HADRIAN’S VILLA

Date:118-134AD

How do we know this? Brick stamps found on site give two phases of construction 118-125 and 125-134AD

Area: 1.5 sq km

Materials: Brick-faced concrete, covered with stucco

Location: Countryside near Tivoli.

Built for: The Emperor Hadrian’s personal use

The Academy (Guestrooms)Named after a district in Athens (associated with philosophy).

Piazza D’Oro (a large courtyard / peristyle with a pool in the center, surrounded by gardens and a double colonnade)Named in modern times. Also known as the “Golden Court” because of the many wonderful things found here in ancient times or because of the yellow / golden toned mosaics.

Maritime Theatre (Hadrian’s private rooms)This place was named in modern times because it is a circular island surrounded by a moat and entered by a draw bridge.

Poikile (a long courtyard with a pool in the middle and surrounding portico)Named after the Stoa Poikile (painted porch) a place in the agora (marketplace) in Athens. Associated with philosophy.Portico = a row of columns connected by a vaulted roof to a wall

Canopus (Outdoor pool area with a ‘sun-room’ at the end) Named after an island in the delta of the river Nile in Egypt. Famous for its sanctuary of the god Serapis (god of underworld). The Serapeum / nympaeum at the end of the pool is named after this god.Nympaeum = a man-made grotto (cave) with fountains

Vale of Tempe (A park / garden) Named after a place in Thessaly, Greece.

The Canopus

Serapeum: a semicircular area consisting of a dining area with a half ‘pumpkin’ dome and a nymphaeum (water feature) with niches holding statues or fountains.

Canopus: A body of water based on the Nile River in a canal shape between two hills, with a colonnade on three sides.

Piazza D’OroPumpkin- domed entrance way

Colonnaded Courtyard

Large Octagonal Hall with domed roof and small oculus

Nymphaeum

Poikile

Maritime Theatre

Colonnaded Walkway

Central Courtyard

BedroomsDrawbridges

Dining Room

Baths Entrance way

Egyptian Features

• The names of parts of the Villa eg. Canopus and Serapeum – taken from places he had visited.

• Use of materials eg. Egyptian granite in the courtyard of Piazza d’Oro

• The statues eg. The crocodile next to the Canopus.

Greek Features• The names of parts of the

Villa eg. Poikile – Taken from places he has visited.

• The use of the Greek architectural order eg. A colonnade of Ionic columns in the Maritime Theatre.

• Copies of Greek statues eg. Caryatids – adapted from those seen on the Erechtheion on the Acropolis in Athens.

• Influence from Greek painting on the Mosaics decorating the Villa eg. The Lion Mosaic and The Goat Mosaic.

Roman /Hadrianic Features

• The use of arch and vault.• The types of buildings eg.

Baths.• Brickfaced concrete

covered in stucco.• Idea of a country

residence.• The decoration with

mosaics.

• Domes with central holes for light like that of the Pantheon in various shapes eg. Pumpkin dome.

• Emphasis on curve.• Incorporation of water in

the architectural plan.• Fondness for

polychrome mosaics.• The number of copies of

Greek statues.