DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16632#0141
The Roman Empire
113
The ground-plan is similar to that of the Palatine, and we should think of the planta-
tion as like that of the hippodrome at Pliny's villa. But it is hard to imagine the immensely
high halls joined on to the wall—which is all we see—and mentally to cover it with its own
proper decoration. It is not easy for us moderns, whose buildings, however imposing, are
in their first intention meant for utility, to grasp the idea of these monumental erections of
antiquity; in the later days of the empire great and luxurious buildings were erected for
purely decorative purposes. One door only unites north and south halls, and these pillared
FIG. 78. HADRIAN'S VILLA-THE SO-CALLED NATATORTUM
halls were evidently two stories high: the rounded corners of the walls, and the circular
shape, show that people could drive round in light carriages. But one question remains
unanswered: how were these gigantic walls covered? It is quite possible that they had
frescoes on them, and in that case the name Poikile would not be so ill applied. But there
is no doubt that the so-called Canopus was a garden site. This name was used for it
even in Renaissance days, because a number of Egyptian statues were found in it;
at the same time it is less like the fine bathing-place near Alexandria (which is commonly
compared with Baise) than the Poikile is like its Athenian model.
On the south, embedded rather deep in the ground of the valley, on both sides, there
is a very large exedra, larger than any of the others of which the emperor was so fond.
It has a great many alcoves, and a fountain in each. A narrow bath evidently led from a
113
The ground-plan is similar to that of the Palatine, and we should think of the planta-
tion as like that of the hippodrome at Pliny's villa. But it is hard to imagine the immensely
high halls joined on to the wall—which is all we see—and mentally to cover it with its own
proper decoration. It is not easy for us moderns, whose buildings, however imposing, are
in their first intention meant for utility, to grasp the idea of these monumental erections of
antiquity; in the later days of the empire great and luxurious buildings were erected for
purely decorative purposes. One door only unites north and south halls, and these pillared
FIG. 78. HADRIAN'S VILLA-THE SO-CALLED NATATORTUM
halls were evidently two stories high: the rounded corners of the walls, and the circular
shape, show that people could drive round in light carriages. But one question remains
unanswered: how were these gigantic walls covered? It is quite possible that they had
frescoes on them, and in that case the name Poikile would not be so ill applied. But there
is no doubt that the so-called Canopus was a garden site. This name was used for it
even in Renaissance days, because a number of Egyptian statues were found in it;
at the same time it is less like the fine bathing-place near Alexandria (which is commonly
compared with Baise) than the Poikile is like its Athenian model.
On the south, embedded rather deep in the ground of the valley, on both sides, there
is a very large exedra, larger than any of the others of which the emperor was so fond.
It has a great many alcoves, and a fountain in each. A narrow bath evidently led from a