DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16632#0142
U4
History of Garden Art
reservoir, and there were several rooms on each side. A small terrace passes to the bottom
of the valley, enclosed with corridors that have now disappeared, and which, according
to Piranesi, descended by steps. The condition of the excavation does not permit us to
tell whether or no there was a large basin here. If there was, the name Canopus might
be more defensible, as it would remind one of rowing on the lake at the bathing-place.
A curious building on the north-east of the hippodrome seems to be some kind of
garden architecture, although it does not look very promising for vegetation—the so-
called Natatorium (Fig. 78). It is a circular edifice (7, Fig. 76), surrounded by a strong
wall, inside which is a portico supported on pillars, and within it is a canal with a draw-
bridge. This goes round a building that consists of little rooms, grouped about an atrium,
FIG. 79. VAKRO'S ORNITHON
which stands on a pillared foundation, following a wavy line. In front of the north side is
a hall, whose portico opens out on a garden terrace. This puzzling building cannot be a
miniature house, nor can it be an imitation of some famous island; very probably it is
a pleasure-house, erected for some special purpose.
Varro describes a place which does not completely explain our building, but does
throw more light on it. Varro's place is an aviary, put up to amuse him at his villa:
it has often been imitated. The whole place, enclosed by a wall, consists of two main
parts, one square and one round. The first has at the entrance two porticoes covered with
nets to serve as bird-cages, then two piscinas, and between them a way leading to the
Tholos (round building). This circular part begins with a colonnade that goes round it,
its outer pillars made of stone, and the inner ones of wood; these are also used for cages.
A narrow stone path divides the colonnade from the canal which runs round inside, and
is connected with the piscinas. Its waters encircle a covered house on pillars, that encloses a
History of Garden Art
reservoir, and there were several rooms on each side. A small terrace passes to the bottom
of the valley, enclosed with corridors that have now disappeared, and which, according
to Piranesi, descended by steps. The condition of the excavation does not permit us to
tell whether or no there was a large basin here. If there was, the name Canopus might
be more defensible, as it would remind one of rowing on the lake at the bathing-place.
A curious building on the north-east of the hippodrome seems to be some kind of
garden architecture, although it does not look very promising for vegetation—the so-
called Natatorium (Fig. 78). It is a circular edifice (7, Fig. 76), surrounded by a strong
wall, inside which is a portico supported on pillars, and within it is a canal with a draw-
bridge. This goes round a building that consists of little rooms, grouped about an atrium,
FIG. 79. VAKRO'S ORNITHON
which stands on a pillared foundation, following a wavy line. In front of the north side is
a hall, whose portico opens out on a garden terrace. This puzzling building cannot be a
miniature house, nor can it be an imitation of some famous island; very probably it is
a pleasure-house, erected for some special purpose.
Varro describes a place which does not completely explain our building, but does
throw more light on it. Varro's place is an aviary, put up to amuse him at his villa:
it has often been imitated. The whole place, enclosed by a wall, consists of two main
parts, one square and one round. The first has at the entrance two porticoes covered with
nets to serve as bird-cages, then two piscinas, and between them a way leading to the
Tholos (round building). This circular part begins with a colonnade that goes round it,
its outer pillars made of stone, and the inner ones of wood; these are also used for cages.
A narrow stone path divides the colonnade from the canal which runs round inside, and
is connected with the piscinas. Its waters encircle a covered house on pillars, that encloses a