Palace of Domitian

The Palace of Domitian, also known as the Domus Flavia or the Flavian Palace, was completed by Domitian in 92 CE.
It was a massive complex that dominated the Palatine Hill in Rome and all Roman Emperors then used it as their main Place of Residence.

The building was built of bricks and concrete and was segregated into three areas:
- The Domus Flavia, a West Wing for conducting public business.
- The Domus Augustana, an East Wing with private residential apartments.
- The Gardens and Hippodrome, attached to the eastern side of the Domus Augustana.

The western part of the Palace was where the Emperor conducted business and affairs of state.

A road left the Forum Romanum and led to the North exterior of the Palace. fronted by a Portico. The Portico ran along the north wall, then followed down the west wall.
There were three rooms behind the Portico.

The Aula Regia

The Aula Regia was the Audience Chamber where the Emperor held his Court and conducted formal ceremonies and meetings. His chair was located in an apse in the south wall.
The ceiling was 90 feet high (30m). The walls were faced with marble veneer with purple marble columns.
There were eight alcoves for eight giant statues. Two of these were, Hercules and Bacchus, made of rare green Egyptian Sandstone, and are over 11 feet (3.5m) tall.
They are now located in the Farnese Collection, housed in the Archeological Museum in Parma.

The Larario

The Larario to the right, was probably where the Praefectus Praetorio conducted his business.

The Basilica

The Basilica to the left, may have been the office where the Emperor conducted his informal business.

The Aula Regia led south into a huge central Peristyle, a courtyard surrounded by rows of columns and a covered porch.
In the middle of the courtyard was an ornamental garden and large pool. In the centre of the pool was an octagonal island with channels and fountains made of marble.

The Aula Ottogonale

There was a West entrance through the Aula Ottogonale, with Triclinia on either side furnished with reclining couches. On the East side were more Triclinia.

The Banquet Hall

The Peristyle led south again into the Cenatio, or Banquet Hall which was almost the same size as the Aula Regia. The floor was covered in a huge mosaic. Here the Emperor would entertain his guests. The views were spectacular, north onto the Peristyle and fountains, or both east and west onto courtyards with marble columns and fountains.

This was a similar sized Building which mirrored the western part and held the Emperor’s private residential apartments.

The Vestibulum

This was a large Entrance Hall, for visitors to wait to have an audience with the Emperor.

The Peristyle

Private Rooms and Apartments

Behind this Peristyle was a group of private rooms and apartments leading to a third garden.

The Baths

The area to the right of the Vestibulum and Peristyle held a private Hippodrome and another garden.

The Palace of Domitian overlooked the Circus Maximus which formed the southern perimeter.

Each morning, starting before dawn, from roughly 0600 to 0800, a crowd gathered for an audience with the Emperor.
The Roman tradition of Salutatio, was the requirement of Client, in formal dress (the Toga), to attend on his Roman Patron at dawn, and greet him to show him reverence or friendship.
Visitors were divided into groups based on class, and admitted by importance of their rank.
Although it is not known, they were possibly admitted into the Vestibulum first, then high rank visitors would be seated in the Recliniums or Peristyles, before being granted an audience.

The Imperial Horseguard, also known as the ‘Equites Singulares Augusti’, guarded the Palace from 98-312 CE, possibly wearing swords, ceremonial breastplates and smart red capes to impress visitors, although their standard uniform was the tunic.
The Palace Guard were selected for their exceptional height, muscular size and impressive appearance.

Domus Flavia, Rome