Villa Boscoreale refers to any of the several Roman villas, discovered in the Italian comune (municipality) of Boscoreale. The archaeological site of Boscoreale is situated some 1.5 kilometers north-west of ancient Pompeii. All of these villas were buried and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, along with ancient Roman cities of Oplontis, Stabiae, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most of these Boscoreale villas were spread north, north-west and west of ancient Pompeii.
In Roman times this area, like the whole of Campania, was agricultural despite its proximity to cities including Pompeii, and specialised in wine and olive oil.
Today only the Villa Regina is visible in situ and restored partially. Others, however, being reburied soon after their discovery are no longer visible above ground. Although these villas can be classified as "rustic" (villae rusticae) rather than of otium due to their agricultural sections and sometimes lack of the most luxurious amenities, they were often embellished with extremely luxurious decorations such as frescoes, testifying to the wealth of the owners. Among the most important finds are the exquisite frescoes from the Villa of Publius Fannius Synistor and the sumptuous Boscoreale Treasure of the Villa della Pisanella, which is now displayed in several major museums.
Villa of Pisanella
The villa of Pisanella (Villa della Pisanella), designated Villa 13, was first unearthed by the landowners over several seasons starting in 1876 CE. During the 1894 CE excavations a Roman villa rustica covering an approx. area of 1000 square meters was unearthed with clearly defined residential sector with baths and a pars rustica with farm buildings and warehouses. The breeding of farmyard animals was practiced and most of the rooms on the ground floor were used for processing and conservation of oil, wine and cereals.
The majority of portable items of use seems to have still been in place, though some objects were unlikely to be in the locations of their intended use: while many chests and wardrobes held stored furnishings, some material may have been brought in for temporary storage, such as two bronze bathtubs decorated with lion heads handles that had no obvious destination in the bathing complex, one of which even being too large to fit through the last door.
In a large chest were forty keys and silver tableware; in the kitchen the skeleton of a dog on a chain; in the stable the bones of several tethered horses, one of which had managed to wriggle out and escape. In the olive pressing-room (torcularium) the first three human skeletons came to light, including that of a woman, possibly the mistress of the house, who wore splendid gold earrings with topaz jewels, and as the subject of much romanticization has been called the last owner, Maxima, which is a name written on many of the silver vessels. Some have speculated that the previous owner of the villa was probably L. Caecilius Lucundus, a banker from Pompeii, who inherited the wealth of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in Campania, who was the father of the hypothetical Maxima.
In 1895 CE in the torcularium the magnificent so-called Boscoreale Treasure was found in a chest and consisted of 102 items: silver tableware, bracelets, earrings, rings, a double gold chain. A thousand gold coins were still in the remains of a leather bag. At the time of the eruption it was probably one of the safest rooms in the villa where the owner gave the order to a trusted man to hide it for better times. All the treasures were smuggled out to France via the Rothschild Family and sold.
Villa of P. Fannius Synistor
The Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale (Villa 16 ) is a celebrated example of Roman luxury villa architecture, renowned for its elaborate Second Style frescoes. Excavated in 1900, the villa dates to the late Republic period and offers a glimpse into the sophisticated tastes of the Roman elite. Its frescoes, now housed in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depict fantastical architectural vistas, lush landscapes, and intricate decorative motifs, creating an illusion of expanded space. The villa also features functional areas, including dining spaces and private rooms, reflecting both its residential and entertainment purposes. Artifacts such as furniture fragments and household items discovered at the site further enrich our understanding of daily life and cultural refinement during this period.
Villa Regina
The rustic Villa Regina at Boscoreale (Villa 57) is a well-preserved example of a rural villa from the Roman period, situated near Pompeii. Excavated in the 1970s, the site provides crucial insights into the agricultural practices and domestic life of the Roman countryside. Unlike the more opulent villas found in Pompeii or Herculaneum, Villa Regina served primarily as a working farm, focusing on wine production. The villa includes a pressing room (torcularium), storage for amphorae, and other facilities integral to viticulture. Its modest architectural design and functional layout reflect its role in supporting the economic activities of the region, showcasing the integration of agriculture within the broader Roman economy. The discovery of tools, pottery, and a dolium (large storage jar) further emphasizes the villa’s agricultural purpose, painting a vivid picture of life in the shadow of Vesuvius.
Other Villas
A partial list of other notable villa rustica in the region of Boscoreale
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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