richard-miles-archaeologist:Ancient Worlds - BBC Two Episode 6 “City of Man, City of God”Villa Adria
richard-miles-archaeologist:Ancient Worlds - BBC Two Episode 6 “City of Man, City of God”Villa Adriana is a large complex of over 30 buildings, constructed at Tibur (modern-day Tivoli) as a retreat from Rome for Roman Emperor Hadrian during the second and third decades of the 2nd century AD. The complex combined the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an ‘ideal city’. It included palaces, several thermae, theatre, temples, libraries, state rooms, and quarters for courtiers, praetorians, and slaves. Some areas are still unexcavated. One of the most spectacular and best preserved parts of the villa are a pool and an artificial grotto which were named Canopus and Serapeum. The villa was the greatest Roman example of an Alexandrian garden.A large court lived there permanently. During the later years of his reign Hadrian actually governed the empire from the villa.After Hadrian’s death in 138, his successors preferred Rome as their permanent residence but the villa continued to be enlarged and further embellished. The complex was sacked and plundered by successive barbarian invaders, fell into neglect and was partially ruined.Many artefacts have been found and restored at the villa, such as marble statues and mosaics from the theatre and bathsVilla Adriana, Tivoli, Italy -- source link
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