The emperor, on the other hand, was inside the so-called Antrum CA1, suspended high above the small bridge, surrounded by water. It was in an elevated and safe position, corresponding to that of a royal box in a theatre, where there was the best view and the best acoustics.
The Canopus is perhaps the only one of the buildings of Villa Adriana that can be identified with the ancient ones mentioned in the Historia Augusta. In fact, it is inspired by the famous Canopus canal near Alexandria in Egypt where grandiose banquets were held.
The hypothesis is confirmed by the discovery of numerous statues of Egyptian iconography, mostly of black marble; they were discovered in the eighteenth century during the excavations of the Jesuits, who owned the Canopus. They are now in the Vatican Museums.
SEE. Marina De Franceschini, Villa Adriana. Mosaici, pavimenti, edifici. Roma 1991, pp. 297-314 e 563-576 with previous bibliography
Aurigemma 1954, 1955 e 1956; Tiberi 1939; Hannestad 1983; Jashemski 1992; Fahlbusch 2008; Placidi 2008; Betori 2006; Pensabene 2011.