The excavations of the main building have been published in great detail. It was for the most part built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. The first villa, from the first century, was torn down. Of a second phase, from the early second century, only one building remained.
Plan of the main building. North is to the right. Dubois 2016, Pl. 2.In the heart of the building (B4) were two adjacent peristyles. In the centre of each peristyle was a garden, surrounded to the north, west and south by a porticus. The northern porticus had smooth columns with Tuscan capitals, the southern porticus fluted columns with Corinthian capitals. Behind the porticoes were living rooms, reception rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and latrines. A few rooms were heated. To the east of the peristyles was a closed wall, and to the east of that a terrace, with a group of rooms at either end. These groups have been called diaetae, "summer-houses". One of the rooms in the southern group was heated. At the north end was a monumental nymphaeum, 24 meters wide, with rectangular and semicircular niches. To the west of the nymphaeum was a building with rooms behind a courtyard (B5). It had been added to the first villa in the early second century, during the reign of Trajan. At the south end were two bathhouses (B1), the western one considerably larger than the eastern one. Next to the bathing rooms were two courtyards, one with a porticus. Use as a palaestra, an area for sports, is of course likely. The smaller baths may have been used on a daily basis, the larger baths only on special occasions, when many guests were received. It is also possible that we are looking at baths for men and women. A building to the south-west and near the villa may have been the living quarters of a steward, combined with workshops (B7). It too had a few heated rooms.
Fragments of columns from the southern porticus (left) and the northern porticus (right). Dubois 2016, figs. 164-165.Of the painted decoration of the walls countless small fragments were found. The nine mosaics discovered between 1841 and 1993 were all in the main building. In the north-east part of the building the other floors have completely disappeared, so there could have been more mosaics there. Stylistically the mosaics have been placed in the first quarter of the third century by Victorine von Gonzenbach. Later authors have suggested late-Antonine and early-Severan dates.
Plan of the main building with the location of the mosaics. North is to the right. Dubois 2016, Pl. 17.
1: mosaic with meanders and braids; 2: laurel leaves mosaic; 3: mosaic with lozenges and braids; 4: Triton mosaic;
5: labyrinth mosaic; 6: rustic procession mosaic; 7: squares and lozenges mosaic; 8: deities mosaic; 9: Achilles mosaic.
Plan of the main building with preserved, logical and suggested entrances. North is to the right. Dubois 2016, Pl. 20.
Click on the image to enlarge. Plan of the main building with room numbers. North is to the right. Paunier et al. 2016, fig. 428.
[14-Mar-2024]
