The Roman Villa del Casale
The Villa del Casale is a late Roman villa whose remains are located a few kilometers (about 4) from Piazza Armerina, in the Casale district, on the provincial road to Barrafranca. The Villa is located at the foot of Mount Mangone, it was built around the third or fourth century AD
on an area already occupied since the IIsec. from a "rustic villa" and in the center of a rural settlement within a large estate. The structure was built following the course of the land so it is structured in terraces on three different levels and spread over an area of about 4.000. In December 1997, the Villa was included in the World Heritage List.
Historical notes and brief description
The Villa was built around the third or fourth century AD on an area already occupied since the second century. from a "rustic villa" and in the center of a rural settlement within a large estate. The Villa, or parts of it, although with various functional adaptations were also inhabited in the Arab period (X-XI century) and Norman period (XI-XII century). name of Plàtia was destroyed in 1160-61 and rebuilt after a few years in its current location in Piazza Armerina. The Villa was abandoned and nothing remained of it but ruins, even if in the vicinity, agricultural housing settlements did not have to completely disappear. In the fifteenth century there was a center known as Casale, from which the Villa took its current name. The ruins of the Villa were visible at the time of Jean Pierre Houel who visited Sicily in 1776-1779 and who was able to represent the ruins in one of his watercolors. After the first excavations in 1812 (Sabatino del Muto) and 1881 (Luigi Pappalardo), a first excavation campaign was conducted in 1929 by Paolo Orsi, who discovered the first mosaic (the labors of Hercules), and a second one, conducted in various shots from 1935 to 1939 by Giuseppe Cultrera, under the patronage of Biagio Pace, brought to light the whole triclinium with the elliptical portico in front of it. But the real excavations that have brought to light most of the Villa took place in (1950-54), under the direction of Gino Vinicio Gentili. In the 70s the restorations that led to the Plexiglas roof system designed by the architect. Franco Minissi. The excavation is still to be considered incomplete, because the dependencies of the villa remain to be discovered and are still buried in the surroundings. In recent years it has been underway, by the excavation mission of the La Sapienza University of Rome directed by prof. Patrizio Pensabene, an excavation campaign in the southern area, which has brought to light an ancient medieval town. In 2006 a second phase of restoration begins which involves the replacement of the previous roof. In 2012 the Villa was reopened to the public, even if some rooms are not yet fully open to visitors.
The Villa has four nuclei connected to each other:
* monumental entrance with three arches with polygonal courtyard (1-2);
* thermal complex (3-10);
* central body of the villa, organized around a quadrangular peristyle courtyard, with a garden with a central basin (11-31);
* Triclinium preceded by an ovoid peristyle surrounded in turn by another group of rooms (33, 34, 36);
Many of the halls of the residence have the floor with figured mosaics in colored tiles.
For a detailed description and related images, see the area below.
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XNUMXst Group 1- Entrance 2 - Polygonal courtyard 3 - Large Latrine 5 - Vestibule of the Baths II ° Group 11 - Vestibule of the Adventus 17 - Room of the Norman oven 18 - Internal room 19 - Kitchen 20 - Hall of Dance
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VI ° Group 43 - The great Basilica 45 - Fruit Cubicle 47 - Aqueduct + private latrine |
III ° Group 21 - Star Mosaic Room 22 - Lost Mosaic Room 23 - Hall of Seasons 24 - Hall of the Fishermen Cupids 25 - Diaeta of the Small Hunt 26 - Mosaic room with octagons 27 - Mosaic room with squares XNUMXth Group 28 - Corridor of the great hunt 31 - Diaeta of Orpheus XNUMXth Group |
Below is a detailed description of the individual areas.
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1 - Entrance (hostium)
The access to the Villa and to the baths is monumental and in the shape of a Roman triumphal arch, it was characterized by a passage with three arches, flanked by columns and embellished with fountains.
2 - Polygonal courtyard
The entrance leads to a horseshoe-shaped courtyard surrounded by marble columns with Ionic capitals, in the center are the remains of a square fountain. From the courtyard it was possible to access the baths, through the aedicule of Venus (4) or to the Villa, through the Vestibule of the Adventus (11)
The thermal complex has the typical layout and layout of Roman baths and is constitutive of the gymnasium, the large exedra-shaped latrine, the anointing room from the thermal baths: frigidarium, tepidarium and calidarium
3 - Large Latrine
On the left de
The polygonal courtyard is the Great Latrine. The area where the seats available to users of the latrine were placed was covered while the central part was without a roof in order to ventilate the room.
4 - Aedicule of Venus
It was the service entrance to the spa complex, the quadrangular environment has a mosaic on the floor made of squares and lozenges.
5 - Vestibule of the Baths
From the aedicule of Venus (4) you enter the Vestibule of the Baths, a square room that allowed access to the Gymnasium (15). The Vestibule has a geometric mosaic floor.
6 - Praefurnia
The room consists of three ovens that were used to heat the air and water of the spa.
7 - Calidarium
Il calidarium (o calidarium, from caldus o calidus = "Hot") was the part of the spa intended for hot water baths and steam baths. The calidarium of the Roman Vila del Casale consisted of three rooms close to the ovens (6): two with a tub for hot baths, one without a tub, probably used for steam baths (sauna).
8 - Tepidarium
Il tepidarium (from tepidus = lukewarm) was the part of the spa intended for baths in lukewarm water. From the Calidarium, the Tepidarium was reached, a warm environment that prepared guests for the Frigidarium (10) where it was possible to take cold baths or the Hall of Unctions (9). Under the floor was an empty space where the hot air introduced by the Praefurnia circulated (6)
9 - Hall of Unctions
After the hot baths or the sauna, a nice sauna! Quadrangular room with mosaic floor with massage scenes.
10 - Frigidarium
Il frigidarium (from frigidus = cold) was the part of the spa where cold water baths could be taken. The restaurant consists of an octagonal room with six apsidal niches on the walls, two of which are used for the entrances. The mosaic in the central room again depicts a scene with marine subjects: Nereids, Tritons and sea horses, whose composition adapts to the octagonal shape of the environment. In the apsidal niches, perhaps used as changing rooms, characters are depicted undressing or dressing, aided by slaves.
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11 - Vestibule of the Adventus
The Vestibule was the ceremonial entrance (adventus). The floor has a mosaic of hexagons generating triangles and rectangles. In the center of the floor the remains of a scene with figures giving the salute (salutatio).
12 - Temple of the lares and 13 - Peristyle
The vestibule leads to the rectangular peristyle with 32 marble columns surmounted by Corinthian capitals. The corridors of the Peristyle have a well-preserved floor consisting of a series of laurel wreaths including heads of animals of many different species (felines, antelopes, bulls, wild goats, horses, onagers, deer, rams, an elephant and an ostrich. ). The orientation of the heads changes in two points: at the entrance from the vestibule, and at the foot of the staircase leading to the complex of the apsidal hall on the eastern side. Inside the Peristyle, in front of the entrance, there is a small one aedicule with apse (small temple), the “Sacello dei Lari”, framed by two columns of the peristyle and with a geometric mosaic floor.
14 - Small Latrine
The small private latrine or latrine was available to the guests of the Villa. Trapezoidal in shape, it has a floor depicting animals. Along the wall there were seats with a central hole. The seats currently visible are a concrete reconstruction of the marble originals.
15 - Circus hall or gym
Corridor ending in apses at both ends and decorated with the mosaic of the Circus. There is represented the Circus Maximus of Rome, full of details, with a chariot race in progress, won by the faction Prasina or "greens". The Romans loved the chariot races and cheered on the charioteers, who wore the colors of four factions: red, green, white and blue. In the apse to the right of the temples of divinities: Jupiter Ercole and Dea Roma; immediately afterwards servants in the act of handing helmets and whips to the charioteers. This corridor was probably used for indoor gymnastics.
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16 - Vestibule of the Domina
Small trapezoidal room with a mosaic floor showing 5 figures that go towards the baths. We wanted to identify the scene in the Domina of the Villa accompanied by their children and two maids. From here the owners accessed the Baths.
17 - Room of the Norman oven
Service area with mosaic floor with geometric designs: octagons with circular bands inside, braids in the shape of crosses and hexagons with flowers. In the Norman period, the part of the floor that was cut housed a furnace for cooking the clay used to build vases.
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18 - Internal room
Service area for the kitchen (19) with mosaic floor with geometric designs: squares and hexagons inside which there are six-pointed stars enclosing six-petaled flowers.
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19 - Kitchen
Rectangular environment, does not have a mosaic floor, has a rectangular basin and a masonry counter.
20 - Hall of Dance
Rectangular room with partially preserved mosaic floor. The mosaic depicts six pairs of characters, arranged on two registers. The interpretation is controversial: some have seen episodes of rats, perhaps the rape of the Sabine women, while others, due to the lack of violent attitudes, hypothesize rather that it is a question of country dances.
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21 - Star Mosaic Room
Service area with mosaic floor with geometric designs with two-square star motifs and flowers.
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22 - Lost Mosaic Room
Rectangular room probably intended for guests. The floor mosaic is lost.
23 - Hall of Seasons
Quadrangular environment with a geometric-figurative mosaic floor. The scene is made up of large polychrome hexagons containing female and male figures representing the four seasons, fish and birds.
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24 - Hall of the Fishermen Cupids
The room has a floor mosaic with Amorini (or Eroti) fishermen. Putti are depicted aboard four boats, intent on fishing while other cupids play with dolphins, in the background the vision of a villa by the sea. The Putti they represent the infant figure of Eros, the god of love and in this form they are also known by the name of Eroti or Cupids
25 - Diaeta of the Small Hunt
The room is open on the northern side of the peristyle from which it was accessed, it has the floor mosaic of the "Little hunt". Twelve scenes are depicted arranged on four registers;
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in the first register from above, a hunter and his dogs in pursuit of a fox;
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in the second register, a sacrifice to Diana, between two men carrying a bound boar on their shoulders and a third carrying a hare;
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in the third register, two men spying on some birds on the leaves of a tree, a vast scene with the owner's banquet with his attendants in the woods, a hunter in the act of hitting a hare with venabulum;
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in the fourth I record the capture of three deer with a net and the killing of a wild boar that attacks a wounded hunter and the figures of two servants hidden behind the rock: one tries to hit the beast with a stone, the other touches the front.
26 - Mosaic room with octagons
Quadrangular environment with mosaic floor with geometric designs with octagonal motifs with concave sides generating circles and spindles.
27 - Mosaic room with squares
Quadrangular environment with mosaic floor with geometric designs with checkered motifs surrounded by braids. Inside the squares four fused that form circles containing flowers.
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28 - Corridor of the great hunt
From the eastern end of the peristyle you enter the corridor of the "Grande Caccia" (65,93 m long and 5 m wide), with the apsed ends. The corridor divides the rooms of the peristyle from those adjacent to the large Basilica. The corridor was accessible from the peristyle through three large stairways.
The floor mosaic features 7 scenes:
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The first scene depicts captures of different animals: the panther, the antelope and the wild boar;
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The second scene depicts a port town with a luxurious building in the background - perhaps a maritime villa -, a knight supervising the transport of a heavy load. Four men carry on their backs some beasts locked inside crates, an officer whips a slave and other servants drag ostriches and antelopes on a ship;
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In the third scene, which is located in front of the entrance to the apsidal hall, a tract of land located between the two seas is depicted. In the center, a group of three characters observes the landing of animals from two ships coming from either side.
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The fourth scene represents the embarkation of the animals in an eastern port, perhaps Egypt, as the presence of an elephant, a tiger and a dromedary would suggest. The hunters wear oriental-style breeches.
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The fifth scene depicts the capture of rhinos, red flowers and characteristic pagoda buildings are visible.
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In the sixth scene I know they see in the upper part a fight between wild beasts and a lion attacking a man. In the lower part there is a character, flanked by two soldiers with shields.
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The seventh scene depicts the capture of a tiger. A crystal ball is thrown towards the tiger, the animal, seeing its own image reflected in the sphere, gets distracted, allowing the hunters to capture it. The last episode, quite singular, shows the capture of a griffin with a human bait.
29 - Mosaic room with squares
Quadrangular environment with mosaic floor with geometric designs with squared motifs.
30 - Girls in Bikini Room
Rectangular room with mosaic floor and frescoed walls. The mosaic depicts 10 girls in bikinis intended for athletic games: discus throwing, ball play, weight training and cross-country running. Bottom left: the coronation scene of the winners.
31 - Diaeta of Orpheus
Rectangular room with apse on the bottom where there is a copy of the statue of Apollo conquering the teneberae (Apollo Linceo). The remains of a fountain are visible in the center. It was perhaps a music room or a library. Here, in the center of the mosaic, is the singer intent on playing the lyre, surrounded by more than fifty different species of animals: the phoenix, the griffin, the crocodile and a rich group of birds.
32 - Courtyard
Passage courtyard, connected the Great Basilica (43), the corridor of the great hunting (28) and the patronal apartments with the Triclinium (36)
33 - Ovoid peristyle
Ellipsoidal portico. At the bottom an apse with three niches which probably housed marble statues. In the center, the remains of a fountain. The porch floor features a mosaic with busts of animals: tigers, lions, wolves, deer, horses, etc.
On the sides of the portico there are 6 small rooms: three on the south side (P, R, Q) with fishing scenes and three on the north side (M, N, O) with scenes relating to the grape harvest.
34 - Corridor between Peristyle and Ovoid Portico
Passage courtyard, connected the peristyle (13) with the Triclinium (36)
35 - The kitchen
Environment identified as a kitchen
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36 - Triclinium
Large square room with three apses and a colonnaded entrance. The whole room can be divided into four parts. The large central panel with the 12 Labors of Hercules, the left apse with the Apotheosis of Hercules, that of the center with the gigantomachia and the one on the right, finally, with the episode of Lycurgus and Ambrosia. The room was destined to dining room (triclinium). In the three apses there were beds on which the diners stretched out to eat their meals.
37 - Diaeta of Arion
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apsidal environment whose floor mosaic presents the mythological scene of mythical Arione, in the center, which enchants marine animals, newts, Nereids and sea horses with music and poetry. In the apse there is a large ocean head surrounded by various species of fish. The helmeted hairstyles of the Nereids provided important chronological data based on the numismatic portraits of the empresses of the Constantinian dynasty.
38 - Atrium with arcade in the hemicycle
Porch atrium whose mosaic, which adorns the floor, presents winged cupids, on some boats, intent on fishing: in the background elegant buildings and a fountain in the center.
39 - Musicians and actors cubicle
Rectangular room with apse, used as a bedroom (cubicle). In the mosaic floor of the apse two girls, seated on large baskets, intend to weave wreaths of roses; near them two small corbels full of flowers. On the floor of the room in front of it a mosaic divided into three registers: four players, assisted by a referee, in the first register; male and female actors who give life to a comic representation, in the second; and three characters, next to some instruments, you mean to another representation in the last register
40 - Small Circus Vestibule
Rectangular room with mosaic floor. The scene represents circus games in which children compete. Four chariots compete in the arena, pulled by birds and guided by child charioteers; a child in charge of the award ceremony carries the palm for the winner in his hand
41 - Vestibule of Eros and Pan
Rectangular room with mosaic floor. The scene represents il fighting of Eros and Pan, attended by children and young women. The objects on the back table are crowns, the prize for the winner.
42 - Cubicle Children hunters
Room with rectangular alcove. The mosaic of the floor is of a figurative type arranged on two registers with girls who collect roses and build garlands. In the alcove a scene of child hunters.
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43 - The great Basilica
Son the end side of the corridor of the Great Hunt, in the center, raised with four steps, there is a large apsidal hall, with a colonnaded entrance. The hall was intended as an area of representation and sumptuous receptions, very large and rectangular in shape, it retains only traces of the flooring with polychrome marble inlay. In the apse, the masonry stall where the throne rested.
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43 The Great Basilica (2005)
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43 The Great Basilica (2005)
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43 The great Basilica
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44 - Vestibule of Polyphemus
Room with mosaic floor representing the scene of Ulysses with Polyphemus: center Polyphemus seated on a boulder, on the left Ulysses, together with two companions, in the act of offering the Cyclops a cup full of wine; below sheep grazing or resting and in the background the encampments and the verdant countryside. On the walls there are figurative traces of frescoes
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44 Vestibule of Polyphemus
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44 Vestibule of Polyphemus
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44 Vestibule of Polyphemus
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 44 Vestibule of Polyphemus |
45 - Fruit Cubicle
Environment q
uadrangular with exedra-shaped alcove and mosaic floor probably used as a bedroom (cubicle). The floor mosaic of the apse has a motif of white scales that contain flowers very similar to tulips; that of the room, on the other hand, within medallions of laurel, a rich variety of fruit: grapes, figs, pears, apples, peaches, cedars, pomegranates, melons and watermelons.
46 - Cubicle Erotic Scene
Quadrangular room with rectangular alcove and mosaic floor probably used as a bedroom (cubicle). The floor of the alcove is predominantly geometric; in the center of the one in the room, on the other hand, stands a crowned ephebe in the act of embracing a pretty, semi-dressed girl; on the outside geometric figures and hexagons, from which the female busts of the seasons emerge.
47 - Aqueduct
The raised aqueduct brought water directly to the spa complex. In the vicinity there is a small octagonal-shaped latrine.
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The Roman Villa del Casale
