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Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

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Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#11

Post by tomcam »

PodcastListnr wrote: post #10
dom96 wrote: post #2

That's a really nice overview of this archaeological find. Inspiring to think about what it would have been like to dine with Nero on this structure. Are there any other such structures? Perhaps even modern ones?

Well, one famous story about dining with Nero is that he would round up local Christians, dip them in oil, crucify them, have the crosses planted around his dinner table, and light them on fire so that the burning Christians would serve as torches for his banquets. Let's see...he became emperor when he was 17. He had his own mother executed. He banished a wife for not bearing him children, and then when his wife afte…

So that was one of the best answers in the history of HN. Than you. I too have imagined Nero as the Sadam Hussein of his time. Or maybe one of the last 3 Kims.

Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#12

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

PodcastListnr wrote: post #10
dom96 wrote: post #2

That's a really nice overview of this archaeological find. Inspiring to think about what it would have been like to dine with Nero on this structure. Are there any other such structures? Perhaps even modern ones?

Well, one famous story about dining with Nero is that he would round up local Christians, dip them in oil, crucify them, have the crosses planted around his dinner table, and light them on fire so that the burning Christians would serve as torches for his banquets. Let's see...he became emperor when he was 17. He had his own mother executed. He banished a wife for not bearing him children, and then when his wife afte…

I think it's interesting that this occasional architectural trope was invented by a psychotic emperor.

Never mind a meal - it's more fun to imagine the initial design meeting with the engineers:

"An outdoor dining terrace that rotates, oh shining light of the world? Yes, I think we can do that. Oh - and gold toilets too? Yes. Of course."

Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#14

Post by [deleted] »

ethagknight wrote: post #5
tpeo wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, revolving restaurants [0] were somewhat fashionable in the 1960s. Still, I don't think they quite compare with something made in the actual 60s (early christian era). The tech behind Nero's revolving diner was probably pretty bold at the time. But it doesn't sound so cool for someone who has motion sickness. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolving_restaurant

"The Sundial" on top of the Westin in downtown Atlanta has a revolving rooftop restaurant. Generally, these restaurants turn very slowly, like 1 full revolution in 30 minutes, which is not quick enough to evoke motion sickness, at least not compared to how much the 70 story, slender tower sways on a windy day. http://www.sundialrestaurant.com

[deleted]

Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#15

Post by derekja »

saalaa wrote: post #8
clivestaples wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was a kid, my dad offered a bid to work on the construction of this house in San Diego: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3270786/California-m...

Here's the next level: http://www.domespace.com/en/home (revolving house).

Those are pretty neat. A decade or so ago I visited one being built on a 10' wide foundation ring of bearings. The motor to make the living room follow the sun wasn't installed yet so two us pushed this 30' wide flying saucer house around.

Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#18

Post by jacquesm »

PodcastListnr wrote: post #10
dom96 wrote: post #2

That's a really nice overview of this archaeological find. Inspiring to think about what it would have been like to dine with Nero on this structure. Are there any other such structures? Perhaps even modern ones?

Well, one famous story about dining with Nero is that he would round up local Christians, dip them in oil, crucify them, have the crosses planted around his dinner table, and light them on fire so that the burning Christians would serve as torches for his banquets. Let's see...he became emperor when he was 17. He had his own mother executed. He banished a wife for not bearing him children, and then when his wife afte…

Reminds me of Ceausescu.

Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#19

Post by cm2187 »

TheOtherHobbes wrote: post #12
PodcastListnr wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, one famous story about dining with Nero is that he would round up local Christians, dip them in oil, crucify them, have the crosses planted around his dinner table, and light them on fire so that the burning Christians would serve as torches for his banquets. Let's see...he became emperor when he was 17. He had his own mother executed. He banished a wife for not bearing him children, and then when his wife afte…

I think it's interesting that this occasional architectural trope was invented by a psychotic emperor. Never mind a meal - it's more fun to imagine the initial design meeting with the engineers: "An outdoor dining terrace that rotates, oh shining light of the world? Yes, I think we can do that. Oh - and gold toilets too? Yes. Of course."

France's most majestic castles are the result of megalomaniac kings and noblemen (Versailles, Vaux le Vicomte, etc).

Re: Nero’s Rotating Dining Room [video]

#20

Post by dragandj »

PodcastListnr wrote: post #10
dom96 wrote: post #2

That's a really nice overview of this archaeological find. Inspiring to think about what it would have been like to dine with Nero on this structure. Are there any other such structures? Perhaps even modern ones?

Well, one famous story about dining with Nero is that he would round up local Christians, dip them in oil, crucify them, have the crosses planted around his dinner table, and light them on fire so that the burning Christians would serve as torches for his banquets. Let's see...he became emperor when he was 17. He had his own mother executed. He banished a wife for not bearing him children, and then when his wife afte…

Do you have any links to historical documents about burning Christians by Nero? From what I've read, a large part of such stories sprang up mostly (or solely) from the early and medieval christian sources, which were dominant or even only sources at the time when christian church had the leading role in what was left of Western Roman Empire.

So, they needed a villain for the martyrdom of their saints, and Nero was very convenient to paint as one.

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