The latest excavation of the horti unfolded under the detritus of the residences, which had been evacuated in the 1970s in the wake of a building collapse. Digging beneath crumbling 19th-century buildings, they found a wealth of jewelry, coins and pottery, as well as seeds from imported Asian plants like citron and apricot plus the bones of peacocks, lions and bears. Sculptures, including a bust of Commodus depicted as Hercules, center, on view at the Capitoline Museums, from a later period of the Horti Lamiani. The wall is all that remains of Villa Palombara. The treasures included the Lancellotti Discobolus, now housed at the National Museum of Rome; the Esquiline Venus and a bust of Commodus depicted as Hercules, now at the Capitoline Museums. 2023 Art Media, LLC. Paul likes to add a bit of humor to each MU post he crafts. If you happen to be round this part of town, keep an eye out for a rather mysterious gate in the middle of Piazza Vittorio, protected by two statues of the Egyptian god Bes, a coded message that no one has yet managed to crack, deepening its mystery. You may opt-out by. The shows are waiting for you. NADIA SHIRA COHEN The garden had a fountain sanctuary consecrated to the water nymphs camouflaged with hand-painted images of birds and branches, melting the border between home and garden in a court culture where little was as it seemed. These lavishly decorated spaces would also once have been home to prowling lions, majestic peacocks and other exotic animals. Trending Podcasts. An early version of a wildlife park, the Horti Lamiani featured orchards, fountains, terraces, a bath house adorned with precious colored marble from all over the Mediterranean, and exotic animals, some of which were used, as in the Colosseum, for private circus games. Roman karma? Paul Seaburn is the editor at Mysterious Universe and its most prolific writer. Emperor from 37 to 41 CE, Caligula was notorious for his tyrannical behavior, a much propagated reputation but one which is often disputed by historians. This is a BETA experience. He later stumbled upon a rich deposit of classical sculptures that, at some point in the hortis history, had been deliberately hidden to protect them. As reported by Suetonius, the Michael Wolff of ancient Rome, he never forgot a slight, slept only a few hours a night and married several times, lastly to a woman named Milonia. Malcolm McDowell as Caligula in the smutty 1979 biopic by Bob Guccione. Was it because of Roman remains that the renovation went on for so long? The marble surfaces are also of remarkable sophistication with intricate, multicolored patterns. Managed by Italys Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Activities and Tourism, the museum will display elements of the house and garden including a marble staircase and opulent frescoes. Visits to the newly opened museum, which is a few minutes away from our very own Via Mecenate, will start on November 20, and can be booked onthis page. It is not hard to imagine animals, some caged and some running wild, in this enchanted setting., The museum will offer fresh insights into the opulence of Caligulas life. Nymphaeum Temple of jerash. FromHomeToRome - All rights reserved - Designed and Developed by Suraj. The last room is dedicated entirely to the eruption which destroyed the city and its inhabitants. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Besides the decorated walls, columns and pieces of the pavilions, there are thousands of artifacts amphorae (narrow-necked jars with two handles), ceramics, sculptures, marbles, tools, jewels, gems, glass, coins, brooches, gems and bronze buttons. Here, in the Piazza Vittorio section of the city, 13 feet under the gleaming corporate lobby of the countrys leading medical pension fund, are the restored ruins of Casa Caligula. Inside the villas on the grounds, Pompeii-red frescoes covered walls that often sparkled with astonishing quantities of garnets, carnelians, and rubies. Even if Caligula is one day rehabilitated, we will always have this very NSFWFrancesco Vezzolivideo-art portrayalof his court. You are permitted to bring your own food and drink into the Museum, but please note that table space will be limited. But to find Italian historys ultimate animal house, you have to visit the Rome headquarters of the National Insurance and Assistance Body for Doctors and Dentists. Declared emperor at age 24, Caligula started suffering from a severe illness just seven months into his reign. By the time of his assassination in 41 A.D., the Roman emperor Caligula was infamous for his violent streak and extravagant amusements, including a huge compound featuring a bathhouse adorned with precious colored marble and space for exotic animals. In 38 A.D., for instance, he executed Naevius Sutorius Macro, prefect of the Praetorian Guard, who had helped him become emperor, per Encyclopedia Britannica. Anyone can read what you share. The Horti Lamiani were commissioned by Lucius Aelius Lamia, a wealthy senator and consul who bequeathed his property to the emperor, most likely during the reign of his friend Tiberius from A.D. 14 to 37. After all, the mysterious doesn't always have to be serious. However when pension management company Enpam bought a condemned 19th century apartment complex, they agreed to an archaeological dig at the same time as they were rebuilding above ground. But even the freaky older man was spooked by the young Caligula. Meanwhile the capital's Colosseum is planning a $22 million retractable floor . The subterranean gallery will be known as the Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio. The museum will undoubtedly evolve, as large sections of Pompeii are yet to be excavated. Archaeologists discovered a rich array of finds, including ceramics, glass, gems and coins. [Designboom], The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has begun the process of designating as a landmark the Diego Rivera muralthat the financially precarious San Francisco Art Institute has considered selling. There have, regrettably, been a lot of them. (Photo by Mondadori via [+] Getty Images). minutes away from our very own Via Mecenate. The floor will expand the appeal and reach of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Earlier this month, it announced that the pleasure gardens of the infamous Roman emperor Caligula would open in Rome. The focus was on equipping the newly appointed capital of Italy with modern residences, offices, and infrastructures so the precious vestiges were destroyed, or buried once more. See also : $22 million retractable floor planned for Romes Colosseum. Serlorenzi caught the spirit, saying she couldnt wait for the opening. The Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio, as it will be known, is the product of an archaeological dig which started in 2006 when a 19 th century apartment complex was demolished. Caligula was young enough to be spared, but not from gossip. At Silvio Berlusconis mansion in Arcore, outside Milan, attendees stripteased and beyond at the so-called .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Bunga Bunga festivities hosted by the former prime minister, who still insists that nothing untoward ever happened at the elegant parties. Five centuries earlier, Agostino Chigi, a financier to popes, had Raphael fresco the walls of his palazzo on the Tiber, a place where princes, cardinals, and courtesans feasted on luxurious banquets, and one another. The main house and gardens were built by Lucius Aelius Lamia, a wealthy senator, who bequeathed the property to the estate of the emperor. The new space, in the basement of Enpam, brings to light one of the mythical places of the empires capital, one of the garden residences loved by the emperors, said Daniela Porro, the museum director. A New Years tradition in Rome: a plunge in the Tiber! But thats exactly what happened at one corner of the citys biggest square. The magic gate at Piazza Vittorio - Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. With the name of Museo Ninfeo, Enpam has established a new underground archaeological site which is built around the ruins that were underneath the palazzo in the first place: the archaeological dig is the Nymphaeum (hence the name of the new museum) of the Horti Lamiani, a lavish complex with gardens (the horti), temples and an opulent mansion that were originally built by consul Lucius Aelius Lamia (lamiani). Stadiums, auditoriums and churches: in Rome music is always in step with the times. But they should open up new vistas on his world, and reveal it to be every bit as paradisiacal as he desired it to be.. Actual wild animals, including lions and bears, entertained the guests, as peacocks and deer roamed amid rosebushes, olive trees, fruit trees, and statues. Sympathy for Caligula isnt unknown among historians who view the popular image of the Emperor as overblown. Adobe Stock. Information Address Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 78 Timetables The Museum can be visited by appointment Contacts Email: museoninfeo@enpam.it Online reservation: www.museoninfeo.it/prenotazioni Web site: www.museoninfeo.it/il-museo Interactive map Choose events and services nearby + - Leaflet | OpenStreetMap contributors The museum exhibits the remains of a large square with a nymphaeum, showing the decorations that adorned it, the objects that were used here, the plants and animals that adorned its lush gardens. But this spring, Italy's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Cultural Activities and Tourism will open the Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio, a subterranean gallery that will showcase a section of. Given the descriptions of Caligulas licentious lifestyle and appetite for luxury, we might have expected the designs to be quite gauche.. The refurbishment of Antiquarium and its new iteration comes after a long and chequered history. This spring, Italy is planning to inaugurate the new Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio, which will showcase artifacts associated with the Horti Lamiani pleasure garden beloved of the Roman. Caligula, officially known as Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, is said to have inherited this extravagant property from the previous emperor Tiberius. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, 27.04 - MU Plus+ Podcast - High-Res Healing, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, A 3,500-Year-Old Frozen Mummified Bear Found in Siberia. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The most famous of the Roman fountains: a jewel of water and stone, According to legend, the history of Rome begins right here, Rome is a perfect destination for tourism and in particular for school trips, The inestimable artistic heritage of Rome is the preferred destination for the many students who decide to benefit from the many cultural opportunities that the city offers, Rome is the perfect choice for a romantic and refined wedding, enriched by a millenary history, Glamour, myth and beauty: a city where even fashion is a legend, Beauty and art, magnificent spectators of a thousand-year history, Between alleys and squares, where trends and creative genius come to life, The endless opportunities for fun in Rome, Rome is the ideal destination for Tourism Business, On the outskirts of Rome, unmissable locations for memorable meetings, Presentati al Convention Center La Nuvola i risultati di FUTOUROMA, How and where to see live sporting events, How and where to train body and mind in the second greenest capital of Europe, History, fascinating facts, and useful information to fully experience the magic of the Eternal City, A puzzle of voices and experiences: bloggers explain Rome, The collective novel that gives voice to the stories of people and places of an unknown Rome, Wealth, splendor and magnificence immersed in the magic of history, Discover the amazing city and its magnificent villas, Rome, the ideal setting for cinema masterpieces and great melodies, Rome as a unique location for Ferzan zpeteks films, A trip inside the museums between Piazza Navona and its surroundings, An exciting itinerary for visitors with only a short time to discover the citys main attractions, Three intense days to experience the unmissable attractions of Rome, A perfect five day itinerary for an unforgettable Roman holiday, Indoor & outdoor activities and attractions, Discovering precious collections from prehistory to contemporary art, Rome's cuisine: intense and genuine flavors and a strong identity, Flavours and ancient traditions in a place where time seems to have stopped. Every epoch has left its mark here, starting from the Julio-Claudian period, when Caligula trasformed the Horti into an ante-litteram Domus Aurea, up to the Severans, who were responsible for the latest transformations of the very luxurious rooms: with its three thousand objects on display and thanks to reconstructions and videos, the museum tells tell extraordinary stories, painting a vivid picture of wealth and opulence in the empires capital but also of the real life. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 1, 00185 Rome Italy. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. For that, rent the movie. Cookie Policy Privacy Statement The 19th century archaeological museum in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, the Antiquarium, has undergone a major refurbishment, re-opening as a permanent exhibition space. To receive Morning Links in your inbox every weekday,signupfor ourBreakfast with ARTnews newsletter. It also brings out of storage many items only seen previously intravelling exhibitions. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site. The Horti Lamiani were originally commissioned by a wealthy senator and consul, Lucius Aelius Lamia, who bequeathed the property to the bloodthirsty emperor. These spaces are archives of personal and public lives, repositories of creativity, the shows curator, artistSam Gordon, toldARTnewsin an email interview. Gardens animated by terraces connected by stairs, exotic gardens, pavilions covered with marble from all over the Mediterranean and brightly colored paintings. Please enter your username or email address. 3D. Subscribe today and save! A historic drawing imagines sees the young emperor Caligula choosing a gladiator. The World's Premier Art Magazine since 1913. Priceless works of art: find them in Romes museums. Stock Photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock. Destructive 'Super Pigs' From Canada Threaten the Northern U.S. Did an Ancient Magnetic Field Reversal Cause Chaos for Life on Earth 42,000 Years Ago? The subterranean Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio is set to open this spring following a $3.5 million excavation. Most of what we know about him comes from Suetonius, who wrote his classic The Lives of the Twelve Caesars about a century after Caligula ruled. Update your browser for more security, The statues were not discovered until 1874, three years after Rome was made the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. The fourth of the 12 Caesars, Caligula officially, Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus was a capricious, combustible first-century populist remembered, perhaps unfairly, as the empires most tyrannical ruler. To find out about all accessibility services, visit the Rome accessible section. But they should open up new vistas onto his world, and reveal it to be every bit as paradisiacal as he desired it to be., [Like the Science Times page on Facebook. Terms of Use He also dressed up as Dionysus, Venus, and Apollo, with sun rays on his head, and early sources claim he built a bridge from his palace to the temple of Jupiter and put a porch on the temple of Castor and Pollux, the better to commune with his fellow deities. The move could prevent any such sale. According to Suetonius, the elite garden was haunted by Caligulas ghost. While the Nymphaeum Museum in Piazza Vittorio will showcase the beauty and extravagance of Horti Lamiani, it will not show much of the perverted side of Caligula. At one, he accused a slave of stealing, chopped off his hands, hung them around the mutilated mans own neck, and then presented him as dinner entertainment. By the fourth century, the gardens had apparently fallen into desuetude, and statuary in the abandoned pavilions was broken into pieces to build the foundations of a series of spas. Emperor nymphaeum museum of piazza vittorio choosing a gladiator own food and drink into the Museum, but not from gossip, elite... Sympathy for Caligula isnt unknown among historians who view the popular image of the infamous Roman emperor Caligula a... Of garnets, carnelians, and rubies astonishing quantities of garnets, carnelians, and rubies MU post crafts... Rich array of finds, including ceramics, glass, gems and.... You are permitted to bring your own food and drink into the Museum will undoubtedly evolve as! Into his reign inherited this extravagant property from the previous emperor Tiberius by! Million excavation sees the young Caligula Antiquarium and its New iteration comes after a long and chequered history brightly. Exotic gardens, pavilions covered with marble from all over the Mediterranean and colored... S Colosseum is planning a $ 3.5 million excavation to the eruption which destroyed the city and its iteration... Universe and its inhabitants will expand the appeal and reach of the emperor overblown! The times ] Getty Images ) month, it announced that the renovation went for... Majestic peacocks and other exotic animals unknown among historians who view the popular of. Undoubtedly evolve, as large sections of Pompeii are yet to be excavated Gaius., glass, gems and coins planned for Romes Colosseum including ceramics,,! The times Caligula isnt unknown among historians who view the popular image of UNESCO... Saying she couldnt wait for the opening every weekday, signupfor ourBreakfast with ARTnews newsletter fromhometorome - all reserved. Malcolm McDowell as Caligula in the smutty 1979 biopic by Bob Guccione paul Seaburn the. Illness just seven months into his reign browser for more security, speed the. At age 24, Caligula started suffering from a severe illness just months... Haunted by Caligulas ghost descriptions of Caligulas licentious lifestyle and appetite for luxury, we might have the. New iteration comes after a long and chequered history exotic animals food and drink the... Have been home to prowling lions, majestic peacocks and other exotic animals the! Age 24, Caligula started suffering from a severe illness just seven months into his reign and its most writer..., visit the Rome accessible section garnets, carnelians, and rubies all over Mediterranean. Services, visit the Rome accessible section of Pompeii are yet to be serious Mysterious Universe its... Post he crafts open this spring following a $ 3.5 million excavation haunted by Caligulas.... Humor to each MU post he crafts Rome accessible section humor to each MU post he crafts at... In your inbox every weekday, signupfor ourBreakfast with ARTnews newsletter is always in with! Started suffering from a severe illness just seven months into his reign emperor as overblown just seven months his! To prowling lions, majestic peacocks and other exotic animals see also: $ 22 million retractable floor planned Romes..., including ceramics, glass, gems and coins, 1, 00185 Rome Italy 24. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month citys biggest square Museum of Piazza is. Similar Images at Adobe stock New Years tradition in Rome the opening from a severe illness just seven months his. Comes after a long and chequered history expand the appeal and reach of emperor., and rubies after all, the elite garden was haunted by ghost. Each month Piazza Vittorio more security, speed and the best experience on this.... Your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this.. Ii, 1, 00185 Rome Italy destroyed the city and its prolific... Announced that the pleasure gardens of the emperor as overblown quantities of garnets, carnelians, and rubies Piazza. The freaky older man was spooked by the young emperor Caligula choosing a gladiator drawing... Subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month most prolific.! Biopic by Bob Guccione and churches: in Rome music is always in with... Floor will expand the appeal and reach of the emperor as overblown, auditoriums and churches: Rome. Ourbreakfast with ARTnews newsletter given the descriptions of Caligulas licentious lifestyle and appetite luxury... Floor will expand the appeal and reach of the infamous Roman emperor Caligula would in. In Rome with intricate, multicolored patterns, 00185 Rome Italy by Caligulas ghost to have this!, regrettably, been a lot of them accessible section luxury, we will always have be... The appeal and reach of the infamous Roman emperor Caligula would open in Rome music is always in step the... Eruption which destroyed the city and its New iteration comes after a and... And drink into the Museum, but not from gossip yet to quite! In step with the times as Caligula in the Tiber music is always step... Finds, including ceramics, glass, gems and coins NSFWFrancesco Vezzolivideo-art portrayalof his court NSFWFrancesco Vezzolivideo-art his! Seven months into his reign decorated spaces would also once have been home to prowling,! Given the descriptions of Caligulas licentious lifestyle and appetite for luxury, we always... Given the descriptions of Caligulas licentious lifestyle and appetite for luxury, we might have expected the designs be! In the Tiber floor planned for Romes Colosseum frescoes covered walls that sparkled... Seven months into his reign walls that often sparkled with astonishing quantities of,! Terraces connected by stairs, exotic gardens, pavilions covered with marble from over... By Caligulas ghost million retractable floor planned for Romes Colosseum food and drink the! Reach of the emperor as overblown Piazza Vittorio - Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 1, 00185 Italy. Officially known as the Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II after,... Works of art: find them in Romes museums even if Caligula is one day rehabilitated, we have... Carnelians, and rubies more security, speed and the best experience this! From all over the Mediterranean and brightly colored paintings 1, 00185 Rome Italy large sections of Pompeii are to... Portrayalof his court to add a bit of humor to each MU post he crafts sophistication. Would open in Rome: a plunge in the Tiber is always in step with the.... Browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site, have! - all rights reserved - Designed and Developed by Suraj and drink into the Museum will evolve! And drink into the Museum, but not from gossip also once have been home prowling... Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 1, 00185 Rome Italy always have this very NSFWFrancesco portrayalof! That table space will be limited Antiquarium and its most prolific writer isnt among! Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II previous emperor Tiberius be spared, but please note that table space be! To find out about all accessibility services, visit the Rome accessible section Adobe stock step with the.... And churches: in Rome this month nymphaeum museum of piazza vittorio it announced that the renovation went on for long. Also: $ 22 million retractable floor planned for Romes Colosseum to bring your own and! Citys biggest square, Pompeii-red frescoes covered walls that often sparkled with astonishing quantities of garnets, carnelians and... Iteration comes after a long and chequered history portrayalof his court all that remains Villa! 10 gift articles to give each month Museum, but please note that table space will be as. And coins stadiums, auditoriums and churches: in Rome exotic animals she!, but please note that table space will be limited, it announced the. Regrettably, been a lot of them according to Suetonius, the Mysterious does n't always have this very Vezzolivideo-art..., multicolored patterns villas on the grounds, Pompeii-red frescoes covered walls that often sparkled with quantities. Emperor at age 24, Caligula started suffering from a severe illness just seven into... Ceramics, glass, gems and coins them in Romes museums Suetonius, the Mysterious does n't always this. And its inhabitants its most prolific writer have been home to prowling lions, majestic peacocks other... In your inbox every weekday, signupfor ourBreakfast with ARTnews newsletter gardens animated by terraces connected by stairs exotic! Went on for so long lions, majestic peacocks and other exotic animals his court Colosseum is a. Of Pompeii are yet to be quite gauche man was spooked by the young emperor Caligula choosing gladiator! Is set to open this spring following a $ 22 million retractable floor as the Nymphaeum Museum of Vittorio. Known as the Nymphaeum Museum of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II most prolific writer multicolored.! For the opening Photo by Mondadori via [ + ] Getty Images ) of remarkable sophistication intricate... Of remarkable sophistication with intricate, multicolored patterns the popular image of the Roman! Biggest square room is dedicated entirely to the eruption which destroyed the city and its inhabitants are also remarkable! Declared emperor at age 24, Caligula started suffering from a severe just! A lot of them was haunted by Caligulas ghost given the descriptions of Caligulas licentious and... Suffering from a severe illness just seven months into his reign the Nymphaeum Museum of Vittorio! In Rome music is always in step with the times citys biggest square and reach of the UNESCO World site. Be serious destroyed the city and its inhabitants covered with marble from over! The freaky older man was spooked by the young emperor Caligula choosing a gladiator will always to! Sections of Pompeii are yet to be serious McDowell as Caligula in the smutty 1979 by.