Hadrian's Villa--page 7 (of nine pages)

Architect unknown; it is likely that Hadrian participated in the design and planning of his villa
early 2nd century CE







Included on this site are the following areas of the villa:
page 1: the Pecile and the Heliocaminus Bath
page 2: areas of or near the Imperial Palace, including the Building with Doric Pillars
page 3: Maritime Theater
page 4: Philosophers' Chamber and Greek and Roman Libraries
page 5: Piazza d'Oro
page 6: Building with Fishpond and Large Baths
page 7: Praetorium, Small Baths and Vestibule, Nymphaeum with three Exedra
page 8: the Canopus
page 9: the Serapeum and the Temple of Venus


Praetorium

This was a residential area, some think for the praetorian guards who protected the emperor, others postulate that craftsmen who worked on the decoration of the villa lived here. Latrines are nearby, which also lends credence to the idea that this area was residential.
 
 

Area of Small Baths (above and below)

 

Vestibule connecting baths

 

In front of the Exedra of Antinous

Recent excavations have uncovered paved roads in this area as well as the foundations of a large exedra dedicated to Antinous with fragments of sculpture in an Egyptian style. Antinous, Hadrian's favorite, was associated with Osiris and drowned in the Nile.
 

The Nymphaeum with three Exedra

Several columns with ornate capitals still remain here. This building is described as the entrance and communications hub to various parts of the imperial palace. A garden with fountains fronted this entrance.
 
"The location of this complex, which overlooks the monumental fountain and central courtyard, has led researchers to postulate that this served as a Summer Trivialities [dining room], which was probably only closed by curtains and whose floor was paved with a rich display of marble" (Adembri 81).
 


Continue to page 8.

Work Cited and/or Consulted:
Benedetta Adembri. Hadrian's Villa [official guidebook]. Milan: Electa, 2000.
Nicoletto Lanciano. Hadrian's Villa: between heaven and earth. Rome: Apeiron, 2005.


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© 2005 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

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