ero's house was called "aurea" (golden) because its facade was in fact covered with gold. The floor plan was rather complex and the internal decorations were of an incredible luxury.

There was a pond, too, like a sea, surrounded with buildings to represent cities, besides tracts of country, varied by tilled fields, vineyards, pastures and woods, with great numbers of wild and domestic animals. In the rest of the palace all parts were overlaid with gold and adorned with gems and mother-of-pearl. Alcoves, courtyards, a temple dedicated to water spirits with mosaics of Polyphemus, beautiful rooms such as the Octagonal Room, surmounted by a dome, and the Room of the Golden Vault, have all come to light.