Topographical dictionary - Antium - Anzio

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The Imperial villa

The use of a villa in Antium by Augustus is documented in 2 BC. It is probably the villa of which extensive remains are today known as the Villa of Nero. The Emperor had probably inherited this villa from his family, the Octavii (the oldest remains are from the second century BC).

Patris patriae cognomen universi repentino maximoque consensu detulerunt ei: prima plebs legatione Antium missa; dein, quia non recipiebat, ineunti Romae spectacula frequens et laureata; mox in curia senatus, neque decreto neque adclamatione, sed per Valerium Messalam. The whole body of citizens with a sudden unanimous impulse offered him the title of Father of his Country: first the commons, by a deputation sent to Antium, and then, because he declined it, again at Rome as he entered the theatre, which they attended in throngs, all wearing laurel wreaths: the senate afterwards in the House, not by a decree or by acclamation, but through Valerius Messala.

Suetonius, Augustus 58,1. Translation J. C. Rolfe.

The villa remained Imperial property. Caligula may have been born there (Suetonius, Caligula 8,2), but was in any case particularly fond of the city:

Ubi natus sit, incertum diversitas tradentium facit ... Ego in actis Anti editum invenio ... Sequenda est igitur, quae sola restat et publici instrumenti auctoritas, praesertim cum Gaius Antium omnibus semper locis atque secessibus praelatum non aliter quam natale solum dilexerit tradaturque etiam sedem ac domicilium imperii taedio urbis transferre eo destinasse. Conflicting testimony makes his birthplace uncertain ... I myself find in the gazette that he first saw the light at Antium ... We must then accept the only remaining testimony, that of the public record, particularly since Gaius loved Antium as if it were his native soil, always preferring it to all other places of retreat, and even thinking, it is said, of transferring there the seat and abode of the empire through weariness of Rome.

Suetonius, Caligula 8,1; 8,2; 8,5. Translation J. C. Rolfe.

Nero was born there (Suetonius, Nero 6,1), and is in ancient literature mentioned often in relation to Antium. He was staying there, for example, when the fire of Rome broke out in 64 AD:

Eo in tempore Nero Antii agens non ante in urbem regressus est quam domui eius, qua Palatium et Maecenatis hortos continuaverat, ignis propinquaret. Nero, who at the time was staying in Antium, did not return to the capital until the fire was nearing the house by which he had connected the Palatine with the Gardens of Maecenas.

Tacitus, Annals 15,39. Translation J. Jackson.

Literary sources also document the presence of Domitianus (Martialis, Epigrams V,1,3; X,30,7) and Hadrianus ("the palace at Antium, which was that one of his Italian palaces in which this Emperor took most pleasure"; Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 8,20). Two letters written by Trajan in Antium are known (inscriptions from Delphi and Pessinus; Oliver 1989, nrs. 45 and 50). Antoninus Pius built an aqueduct in Antium (SHA, Antoninus Pius 3,8,3), and a lead water-pipe found near the harbour with the stamp STATIO VRBANA AVG(usti) N(ostri) testifies to the presence at Antium of an office that controlled Imperial building activity (EDR173322).

Extensive remains of the facade of the villa have been preserved along the coast, between the locality Arco Muto and Capo d'Anzio. The interior remains unknown. The ruins were unfortunately much damaged by erosion of the coast line. More remains can be seen on old drawings. The oldest remains, from the second century BC, consist of two phases of large and small tufa blocks (opus quadratum and opus incertum). To this period belong several geometric mosaics. Masonry of small tufa blocks (opus reticulatum) testifies to work under Augustus, when a large curved belvedere was constructed. Four later phases have been distinguished. Masonry of bricks and small tufa blocks (opus mixtum) belongs to the reign of Nero. Under Domitianus a nymphaeum and baths were added on the west side. Further enlargements belong to the reign of Hadrianus. During the reign of Septimius Severus the complex was rebuilt with bricks (opus latericium) and the curvilinear structure was eliminated.

Plan of the remains of the Imperial villa. A-E: mosaics. Image: Coarelli 1984, 295.

Plan and view of the baths on the west side, near locality Arco Muto. Images: Volpi 1726, Tab. X, XI.

Plan of remains on the east side, on Capo d'Anzio (so-called Grotte di Nerone). Image: Lugli 1940, fig. 22.

Remains of the Imperial villa. Photo: Wikimedia, Luciano Tronati.

Remains of the Imperial villa. Photo: Wikimedia, Luciano Tronati.

Remains of the Imperial villa, nymphaeum. Photo: Wikimedia, Zanner.

Remains of the Imperial villa, upper terrace. Photo: Wikimedia, Zanner.

Remains of the Imperial villa, upper terrace. Photo: Wikimedia, Luciano Tronati.

Model of the Imperial villa. Photo: Wikimedia, Luciano Tronati.

Patris patriae cognomen universi repentino maximoque consensu detulerunt ei: prima plebs legatione Antium missa; dein, quia non recipiebat, ineunti Romae spectacula frequens et laureata; mox in curia senatus, neque decreto neque adclamatione, sed per Valerium Messalam.	The whole body of citizens with a sudden unanimous impulse offered him the title of Father of his Country: first the commons, by a deputation sent to Antium, and then, because he declined it, again at Rome as he entered the theatre, which they attended in throngs, all wearing laurel wreaths: the senate afterwards in the House, not by a decree or by acclamation, but through Valerius Messala.
Suetonius, Augustus 58,1. Translation J. C. Rolfe.

Eo in tempore Nero Antii agens non ante in urbem regressus est quam domui eius, qua Palatium et Maecenatis hortos continuaverat, ignis propinquaret.	Nero, who at the time was staying in Antium, did not return to the capital until the fire was nearing the house by which he had connected the Palatine with the Gardens of Maecenas.
Tacitus, Annals 15,39. Translation J. Jackson.