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Explore the apartments, gardens, and thermal baths of Roman villas, showcasing the opulence and innovation of Roman architecture. Discover the intricate mosaic floors, noble gardens, and indulgent thermal baths that were central to Roman villas.
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And the dwelling space, namely: 11. Hospitalia, which represent the apartments and guest rooms; 12. Apartments of the dominus and his family; but also the apartments of the vilicus (factor) and of the procurator, the latter only from the I century A.D. Some examples of Hospitalia in an archeologial site
Examples of all the apartments in the Villa of Mysteries, Pompei.
Details of mosaic floors in the apartments of the villa of Volusii (Fiano Romano- Roma) a b The manor-house apartments in the villa of Volusii are located in the south-west side of the complex, and they have been identified by the archaeologists by the precious mosaic floors, both black and white and polychrome.
Equally important are the areas designed for leisure(relax) such as: 13. Galleries, libraries, noble gardens The gardens were surrounded by long wide porticoes : they were scattered everywhere, supported by straight rows (lines) of columns. They were used for walking indoors if the weather was bad (ambulationes) or, longer and wider, they could be crossed on horseback and by litter (gestationes).
Ambulationes of a roman villa in Campania Porticoes of the villa of Stabiae, in Campania
Gestationes: porticoes of the roman villa of Piazza Armerina, Sicily. Gestationes: example of the south portico in the Villa of Mysteries in Pompei, one of the few of which there is positive evidence of cart crossing, according to scholars, because of the width of its colonnade.
The noble gardens known by the name of Viridarium, is something different: an ornamental garden within the hortus, sometimes replacing the peristylium. B. Detail from the fresco of the Villa of Livia at Prima Porta A. Recreation of viridarium, based on the fresco
According to written sources the first sizeable garden of this kind was arranged in the villa of Lucullo in about 60 b.C.. Such green areas then spread over every country villa and are to be found even in the urban one down to the rich aristocratic domus of the city. The villa of Poppea at Oplontis, in Campania
The bathrooms of the villa, the so-called thermal baths,were of two kinds : the bathroom for the service staff (latrina) and the main bathroom for the family of the dominus (balneus). Excavation of a roman latrine, in a villa in Campania. Octagonal latrine of villa del Casale in Sicily Reconstructive drawing
However the architectural attention is directed mostly towards the great thermal baths, because the country villa was an opportunity to show off the wealth and power of the owner. The development of the basic plan is divided into: 1. Apodyterium whichwas the dressing room; 1. Apodyterium of Pompei
2. Frigidarium which was the room for the cold bath. Differently from the swimming pool (piscina natatoria), the frigidarium was generally covered. If necessary, the water was kept fresh by adding snow. B. Reconstruction of frigidarium of Pompei A. Frigidarium of Pompei
3. Tepidarium whichwas the waiting room, a kind of transition hall; 4. Calidarium which was the room for the hot bath. The latter could be round or rectangular, with one or more tubs (piscinae) of hot water, or single baths.
5. The calidarium could include the Laconicum, the Sudatio (space for sweating), the alveum (tub for bathing in hot water). There was also a swimming pool outside (piscina natatoriain red) and a gym area for sport practice after bathing (gymnasium sphaeristerium in blue) Thermal baths of Diocleziano Laconicum, Thermal baths of Traiano
The heating system in the villa It consisted in hot air circulating under the floor and through the walls, called HIPOCAUSTUM. The heating floor was formed by a layer of concrete, which rested on brick pillars, rectangular or circular, called SUSPENSURAE, in an hollow space for the circulation of hot air. This system could be completed by carrying hot air also within the room walls through the ducts called TUBULI. Hypocaust of Grumentum, Basilicata Hypocaust of Predore, Bergamo
Technical innovation The indirect heating system: the hot air produced by a PRAEFURNIUM circulated under the floors of the hot compartments and inside internal cavities in the walls.The HYPOCAUSTUMwas an empty space, covered by a floor generally suspended (suspensura) on small regularly distanced pillars (pilae). Sometimes the hypocaust was replaced by a system of heat ducts that were arranged in a radial way under the floor.
