HADRIAN’S VILLA AT TIVOLLI

Hadrian’s Villa was built between AD. Hadrian’s Villa was built between AD. it went through two phases of building. it went through two phases of building. in 125 the second began after Hadrian arrived backed from his travels abroad, much of which was spent in Athens. in 125 the second began after Hadrian arrived backed from his travels abroad, much of which was spent in Athens.

it was an extravagant Roman country palace covering 1.5 square kilometres. it was an extravagant Roman country palace covering 1.5 square kilometres. it was built at Tivolli, 15km north of Rome. it was built at Tivolli, 15km north of Rome. this meant Hadrian could live outside the city and away from the citizens when he was at Rome. this meant Hadrian could live outside the city and away from the citizens when he was at Rome.

The Villa was a collection of many buildings which included: pools (decorative and swimming), pools (decorative and swimming), private and guest’s quarters. private and guest’s quarters. lavish reception rooms, lavish reception rooms, an exercise yard, an exercise yard, recreation halls, recreation halls, libraries, libraries, gardens, gardens, baths. baths.

MANY BUILDINGS WERE NAMED AFTER BUILDINGS OR PLACES HADRIAN VISITED. POIKILE = named after Stoa Poikile (Painted Stoa) in Athens. POIKILE = named after Stoa Poikile (Painted Stoa) in Athens. ACADEMY = named after a district in Athens which was ACADEMY = named after a district in Athens which was associated with philiosophy. associated with philiosophy. VALE OF THE TEMPE = named after a area in Thessaly in northern Greece. VALE OF THE TEMPE = named after a area in Thessaly in northern Greece. CANOPUS = named after an island in the Nile in Egypt. CANOPUS = named after an island in the Nile in Egypt.BUT… none of these structures are copies of the original structures. none of these structures are copies of the original structures.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES USED IN BUILDINGS the walls are brick faced concrete is used throughout and covered with stucco. the walls are brick faced concrete is used throughout and covered with stucco. some walls were decorated with mosaics and frescoes. some walls were decorated with mosaics and frescoes. floors were paved with polychrome marbles. floors were paved with polychrome marbles. sometimes the floors were even set with both polychrome and monochrome mosaics. sometimes the floors were even set with both polychrome and monochrome mosaics.

EGYPTIAN ELEMENTS IN THE VILLA the crocodile sculptures that surround the Canopus canal. long-ness of the pool representing the Nile itself. Egyptian granite used in the courtyard of the Piazza D’Oro.

GREEK ELEMENTS IN THE VILLA mosaics of many colours (polychrome). mosaics of many colours (polychrome). double colonnades. double colonnades. Corinthian capitals. Corinthian capitals. Caryatids and copies of other Greek sculptures. Caryatids and copies of other Greek sculptures. names of certain buildings. names of certain buildings.

ROMAN ELEMENTS IN THE VILLA use of the arch and vault. use of the arch and vault. the types of buildings and the layout of these buildings. the types of buildings and the layout of these buildings. decoration with mosaics and frescoes. decoration with mosaics and frescoes.

HADRIANIC ELEMENTS IN THE VILLA the circular nature of the buildings show Hadrian’s interest in architectural form and design. the circular nature of the buildings show Hadrian’s interest in architectural form and design. use of curves, domes, and pumpkin domes. use of curves, domes, and pumpkin domes. interior space given much more emphasis than ever before. interior space given much more emphasis than ever before. incorporation of water into the architectural plan. incorporation of water into the architectural plan. fondness of polychrome mosaics and Greek statues. fondness of polychrome mosaics and Greek statues.

PIAZZA D’ORO Piazza D’Oro means “Golden Court” because of its yellow mosaics found in the courtyard and because of the wealth of finds discovered here. Piazza D’Oro means “Golden Court” because of its yellow mosaics found in the courtyard and because of the wealth of finds discovered here. the dimension of the courtyard was 60m x 51m. the dimension of the courtyard was 60m x 51m. it had a double colonnade which had twice as many columns on the outside as on the inside. it had a double colonnade which had twice as many columns on the outside as on the inside. groups of rooms and entrance chambers surrounded the central court. groups of rooms and entrance chambers surrounded the central court. a long pool ran down the centre of the courtyard and was surrounded by gardens. a long pool ran down the centre of the courtyard and was surrounded by gardens.

GREAT COLONNADED CENTRAL COURTYARD the courtyard was entered through a “pumpkin” domed vestibule on the north-west side. the courtyard was entered through a “pumpkin” domed vestibule on the north-west side. on the south-eastern wall was another dome that was pierced by a central light hole. Off this dome are 4 small rooms that are screened by two columns each that were used to receive guests. on the south-eastern wall was another dome that was pierced by a central light hole. Off this dome are 4 small rooms that are screened by two columns each that were used to receive guests. these rooms were lit by other rooms with light wells in their roofs. these rooms were lit by other rooms with light wells in their roofs. their walls alternate between convex and concave curves which helps to create the effect of movement. their walls alternate between convex and concave curves which helps to create the effect of movement. a curved nymphaeum comes off this dome and has an artificial grotto complete with a pool. a curved nymphaeum comes off this dome and has an artificial grotto complete with a pool.

MARITIME THEATRE this was NOT a theatre at all but Hadrian’s private retreat. this circular island is surrounded by: 1. a moat, 2. a barrel vaulted portico, 3. a colonnade of un-fluted Corinthian columns, 4. a high circular wall. these helped to keep it separate from the rest of the Villa. the only access onto the island was over two drawbridges. air, light and visibility was provided by columns instead of a solid wall.

ROOMS ON THE ISLAND bathing facilities and a plunge pool, bathing facilities and a plunge pool, a portico and a perisytle courtyard, a portico and a perisytle courtyard, two small bedrooms, two small bedrooms, a dining room or Triclinium. a dining room or Triclinium.

MARITIME THEATRE

CANOPUS CANAL was constructed between AD. was constructed between AD. the canopus canal was a long pool with semi-circular ends surrounded by columns and statues with a large half-dome at one end. the canopus canal was a long pool with semi-circular ends surrounded by columns and statues with a large half-dome at one end. design influenced by temple of Serapis in Canopus, Egypt. design influenced by temple of Serapis in Canopus, Egypt. copies of Greek originals sculptures surround the pool. copies of Greek originals sculptures surround the pool. there are Caryatids adapted from those seen on the Acropolis in Athens. there are Caryatids adapted from those seen on the Acropolis in Athens.

SERAPEUM inside the half-dome is the Nymphaeum (fountain) where water trickled into niches built into the pumice walls. inside the half-dome is the Nymphaeum (fountain) where water trickled into niches built into the pumice walls. there was also an outdoor dining area with a permanent concrete couch for relaxing and eating. there was also an outdoor dining area with a permanent concrete couch for relaxing and eating. the walls were lined with glass mosaics. the walls were lined with glass mosaics.

GREEK AND LATIN LIBRARIES these were two buildings next to the northern colonnaded wall. these were two buildings next to the northern colonnaded wall. they were probably more of a dining area than a library. they were probably more of a dining area than a library.

GUEST ROOMS to the west of the complex were the Palace’s guest rooms. to the west of the complex were the Palace’s guest rooms. there were five rooms on either side of a central passageway with floors that are intricately patterned with black and white mosaics. there were five rooms on either side of a central passageway with floors that are intricately patterned with black and white mosaics.

POIKILE this was a long area (232m x 97m) with a portico on all four sides. this was a long area (232m x 97m) with a portico on all four sides. it held a long pool (107m x 26m). it held a long pool (107m x 26m). a shady portico (a row of columns connected by a vaulted roof to a wall) surrounded the area. a shady portico (a row of columns connected by a vaulted roof to a wall) surrounded the area.

HADES these were long underground passageways near the Academy that took their name from the Underworld. these were long underground passageways near the Academy that took their name from the Underworld.