At Villa Adriana, built by the emperor Hadrian in the second century A.D., these column surrounded a private retreat ringed by water. [Susan Wright Photography]
Posted on 06/02/2010 5:36:18 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
We know what became of Marcus Aurelius -- considered the last of the "Five Good Emperors." He ruled for nearly two decades from A.D. 161 to his death in A.D. 180, a tenure marked by wars in Asia and what is now Germany. As for the Villa Magna, it faded into neglect. Documents from the Middle Ages and later mention a church "at Villa Magna" lying southeast of Rome near the town of Anagni, in the region of Lazio. There, on privately owned land, remains of Roman walls are partially covered by a 19th-century farmhouse and a long-ruined medieval monastery. Sections of the complex were half-heartedly excavated in the 18th century by the Scottish painter and amateur treasure hunter Gavin Hamilton, who failed to find marble statues or frescoed rooms and decided that the site held little interest.
As a result, archaeologists mostly ignored the site for 200 years. Then, in 2006, archaeologist Elizabeth Fentress -- working under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania and the British School at Rome -- got permission from the property owner and the Italian government to excavate the area and began to make some interesting discoveries. Most important, near the old farmhouse, her team -- accompanied by Sandra Gatti from the Italian Archaeological Superintendency -- found a marble-paved rectangular room. At one end was a raised platform, and there were circular indentations in the ground where large terra-cotta pots, or dolia, would have been set in an ancient Roman cella vinaria -- a wine pressing room.
(Excerpt) Read more at smithsonianmag.com ...
At Villa Adriana, built by the emperor Hadrian in the second century A.D., these column surrounded a private retreat ringed by water. [Susan Wright Photography]
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Great article.
VILLA MAGNA
What, no golf course?
As I post this e-mail, I’m listening to Bernard Cornwall’s Argincort on CD. It’s very well done historical fiction. Along with maybe O’Brian’s 18th Century series about the Royal Navy’s fighting hayday ie Master & Commander On the Farside of the World, one movies been made starring Russel Crowe, I don’t know of much better writer’s of authentic historical fiction. Cornwall also wrote the popular Sharpe series seen on the BBC.
Can any of you recommend other good writers of historical military fiction? Enjoy these last few weeks, I don’t think we’ll have many more unfortunately.
They’re not too good, but the most prolific writers of historical military fiction are leftists and Moslems.
Someone else here will have to help you out, I really don’t read fiction anymore.
The quasi-historical fiction I read in high school included “Fortune Made His Sword” (Henry V; I don’t know who wrote it), the sort of serial of novels that included “Eagle of the Ninth” (don’t know who wrote those either), and the Mary Stewart books on the Arthurian legends.
:’)
My pleasure. It’s a nice-sized one, too, for a change!
If they had better healthcare, it would have been interesting to live in those times.
I strongly recommend that everyone go to the original article url, read the text and especially locate the area for pictures of these magnificent retreats and some of their objects d arte that remain.
“I see wonderful things”
Cornwell is awesome. I read Agincourt, the Arthur series, the Saxon series, Stonehenge, and am currently on the last book of the Grail series. When I am done, I am going to read the latest book of the Saxon series, which came out in January. Then, I am going to check out Robyn Young’s Templar series. I heard it was good.
Eagle of the Ninth is being made into a movie. Coming out in September I believe.
Thanks wolfman23601!
Thanks wb.
Marked. Thanks.
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