Uncovering Nero’s ancient theater in Rome

Just when we think we’ve found it all, archaeologists discover new (well, very old) historic sites right below our feet.

Near the Vatican in Rome, archaeologists recently discovered a place that has been referred to in historical texts but never actually found – Nero’s Theater. Roman Emperor Nero (37-68 AD) built his theater in a pleasure garden that belonged to his grandmother Agrippina and his uncle Caligula. Pliny the Elder had written about the theater. Not being Nero’s biggest fan, he described it as “large enough to satisfy even Nero’s desire to sing before a full house.” Nero himself has been shown as a villain of history, but some people believe that he’s been misrepresented. One thing is for sure, though – the guy liked to perform music, and he had a whole private theater built to do it.

How did archaeologists even find such a site now? Well, since 2020, they’ve been excavating an area under the walled garden of the Palazzo della Rovere because the Renaissance building had plans for renovations to become a Four Seasons hotel. The building is leased to a hotel to fundraise for for Christians in the Holy Land. When development projects are set to begin in Rome, it’s routine for archaeologists to explore the area first.

During this dig, archaeologists were surprised to find clues of the first-century theater that they believe was built by Nero. They found the theater’s marble columns decorated and gold-leaf decorated plaster, and other treasures from the 10th through 15th centuries, like colored glass goblets and pottery pieces. There were seven glass chalices from the 10th century found there, and we’ve only ever found seven others – doubling our current collection. This 500-year period isn’t as well documented in Roman history, so finding this stuff is super exciting for historians. Archaeologists discovered the theater’s stairs, its stage façade and other rooms that were possibly used for costumes, too.

"This is a discovery of exceptional importance, which would bear witness to an extraordinary building from the time of the Julio-Claudian emperors, known from ancient sources, but never found," Daniela Porro, special superintendent of Rome, said in a statement.

The removable objects will be studied and then placed in museums. After the whole site has been accounted for, cataloged and properly explored, it’ll be reburied. This is the best way to make sure that it’ll be preserved for future generations. But it will take years to study everything they’ve found.

“It is a superb dig,” archaeologist Marzia Di Mento, who led the dig, told reporters. “One that every archaeologist dreams of.”