Luogo - Archaeological Area
Parco archeologico del Colosseo - Casa di Livia
Where
Piazza di S. Maria Nova, 53, Roma
Casa di Livia
The building known as “House of Livia” is located in the south-western region of the Palatine hill. It dates back to the first half of the 1st century b.C., and it was one of the many rich on houses built on that hill in republican times. Around the year 30 b. C. the house underwent major restoration works and was decorated with the marvellous frescoes which are still visible.
The part of the building for public use is composed of a large atrium with access to three large parallel rooms, a room for guests (tablinum), flanked by two smaller rooms, and a dining room (triclinium) on one side. The decoration of the floor is rather simple, with motifs made of black tesserae on a black background. The walls are instead decorated by paintings of striking beauty, especially in the tablinum: here on a low podium over which columns sustain a lacunar ceiling, we can admire imaginary views. Among the mythological scenes represented in the paintings we recognise Polyphemus and Galatea, and the nymph Io guarded by Argus, which may well be a copy of the Hellenistic painter Nikias. On both sides of the central pictures the view opens on imaginary landscapes and fantastic architectures, with sphinxes, winged figures and branched candlesticks.
In the room on the right side of the tablinum the decoration is simpler, but equally suggestive. It is displayed around a porch: between the columns we see vegetal festoons decorated with bands and objects for worship. Above runs a peculiar monochrome freeze, with representations of real life which alternate with ritual scenes in an Egyptian setting (we recognize camels, sphinxes, and a statue of Isis). The scenes are treated in an “impressionistic” style, with a few quick brush strokes. In the room on the left we see instead fantastic figures (gryphs, winged Victories) facing each other by side of branched candlesticks or resting on the braches of the tree of life.
The inscription Iulia Augusta, which can be read on the lead pipes, is the reason why the building is supposed to belong to Livia, wife of the emperor Augustus, whose living residence was a few steps away. A shared hypothesis among experts is that it was a pre-existent independent house built at the time of the Roman republic, and then renovated around the year 30 b.C. to obtain an apartment for Livia inside the wider building complex reserved to the emperor August.
The part of the building for public use is composed of a large atrium with access to three large parallel rooms, a room for guests (tablinum), flanked by two smaller rooms, and a dining room (triclinium) on one side. The decoration of the floor is rather simple, with motifs made of black tesserae on a black background. The walls are instead decorated by paintings of striking beauty, especially in the tablinum: here on a low podium over which columns sustain a lacunar ceiling, we can admire imaginary views. Among the mythological scenes represented in the paintings we recognise Polyphemus and Galatea, and the nymph Io guarded by Argus, which may well be a copy of the Hellenistic painter Nikias. On both sides of the central pictures the view opens on imaginary landscapes and fantastic architectures, with sphinxes, winged figures and branched candlesticks.
In the room on the right side of the tablinum the decoration is simpler, but equally suggestive. It is displayed around a porch: between the columns we see vegetal festoons decorated with bands and objects for worship. Above runs a peculiar monochrome freeze, with representations of real life which alternate with ritual scenes in an Egyptian setting (we recognize camels, sphinxes, and a statue of Isis). The scenes are treated in an “impressionistic” style, with a few quick brush strokes. In the room on the left we see instead fantastic figures (gryphs, winged Victories) facing each other by side of branched candlesticks or resting on the braches of the tree of life.
The inscription Iulia Augusta, which can be read on the lead pipes, is the reason why the building is supposed to belong to Livia, wife of the emperor Augustus, whose living residence was a few steps away. A shared hypothesis among experts is that it was a pre-existent independent house built at the time of the Roman republic, and then renovated around the year 30 b.C. to obtain an apartment for Livia inside the wider building complex reserved to the emperor August.
Opening hours:
Spring-Summer (until October 28th 2018):
- Monday, Wendesday, Friday from 9.00 AM to 18.30 PM
- Sunday: 9.00 AM to 14.00 PM
- Monday, Wendesday, Friday from 9.00 AM to 18.30 PM
- Sunday: 9.00 AM to 14.00 PM
Autumn-Winter (until March 31st 2019):
- Monday, Wendesday, Friday from 9.00 AM to 15.30 PM
- Sunday: 9.00 AM to 13.00 PM
- Monday, Wendesday, Friday from 9.00 AM to 15.30 PM
- Sunday: 9.00 AM to 13.00 PM
