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Coordinates: 40°33′30″N 14°15′44″E / 40.55833°N 14.26222°E / 40.55833; 14.26222
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{{short description|Roman palace on Capri, Italy}}
{{Infobox ancient site
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Villa Jovis
|name = Villa jovis
|native_name =
|native_name =
|alternate_name =
|alternate_name =
|image = Villa Jovis.jpg
|image = [[File:Villa Jovis (Capri) (3).jpg|260px]]
|alt =
|alt =
|caption = The remains of Villa Jovis.
|caption = The remains of Villa Jovis
|map_type = Italy
|map_type = Italy
|map_alt =
|map_alt =
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|notes =
|notes =
}}
}}
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[[File:Villa Jovis GoPro walkthrough.webm|thumb|270px|Villa Jovis slave quarters walkthrough]]
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'''Villa Jovis''' ("Villa of [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]]") is a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] palace on [[Capri]], southern [[Italy]], built by Emperor [[Tiberius]] and completed in 27&nbsp;AD. Tiberius ruled mainly from there until his death in 37&nbsp;AD.<ref name="heid" />


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Villa Jovis is the largest of the twelve Tiberian villas on Capri mentioned by [[Tacitus]]. The entire complex, spanning several terraces and a difference in elevation of about 40&nbsp;m, covers some {{convert|7000|m2|sqyd|abbr=off}}.<ref name="heid">{{cite web | url=http://www.zaw.uni-heidelberg.de/hps/klarch/institut/villa_jovis.htm | title=Archäologisches Institut Heidelberg - Villa Jovis | publisher=[[Heidelberg University]] | year=2003 | access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> While the remaining eight levels of walls and staircases only hint at the grandeur the building must have had in its time, recent reconstructions have shown the villa to be a remarkable testament to 1st-century Roman architecture.
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'''Villa Jovis''' ("Villa of [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]]") is a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] palace on [[Capri]], southern [[Italy]], built by emperor [[Tiberius]] and completed in AD 27. Tiberius mainly ruled from there until his death in AD 37.<ref name="heid" />


==Location and description of the palace==
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Villa Jovis is the largest of the twelve Tiberian villas on Capri mentioned by [[Tacitus]]. The entire complex, spanning several terraces and a difference in elevation of about 40 m, covers some 7,000&nbsp;m² (1.7 acres).<ref name="heid">{{cite web | url=http://www.zaw.uni-heidelberg.de/hps/klarch/institut/villa_jovis.htm | title=Archäologisches Institut Heidelberg - Villa Jovis | publisher=[[Heidelberg University]] | year=2003 | accessdate=July 6, 2012}}</ref> While the remaining eight levels of walls and staircases only hint at the grandeur the building must have had in its time, recent reconstructions have shown the villa to be a remarkable testament to 1st-century Roman architecture.


Villa Jovis is situated in the very northeast of the island atop Monte Tiberio; its 334&nbsp;m elevation makes it the second-highest peak of Capri, after [[Monte Solaro]] (589&nbsp;m elevation) in [[Anacapri]].<ref>Krause (2003), p. 28</ref>
==Location==


Villa Jovis is situated in the very northeast of the island atop Monte Tiberio; its 334 m elevation makes it the second-highest peak of Capri, after [[Monte Solaro]] (589 m elevation) in [[Anacapri]].<ref>Krause (2003), p. 28</ref>
The north wing of the building contained the living quarters, while the south wing saw administrative use.<ref>Krause (2003), p. 82–83</ref> The east wing was meant for receptions, whereas the west wing featured an open-walled hall (''ambulatio'') which offered a scenic view towards Anacapri.<ref name="Krause 2003, p. 83">Krause (2003), p. 83</ref>

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As water was difficult to obtain at the villa's location, Roman engineers constructed an intricate system for the collection of rainwater from the roofs and a large [[cistern]] that supplied the palace with fresh water.<ref name="Krause 2003, p. 83"/>


South of the main building there are remains of a [[watch tower]] (''specula'') for the quick [[telegraph]]ic exchange of messages with the mainland, e.g. by fire or smoke.<ref>Krause (2003), p. 84</ref>
South of the main building there are remains of a [[watch tower]] (''specula'') for the quick [[telegraph]]ic exchange of messages with the mainland, e.g. by fire or smoke.<ref>Krause (2003), p. 84</ref>


Access to the complex is only possible on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from [[Capri, Campania|Capri]] town.
Access to the complex is possible only on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from [[Capri (town)|Capri]] town.

==Architecture and Layout==

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The villa is situated following the contours of the cliff. The architects and engineers of the villa constructed four cisterns, as water was difficult to come by where the villa was built, Roman engineers constructed an intricate system for the collection of rainwater from the roofs and a large [[cistern]] that supplied the palace with fresh water.<ref name="Krause 2003, p. 83"/>

On entrance into the Villa Jovis one enters into one of two atriums in the villa. An entrance directly into an atrium was very common in Roman architecture of villas. Upon entering the atrium a series of corridors leads to the servants quarters and down another corridor to a stairway where the second atrium is situated and leads to the imperial section of the villa.<ref>FitzPatrick (1949), p. 68</ref> The north wing of the building contained the living quarters, while the south wing saw administrative use.<ref>Krause (2003), p. 82–83</ref> The east wing was meant for receptions, whereas the west wing featured an open-walled hall (''ambulatio'') which offered a scenic view towards Anacapri.<ref name="Krause 2003, p. 83">Krause (2003), p. 83</ref>

The focal feature of the villa is the aula, the semicircle shaped region projecting from the villa and is similar to that of the Villa of Mysteries located in Pompeii. A series of larger rooms located in the villa were called the Throne rooms, and is where Tiberius would have ruled the Roman Emprire. <ref>FitzPatrick (1949), p. 69</ref>


==Tiberius and his life on Capri==
==Tiberius and his life on Capri==
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Apparently, the main motivations for Tiberius's move from Rome to Capri were his wariness of the political manoeuvring in Rome and a lingering fear of [[assassination]]. The villa is situated at a very secluded spot on the island and Tiberius's quarters in the north and east of the palatial villa were particularly difficult to reach and heavily guarded.
Apparently, the main motivations for Tiberius's move from Rome to Capri were his wariness of the political manoeuvring in Rome and a lingering fear of [[assassination]]. The villa is situated at a very secluded spot on the island and Tiberius's quarters in the north and east of the palatial villa were particularly difficult to reach and heavily guarded.


The Villa Jovis is also, at least according to [[Lives of the Twelve Caesars|Suetonius]], the place where Tiberius engaged in wild debauchery.<ref name="suetonius-twelve-caesars-43">Suetonius, ''The Lives of Twelve Caesars'', Life of Tiberius [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Tiberius*.html#43 43], [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Tiberius*.html#44 44], [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Tiberius*.html#45 45]</ref> Modern historians regard these tales as sensationalized, but Suetonius' stories at least paint a picture of how Tiberius was perceived by the Roman people at the time.<ref>Wallace-Hadrill, Andrew (1984) ''Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars'', Yale University Press, {{ISBN|0-300-03000-2}}</ref>
The Villa Jovis is also, at least according to [[Lives of the Twelve Caesars|Suetonius]], the place where Tiberius engaged in wild debauchery.<ref name="suetonius-twelve-caesars-43">Suetonius, ''The Lives of Twelve Caesars'', Life of Tiberius [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Tiberius*.html#43 43], [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Tiberius*.html#44 44], [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Tiberius*.html#45 45]</ref> Most modern historians regard these tales as sensationalized, but Suetonius's stories at least paint a picture of how Tiberius was perceived by the Roman people at the time.<ref>Wallace-Hadrill, Andrew (1984) ''Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars'', Yale University Press, {{ISBN|0-300-03000-2}}</ref>
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[[File:Villa Jovis GoPro walkthrough.webm|center|thumb|700x700px|Villa Jovis slave quarters walkthrough]]


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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==References and further reading==
==References and further reading==
*J.M.Barnes, "Villa Iovis — A Sonnet Cycle." Tennyson Press, Reading MA. 2008.
*Clemens Krause, 2003. "Villa Jovis — Die Residenz des Tiberius auf Capri", ''Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie'' (Mainz am Rhein)
*Clemens Krause, 2003. "Villa Jovis — Die Residenz des Tiberius auf Capri", ''Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie'' (Mainz am Rhein)
*Clemens Krause, Villa Jovis. L'edificio residenziale, electa napoli 2006.
*Clemens Krause, Villa Jovis. L'edificio residenziale, electa napoli 2006.
*Mary C. FitzPatrick, Tiberius' Villa Jovis On the Isle of Capri. The Classical Journel 1949


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Archaeological sites in Campania}}
{{Archaeological sites in Campania}}
{{Capri topics}}
{{Capri topics}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:27]]
[[Category:27]]

Latest revision as of 15:25, 22 November 2024

Villa jovis
The remains of Villa Jovis
Villa Jovis is located in Italy
Villa Jovis
Shown within Italy
LocationCapri, Italy
RegionCampania
Coordinates40°33′30″N 14°15′44″E / 40.55833°N 14.26222°E / 40.55833; 14.26222
TypeDwelling
History
PeriodsRoman Imperial
CulturesRoman
Site notes
ConditionRuined
OwnershipPublic
Public accessYes
Websitecir.campania.beniculturali.it/archeocapri/percorso/schede/capri-villa-jovis
Villa Jovis slave quarters walkthrough

Villa Jovis ("Villa of Jupiter") is a Roman palace on Capri, southern Italy, built by Emperor Tiberius and completed in 27 AD. Tiberius ruled mainly from there until his death in 37 AD.[1]

Villa Jovis is the largest of the twelve Tiberian villas on Capri mentioned by Tacitus. The entire complex, spanning several terraces and a difference in elevation of about 40 m, covers some 7,000 square metres (8,400 square yards).[1] While the remaining eight levels of walls and staircases only hint at the grandeur the building must have had in its time, recent reconstructions have shown the villa to be a remarkable testament to 1st-century Roman architecture.

Location and description of the palace

[edit]

Villa Jovis is situated in the very northeast of the island atop Monte Tiberio; its 334 m elevation makes it the second-highest peak of Capri, after Monte Solaro (589 m elevation) in Anacapri.[2]

The north wing of the building contained the living quarters, while the south wing saw administrative use.[3] The east wing was meant for receptions, whereas the west wing featured an open-walled hall (ambulatio) which offered a scenic view towards Anacapri.[4]

As water was difficult to obtain at the villa's location, Roman engineers constructed an intricate system for the collection of rainwater from the roofs and a large cistern that supplied the palace with fresh water.[4]

South of the main building there are remains of a watch tower (specula) for the quick telegraphic exchange of messages with the mainland, e.g. by fire or smoke.[5]

Access to the complex is possible only on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from Capri town.

Tiberius and his life on Capri

[edit]

Apparently, the main motivations for Tiberius's move from Rome to Capri were his wariness of the political manoeuvring in Rome and a lingering fear of assassination. The villa is situated at a very secluded spot on the island and Tiberius's quarters in the north and east of the palatial villa were particularly difficult to reach and heavily guarded.

The Villa Jovis is also, at least according to Suetonius, the place where Tiberius engaged in wild debauchery.[6] Most modern historians regard these tales as sensationalized, but Suetonius's stories at least paint a picture of how Tiberius was perceived by the Roman people at the time.[7]

[edit]
  • Map of Capri with Villa Jovis in the north-east corner of the island
    Map of Capri with Villa Jovis in the north-east corner of the island
  • Reconstruction by Weichardt (1900), view from the south-west
    Reconstruction by Weichardt (1900), view from the south-west
  • Reconstruction by Weichardt (1900), view from the east
    Reconstruction by Weichardt (1900), view from the east
  • Marble statue of Tiberius found on Capri
    Marble statue of Tiberius found on Capri

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Archäologisches Institut Heidelberg - Villa Jovis". Heidelberg University. 2003. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  2. ^ Krause (2003), p. 28
  3. ^ Krause (2003), p. 82–83
  4. ^ a b Krause (2003), p. 83
  5. ^ Krause (2003), p. 84
  6. ^ Suetonius, The Lives of Twelve Caesars, Life of Tiberius 43, 44, 45
  7. ^ Wallace-Hadrill, Andrew (1984) Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars, Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-03000-2

References and further reading

[edit]
  • Clemens Krause, 2003. "Villa Jovis — Die Residenz des Tiberius auf Capri", Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie (Mainz am Rhein)
  • Clemens Krause, Villa Jovis. L'edificio residenziale, electa napoli 2006.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villa Jovis (Capri).
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