The central area, which has become a courtyard, lost its cross vault roof. Various rooms opened onto it, but some are almost completely underground and difficult to access, where parts of stucco ceilings have been preserved.
Finally, building D, which was transformed into a farmhouse by Count Fede and for decades was the home of the personnel director, located on the upper floor. The lower floor, transformed into a cellar, still retains the blackened stucco ceilings, decorated with Isiac symbols. There are cubicles and two single latrines, so it served as a house, probably meant for the priests of the cult of Isis.
This cult must have had its temple in building E, known as the “Hypostyle Hall”, which was excavated in recent years by the Superintendence and Zaccaria Mari, and did not appear in the antiquarian plans.
The façade opens towards the north-west and has a monumental marble staircase going up to the temple. The pavement was in opus sectile; column drums and precious composite capitals were found there.
During the excavation, a white marble Sphinx was found as well as a sculpture of the falcon Horus, which confirm the Egyptian character of the decoration and suggest that this was a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis.
Finally, next to the Hypostyle Hall is building F, a small farmhouse built in the eighteenth century incorporating Roman ruins; it is called “Casina degli Architetti” (the Architect’s Casino), because it was used by the architects who at that time came to study and survey the Villa.
Function and meaning
Since its decoration was in Egyptian style, this building was dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis. It consisted of a large square with portico, a sanctuary (the Hypostyle hall) and living quarters for the priests.
The builing is significantly close to the Greek Theater: the sanctuaries of Isis, in fact, were often built near a theater, where ceremonies and sacred performances were held.
SEE: Marina De Franceschini, Villa Adriana. Mosaici, pavimenti, edifici, 1991, pp. 597-600.