Domus Augustana

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The Domus Augustana refers to the central imperial palace of the Roman emperors, located on the Palatine Hill in Rome. Part of the vast imperial Roman Palace of Domitian (92 CE), it was an extensive and lavish complex that served as the primary residence for emperors, although each ruler made modifications and additions to it.

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Overview

Adjacent to and connected with the large public areas of the so-called Domus Flavia was the private sector of Domitian's palace, traditionally knownas the Domus Augustana and arranged on two levels; one at the same level as the Domus Flavia and a basement storey with different architectural and functional characteristics. On the upper floor, the entrance sector, a vast uncoverd area, is poorly preserved; it led in to a porticoed courtyard (peristyle) with a pool at the center and a series of residential apartments at the sides. About ten meters below was the lower storey of the palace, intimate and secluded, with a courtyard with an original fountain and luxuriously decorated rooms, as well as some small rooms where the emperor lived his private life. The sequence of spaces in this "private" sector ended in a monumental curved facade overlooking the Circus Maximus.

The Domus Augustana comprises of the central section of the larger imperial palace complex, which consists of at least four main parts: the "2nd Peristyle" to the northeast, the central "3rd Peristyle or the upper peristyle", the courtyard complex and the exedra on the southwest. The Domus Augustana is built on two levels, the upper northern one consisting of the two peristyles to the north on the same level and closely linked to the Domus Flavia, which served as the public wing of the palace, and therefore probably having public functions. The southern section was built a little later and some details suggest that it was not Rabirius who directed the work. To the south-east of the Domus Augustana a large hippodrome (Palatine Stadium) was constructed during the Domitian's reign.

Architecture

circa 80-92 CE

Courtyard of the "Peltae Fountain"
The courtyard complex was reserved for the private quarters of the emperor and was built around another peristyle garden surrounded by a colonnade on two levels, the upper containing complex sets of rooms and the lower, 10 meters below ground level, consisting of a pool with an unusual design of islands consisting of four peltas, typical moon-shaped shields of the ancient Greeks, all surfaces being originally faced with marble. These kind of crescent-shaped shields were often carried by light-armed warriors such as the Amazons or Thracian soldiers.

The central fountain (Fontana delle Pelte) features decorative elements that resemble or are inspired by these shield shapes, lending the structure its name. It is possible that the use of such motifs likely symbolized military prowess or victory and aligned with the imperial imagery prominent throughout the Palatine Hill complex.

circa 80-92 CE

North-Western Arcaded Structure
During the Medieval period a residential complex was built over the ruins of Domus Augustana and the Domus Flavia, known as the Loggia Mattei. Literally meaning Lodgings of Mattei were part of a much larger medieval period "Villa Mattei at Palatine Hill", today known as the Villa Mills. This small loggia decorated with frescoes by Baldassarre Peruzzi was built by the Stati family as part of the small country house. The colourful frescoes depicted zodiac, muses, and other classical themes – and some were done by other painters from Raphael's workshop. In 1818 CE, the property was bought by Charles Andrew Mills and the English archaeologist William Gell.

The only surviving structure of the Renaissance period residential complex is a small lodge, called "Loggetta Mattei" or "Casina Farnese", that had housed the frescoes of Baldassarre Peruzzi, and a 19th-century structure built by the sisters of the Visitation that has become the seat of the Palatine Museum.

circa 80-92 CE

Great South-Western Exedra
On the southwest side of this complex is the great exedra, a long curving arcaded gallery linking two wings, overlooking the Circus Maximus to the southwest allowing the emperor to watch the races. It may have had an ornamental façade, perhaps added by Trajan when the seats of the circus were carried up thus far(Gnomon, 1927, p. 593 Verlag C.H.Beck). From this curved terrace a large arched opening, visible in drawings of the sixteenth century (Heemskerck II; Wyngaerde) led into the courtyard complex.

circa 80-92 CE

Upper Peristyle of Domus Augustana
The private section on the ground level of the Augustan palace was arranged around a peristyle or porticoed courtyard with coloured marble columns, identical to that in the public section at the center was a large pool within which a small temple was built at a late period. Accessed from a small bridge on arches. Various living and banqueting chambers and halls were constructed at the sides of the peristyle. Some of these chambers still retain the metal braces used to mount the fine coloured morble floors. On the walls of one of these rooms the remains of frescoes on Christian themes, now severly damaged were discovered, belonging to a late oratory.

The upper peristyle was filled almost completely with a huge pool as wide as that of the Domus Flavia and included a seascape perhaps of Greek mythology on an island connected to the side via a bridge with several arches, and with sculptures in the water. Other sources suggest a temple dedicated to Minerva was built on the island. The elaborate rooms surrounding the peristyle alternated between open and closed spaces, suited to public use and perhaps several social groups. On its southwest side the walls stand to a considerable height (after partial reconstruction in the 1930s CE) with several rooms around a semicircular hall (inspect).

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