Nero's rotating dining room discovered?

[Colonel Olrik]

A gearing and shafting system linked to a capstan turned by slaves seems far more likely to me then anything. This kind of technology would be simple and reliable. I don’t know why you’d hydraulics into the equation. The rate of rotation might not be continuous for keeping down the noise of all the moving parts, which was bound to have been a problem without modern bearings.

You're right in that it was probably slave work. I suggested hydraulics because Romans had a good knowledge of the mechanics involved, unlike steam machines which require significantly better engineering and tolerances in manufacturing. The slow angular speed helps, I don't imagine it's hard to make an artificial channel from a reservoir somewhere at a higher altitude that activates the shaft/gear system on request to achieve a continuous, regular motion.

[Sea Skimmer]

If it was on the surface a waterwheel wouldn’t be unlikely, but since this is underground that is less safe and practical. Waterwheels also tend to be nosy as hell, a result of all the running water and the huge live load on bearings which are basically just wood packed with grease, it'd be kind of annoying having that echoing down the halls. Construction costs would also be much higher vs. a capstan that need only be manned when in use. But who knows, maybe in a few years they'll have some conclusions announced.

[Thanas]

The pictures do apparently show a capstan like system in place.