The Villa of Livia (Latin: Ad Gallinas Albas) is an ancient Roman villa at Prima Porta, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Rome, Italy, along the Via Flaminia. It may have been part of Livia Drusilla's dowry that she brought when she married Octavian (later called the emperor Augustus), her second husband, in 39 BC. However, it may also have been a gift given to her by Octavian upon their betrothal. The ancient sources (e.g. Suetonius) tell us that Livia returned to this villa following the marriage. It was her sumptuous country residence complementing her house on the Palatine Hill in Rome.
The villa occupied the height dominating the view down the Tiber Valley to Rome. Some of the walling that retained the villa's terraces can still be seen.[1]
The location was strategically important due to the iron-rich cliffs of red tuff that approach the river Tiber at this point, the confluence of several roads, and the northern entrance to Rome. The name Prima Porta ("First Door") came from an arch of the aqueduct over the Via Flaminia, which brought water to the villa and which travelers saw as the first indication of having reached Rome.
History
It was built and modified in four stages. The earliest stage is of a Republican date, the latest of the time of Constantine the Great.
Its Latin name, Villa Ad Gallinas Albas, referred to its breed of white chickens,[2] which was said by Suetonius to have auspiciously omened origins.[3]
The site was rediscovered and explored as early as 1596, but it was not recognized as the Villa of Livia until the 19th century.[4] In 1863–1864, a marble krater carved in refined low relief was discovered at the site. On April 20 1863, the famous heroic marble statue of Augustus, the Augustus of Prima Porta, was found at the villa; it is now in the Vatican Museums (Braccio Nuovo). The magisterial Augustus is a marble copy of a bronze statue that celebrated the return in 20 BC of the military standards captured by the Parthians in 53 BC after the defeat of Crassus at Carrhae.
Oak tree with birds, wall painting in the underground garden
In the 19th century, the villa belonged to the Convent of Santa Maria in Via Lata. The villa and gardens have been excavated and can be visited. There are three vaulted subterranean rooms, the largest of which contained superb illusionistic frescoes of garden views in which all the plants and trees flower and fruit at once. These have since been removed to Rome, where, following cleaning and restoration, they have been reinstalled in the Palazzo Massimo. The vault above the fresco was covered with stucco reliefs, some of which survive.
A new series of more meticulous modern excavations was initiated in 1970. More modern scientific work began at the site in 1995, carried out by the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma and directed by Professor Gaetano Messineo, in tandem with the Swedish Institute in Rome.[5]
The purpose and layout of the Villa Livia are important to the understanding of both the purpose and layout of the space. The Roman activity of "[d]ining was much more than the satisfaction of human need — it was a ritual of great social and political significance."[7] In terms of layout, the room is underground and dimensionally 40 feet long by 20 feet wide.[8] There are no separating moldings, no painted architecture, and no visible structural elements — the room unexpectedly transports the viewer "outside" in a completely enclosed underground space with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.[9] The enclosure is striking because of the spatial play of the room itself with its illusionistic quality, there is incredible accuracy of plant species, and the variety provides a landscape that in reality cannot exist as one garden.[10] A low stone wall contains the thickest and largest plantings, and in between the viewer and the space rests another fence with a narrow grass walkway.[11] The garden layout encompasses a "perfect combination of variety and abundance with stylization and order" as nature grows freely while simultaneous evidence of human activity is present, specifically as some birds exist in cages and a neatly manicured lawn is visible closest to the dining room space.[12]
^Giesecke, Annette Lucia (2001). "Beyond the Garden of Epicurus: The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa". Utopian Studies: 15.
^Gabriel, Mabel McAfee (1955). Livia's Garden Room at Prima Porta. New York: New York University Press.
^Gabriel, Mabel McAfee (1955). Livia's Garden Room at Prima Porta. New York: New York University Press. p. 7.
^Giesecke, Annette Lucia (2001). "Beyond the Garden of Epicurus: The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa". Utopian Studies: 23.
^Giesecke, Annette Lucia (2001). "Beyond the Garden of Epicurus: The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa". Utopian Studies: 23.
^Evans, Rhiannon (2003). "Searching for Paradise: Landscape, Utopia, and Rome". Arethusa: 303.
Sources
Carrara, M. (2005). "La Villa di Livia a Prima Porta da praedium suburbanum a villa Caesarum". In B. Santillo Frizell and A. Klynne (ed.). Roman Villas Around The Urbs: interaction with landscape and environment. Proceedings of a Conference at the Swedish Institute in Rome, September 17-18, 2004. Rome.
M. Carrara, 'ad Gallinas Albas', in Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae: Suburbium, vol. III (2005. Rome), p. 17-24
Jane Clark Reeder, 2001. The Villa of Livia Ad Gallinas Albas. A Study in the Augustan Villa and Garden. in series Archaeologica Transatlantica XX. (Providence: Center for Old World Archaeology and Art) (Bryn Mawr Classical Review 20)
Calci, C.; G. Messineo (1984). "La Villa di Livia a Prima Porta". Lavori e studi di archeologia. 2.
Allan Klynne and Peter Liljenstolpe. "Where to Put Augustus?: A Note on the Placement of the Prima Porta Statue." American Journal of Philology 121.1 (2000) pp. 121–128.
Giesecke, Annette Lucia (2001). "Beyond the Garden of Epicurus: The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa". Utopian Studies: 13–32.
Gabriel, Mabel McAfee (1955). Livia's Garden Room at Prima Porta. New York: New York University Press.
Evans, Rhiannon (2003). "Searching for Paradise: Landscape, Utopia, and Rome". Arethusa. 36 (3): 285–307. doi:10.1353/are.2003.0022. S2CID 161576098.
External links
"Romano Impero"
Robert Piperno, "A Walk to Malborghetto"
Media related to Villa di Livia (Rome) at Wikimedia Commons
villa, livia, latin, gallinas, albas, ancient, roman, villa, prima, porta, kilometres, north, rome, italy, along, flaminia, have, been, part, livia, drusilla, dowry, that, brought, when, married, octavian, later, called, emperor, augustus, second, husband, how. The Villa of Livia Latin Ad Gallinas Albas is an ancient Roman villa at Prima Porta 12 kilometres 7 5 mi north of Rome Italy along the Via Flaminia It may have been part of Livia Drusilla s dowry that she brought when she married Octavian later called the emperor Augustus her second husband in 39 BC However it may also have been a gift given to her by Octavian upon their betrothal The ancient sources e g Suetonius tell us that Livia returned to this villa following the marriage It was her sumptuous country residence complementing her house on the Palatine Hill in Rome Villa of LiviaA view of one of the rooms of the villa Click on the map for a fullscreen viewCoordinates42 0 7 49 N 12 29 37 03 E 42 0020806 N 12 4936194 E 42 0020806 12 4936194 Coordinates 42 0 7 49 N 12 29 37 03 E 42 0020806 N 12 4936194 E 42 0020806 12 4936194Remarkable frescoes of garden views were found which have since been removed to the Palazzo Massimo museum in Rome Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Rediscovery 4 Garden Room Fresco 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksLocation Edit The statue of Augustus found in the Villa The villa occupied the height dominating the view down the Tiber Valley to Rome Some of the walling that retained the villa s terraces can still be seen 1 The location was strategically important due to the iron rich cliffs of red tuff that approach the river Tiber at this point the confluence of several roads and the northern entrance to Rome The name Prima Porta First Door came from an arch of the aqueduct over the Via Flaminia which brought water to the villa and which travelers saw as the first indication of having reached Rome History EditIt was built and modified in four stages The earliest stage is of a Republican date the latest of the time of Constantine the Great Its Latin name Villa Ad Gallinas Albas referred to its breed of white chickens 2 which was said by Suetonius to have auspiciously omened origins 3 Rediscovery Edit The piscina of the villa The site was rediscovered and explored as early as 1596 but it was not recognized as the Villa of Livia until the 19th century 4 In 1863 1864 a marble krater carved in refined low relief was discovered at the site On April 20 1863 the famous heroic marble statue of Augustus the Augustus of Prima Porta was found at the villa it is now in the Vatican Museums Braccio Nuovo The magisterial Augustus is a marble copy of a bronze statue that celebrated the return in 20 BC of the military standards captured by the Parthians in 53 BC after the defeat of Crassus at Carrhae Oak tree with birds wall painting in the underground garden In the 19th century the villa belonged to the Convent of Santa Maria in Via Lata The villa and gardens have been excavated and can be visited There are three vaulted subterranean rooms the largest of which contained superb illusionistic frescoes of garden views in which all the plants and trees flower and fruit at once These have since been removed to Rome where following cleaning and restoration they have been reinstalled in the Palazzo Massimo The vault above the fresco was covered with stucco reliefs some of which survive A new series of more meticulous modern excavations was initiated in 1970 More modern scientific work began at the site in 1995 carried out by the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma and directed by Professor Gaetano Messineo in tandem with the Swedish Institute in Rome 5 External video Painted Garden Villa of Livia Smarthistory 6 Garden Room Fresco EditThe purpose and layout of the Villa Livia are important to the understanding of both the purpose and layout of the space The Roman activity of d ining was much more than the satisfaction of human need it was a ritual of great social and political significance 7 In terms of layout the room is underground and dimensionally 40 feet long by 20 feet wide 8 There are no separating moldings no painted architecture and no visible structural elements the room unexpectedly transports the viewer outside in a completely enclosed underground space with a barrel vaulted ceiling 9 The enclosure is striking because of the spatial play of the room itself with its illusionistic quality there is incredible accuracy of plant species and the variety provides a landscape that in reality cannot exist as one garden 10 A low stone wall contains the thickest and largest plantings and in between the viewer and the space rests another fence with a narrow grass walkway 11 The garden layout encompasses a perfect combination of variety and abundance with stylization and order as nature grows freely while simultaneous evidence of human activity is present specifically as some birds exist in cages and a neatly manicured lawn is visible closest to the dining room space 12 References Edit Robert Piperno A Walk to Malborghetto Pliny s Natural History 15 136f Suetonius Galba 1 F Nardini Roma antica IV Roma 1820 p64f Gaetano Messineo 2001 Ad Gallinas Albas Villa di Livia L ERMA di BRETSCHNEIDER ISBN 978 88 8265 167 1 Painted Garden Villa of Livia Smarthistory at Khan Academy Retrieved February 11 2013 Giesecke Annette Lucia 2001 Beyond the Garden of Epicurus The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa Utopian Studies 15 Gabriel Mabel McAfee 1955 Livia s Garden Room at Prima Porta New York New York University Press Gabriel Mabel McAfee 1955 Livia s Garden Room at Prima Porta New York New York University Press p 7 Giesecke Annette Lucia 2001 Beyond the Garden of Epicurus The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa Utopian Studies 23 Giesecke Annette Lucia 2001 Beyond the Garden of Epicurus The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa Utopian Studies 23 Evans Rhiannon 2003 Searching for Paradise Landscape Utopia and Rome Arethusa 303 Sources EditCarrara M 2005 La Villa di Livia a Prima Porta da praedium suburbanum a villa Caesarum In B Santillo Frizell and A Klynne ed Roman Villas Around The Urbs interaction with landscape and environment Proceedings of a Conference at the Swedish Institute in Rome September 17 18 2004 Rome M Carrara ad Gallinas Albas in Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae Suburbium vol III 2005 Rome p 17 24 Jane Clark Reeder 2001 The Villa of Livia Ad Gallinas Albas A Study in the Augustan Villa and Garden in series Archaeologica Transatlantica XX Providence Center for Old World Archaeology and Art Bryn Mawr Classical Review 20 Calci C G Messineo 1984 La Villa di Livia a Prima Porta Lavori e studi di archeologia 2 Allan Klynne and Peter Liljenstolpe Where to Put Augustus A Note on the Placement of the Prima Porta Statue American Journal of Philology 121 1 2000 pp 121 128 Giesecke Annette Lucia 2001 Beyond the Garden of Epicurus The Utopics of the Ideal Roman Villa Utopian Studies 13 32 Gabriel Mabel McAfee 1955 Livia s Garden Room at Prima Porta New York New York University Press Evans Rhiannon 2003 Searching for Paradise Landscape Utopia and Rome Arethusa 36 3 285 307 doi 10 1353 are 2003 0022 S2CID 161576098 External links Edit Romano Impero Robert Piperno A Walk to Malborghetto Media related to Villa di Livia Rome at Wikimedia Commons Preceded byVilla Gordiani Landmarks of RomeVilla of Livia Succeeded byInsula dell Ara Coeli Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Villa of Livia amp oldid 1118192021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
