Villa Jovis: Difference between revisions
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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 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 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 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. |
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==Location |
==Location== |
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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> |
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> |
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| ⚫ | 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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| ⚫ | |||
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> |
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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 only possible on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from [[Capri, Campania|Capri]] town. |
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==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"/> |
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| ⚫ | 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> |
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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> |
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==Tiberius and his life on Capri== |
==Tiberius and his life on Capri== |
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*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) |
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*Clemens Krause, Villa Jovis. L'edificio residenziale, electa napoli 2006. |
*Clemens Krause, Villa Jovis. L'edificio residenziale, electa napoli 2006. |
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*Mary C. FitzPatrick, Tiberius' Villa Jovis On the Isle of Capri. The Classical Journel 1949 |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 00:48, 23 March 2020
 The remains of Villa Jovis. | |
  Shown within Italy | |
| Location | Capri, Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Campania |
| Coordinates | 40°33′30″N 14°15′44″E / 40.55833°N 14.26222°E |
| Type | Dwelling |
| History | |
| Periods | Roman Imperial |
| Cultures | Roman |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Ownership | Public |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | cir |
Villa Jovis ("Villa of Jupiter") is a 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.[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 m² (1.7 acres).[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
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]
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.[3]
Access to the complex is only possible on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from Capri town.
Architecture and Layout
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.[4]
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.[5] The north wing of the building contained the living quarters, while the south wing saw administrative use.[6] 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]
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. [7]
Tiberius and his life on Capri
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.[8] 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.[9]
Gallery
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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 east -
Marble statue of Tiberius found on Capri
Footnotes
- ^ a b "Archäologisches Institut Heidelberg - Villa Jovis". Heidelberg University. 2003. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
- ^ Krause (2003), p. 28
- ^ Krause (2003), p. 84
- ^ a b Krause (2003), p. 83
- ^ FitzPatrick (1949), p. 68
- ^ Krause (2003), p. 82–83
- ^ FitzPatrick (1949), p. 69
- ^ Suetonius, The Lives of Twelve Caesars, Life of Tiberius 43, 44, 45
- ^ Wallace-Hadrill, Andrew (1984) Suetonius: The Scholar and His Caesars, Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-03000-2
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, 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
