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35 - QUADRIPORTICUS

Description

The Quadriporticus links the Small Baths with the rest of the Imperial Residence and served to connect the two different orientations.

The wall towards the Small Baths is built in opus reticulatum and belonged to a pre-existing villa from the Republican or Augustan era.

Since it has a series of niches, for a long time it was thought that it was a Nymphaeum; recent surveys have found no traces of water basins. Therefore it was a simple wall with niches for statues.

View of the Quadriporticus

Function and meaning

The central part was arranged as a garden, surrounded by four porticoes.

 It gave access to the Small Baths and the building with Three Exedras.

Traces of nails on the walls for wall marble cladding prove that it belonged to the noble quarters of the Villa.

SEE: Marina De Franceschini, Villa Adriana. Mosaici, pavimenti, edifici. Roma 1991, pp. 241-243 e 526-531.