palazzo Madama, excavations made at various times within this area have brought to light architectural fragments of great beauty and value. Among them are four columns of red granite, two of which were used in the restoration of the pronaos of the Pantheon; an enormous basin for a fountain, 6.70 meters in diameter, cut from a single block of red granite, with fragments of several others; white marble capitals; and fragments of columns of porphyry, pavonazetto, and gray granite. (Platner) |
Vincenzo Fasolo, "The Campo Marzio of G. B. Piranesi". |
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