Wednesday July 8 we went to one of my favorite archaeological sites: Hadrian's Villa. More than a villa, it is a huge palace complex built by the emperor Hadrian. Here is a scale model of what the site would have looked like during the 120-130 AD era. Hadrian traveled throughout the empire and considered himself a gifted architect. He tried to incorporate various design elements he had seen into his buildings.
Immediately upon entering is a large reflecting pool.
On one side of the reflecting pool are apartments built for the slaves who did the work of running the complex.
The complex had several baths. This is a remnant of part of the Heliocamus Bath.
Next to the bath, an underground passageway. The slaves used these underground passages to get around the complex without being seen.
Another part of the Heliocamus Bath.
The Stadium. Shaped like a chariot-racing track, the stadium was not used for racing. It was instead a place for one to engage in "
ambulatio" a quiet, contemplative walk.
This part of the Cortile and one of the libraries on the grounds.
This is a room called, "The Room of Doric Pilasters."
A lonely column near the "
Hostpitalium" which was thought to be guest quarters for VIPs calling upon the emperor, but may have been used as housing for important imperial employees.
A bit of surviving marble floor.
A view of the "
Hospitalium" from above.
These next pictures show the different mosaic floors in the different rooms of the "
Hospitalium."
This area is called the Vale of Tempe and is thought to have been an original part of the villa that Hadrian bought and then expanded into his huge palace.
Another mosaic floor.
This area is the Piazza d'Oro
In the middle of the open space was some sort of a water feature, probably pools and fountains. On the north and south ends were pavilions to provide a shaded area for sitting or dining.
This was once thought to be a fish pond, but is now believed to have been a swimming pool.
This area was most likely a warehouse, but was also thought to have housed the Praetorian Guard that would have accompanied the emperor.
The largest bath on the grounds.
The Canopus, designed to mimic the canal in Alexandria Egypt.
A river god.
Part of the domed roof that fell.
A Temple of Venus on the lower portion of the property which I had never seen before.
A statue of Venus.
A Greek Theater, in pretty rough shape.
After Hadrian's Villa, we traveled into the town of Tivoli to see the Villa d'Este, a renaissance villa known for its fountains.
The Dragon Fountain
The Fountain of Neptune.
The water organ.
Diana of Ephesus, a mother earth goddess. Lots of boobies.
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