Villa Jovis
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Villa Jovis ("Villa of Jupiter"; also Villa Iovis, sometimes misspelled Villa Ionis) is a Roman palace on Capri, southern Italy, built by emperor Tiberius who ruled from there between AD 27 and AD 37. It is the largest of the twelve Tiberian villas on Capri mentioned by Tacitus and the entire complex, spanning several terraces and a difference in elevation of about 40 m, covers some 7,000 m² (1.7 acres). While the remaining eight levels of walls and staircases only hint at the grandeur the building must have had in its time, recent reconstructions have shown the villa to be a remarkable testament to 1st-century Roman architecture.
Location and description of the palace
Villa Jovis is situated in the very northeast of the island atop Monte Tiberio; its 334 m elevation makes it the second-highest peak of Capri, after Monte Solaro (589 m elevation) in Anacapri.
The north wing of the building contained the living quarters, while the south wing saw administrative use. The east wing was meant for receptions, whereas the west wing featured an open-walled hall (ambulatio) which offered a scenic view towards Anacapri.
As water was difficult to come by where the villa was built, Roman engineers constructed an intricate system for the collection of rainwater from the roofs and a large cistern that supplied the palace with fresh water.
South of the main building there are remains of a watch tower for the quick telegraphic exchange of messages with the mainland, e.g. by fire or smoke.
Access to the complex is only possible on foot, and involves an uphill walk of about two kilometres from Capri town.
Tiberius and his life on Capri
Apparently the main motivations for Tiberius's move from Rome to Capri were his wariness of the political manoeuvring in Rome and a lingering fear of assassination. The villa is situated at a very secluded spot on the island and Tiberius's quarters in the north and east of the palatial villa were particularly difficult to reach and heavily guarded.
The Villa Jovis is also, at least according to Suetonius, the place where Tiberius engaged in wild debauchery. Many modern historians regard these tales as merely vicious slander by Tiberius's detractors and these historians believe he in fact lived a modest, reclusive existence on the island.
Further reading
- J.M.Barnes, "Villa Iovis - A Sonnet Cycle." Tennyson Press, Reading MA. 2008.
- Clemens Krause, 2003. "Villa Jovis — Die Residenz des Tiberius auf Capri", Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie (Mainz am Rhein)
- Clemens Krause, Villa Jovis. L'edificio residenziale, electa napoli 2006.
