Villa Publica
The Villa Publica (meaning ‘House of the People’), built in 435 BCE, was the first public
building to be constructed on the Campus Martius, and the only one constructed
before the end of the Republic. There is no physical, archaeological evidence
remaining of the Villa Publica today, however it is known to have existed (with
numismatic proof existing in the form of a republican era denarius; a variety
of silver coin), and is also known to have been a rather prominent feature of
the Field of Mars. Its purpose was to house foreign ambassadors and generals, to
serve as a headquarters for officials of the state. In the writings of several
ancient historians, including Livius in book 88 of the Periochae, it is said that in 82 BCE, 4000 prisoners who had
surrendered in the battle of the Colline Gate were contained within the Villa
Publica by the Roman General Sulla, and slaughtered there by his command.
Because the only current sources on the Villa Publica are of
the written or numismatic kind, the dimensions of the building as it once stood are unknown. What
is known, or at least alluded to by the sources available on the building, is
that it was located near the Saepta Julia, Circus Flaminius and Temple of
Bellona. The structure itself was supposedly upgraded in 194 BCE, and then
restored in 34 BCE by Fonteius Capito, the consul of the Roman Empire succeeding
Nero. On both the Republican coin and Laurus’ illustration (shown below), the
Villa Publica is portrayed as having multiple stories and archways and a
symmetrical pattern in the placement of the arches. Laurus has also shown the
Villa as having a large and ornate set of steps leading up to the roof deck
area, a rotunda-like top on a protrusion of the building towards the far left,
and statues (3 shown; presumably 4 total; one for each corner) decorating the
very top tier. There is also a rather elaborate relief on the side of the
stairs, possibly of Mars, to whom the Campus Marius, the field on which the
Villa rests, is consecrated. Although not shown in these sources, others,
mostly written rather than visual, credit the Villa Publica as being a walled
enclosure, likely the reason visiting diplomats, generals and officials were
accommodated here; they were safe from intruders and, in the case that they commanded a
foreign army, Rome was safe from them.
The significance of the Villa Publica to Roman society
existed largely in the strategic benefits of its location. Being outside of the
city and within the domain of the Roman Army, right within their training area,
the walled and highly secure Villa Publica provided the perfect location to
house political and military figures without running the risk of them corresponding
with their own forces or those of allies who may be outside. It also allowed
them to be monitored if the Romans wished it, whilst at the same time allowing
them to stay in an apparently prestigious villa, which would flatter their
vanity and endear the city to them, if nothing else.
Questions:
1. What evidence exists of the Villa Publica today?
2. Why was the Villa Publica politically/strategically significant, and how did it provide security to the city?
1. What evidence exists of the Villa Publica today?
2. Why was the Villa Publica politically/strategically significant, and how did it provide security to the city?
Bibliography:
Livius, T. (n.d.). Periochae, Translation retrieved from: http://www.livius.org/li-ln/livy/periochae/periochae086.html#88
Platner, S. B. (1929). A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Oxford University Press, London, Extract retrieved from: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Villa_Publica.html
Quondam, (2013). Villa Publica, Retrieved from: http://www.quondam.com/30/3098.htm
Roman Numismatic Gallery, (n.d.). Buildings on Roman Coins, Retrieved from: http://www.romancoins.info/VIC-Buildings.html#villa
Wikipedia, (3.8.2015). Villa Publica, Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Publica
Beech-Nixon, N., Cross, J. & Lings, H. (2001). Campus Martius Project, Retrieved from: http://artsweb.bham.ac.uk/DianaSpencer/city_rome/campus_martius_project.htm
Livius, T. (n.d.). Periochae, Translation retrieved from: http://www.livius.org/li-ln/livy/periochae/periochae086.html#88
Platner, S. B. (1929). A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Oxford University Press, London, Extract retrieved from: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Villa_Publica.html
Quondam, (2013). Villa Publica, Retrieved from: http://www.quondam.com/30/3098.htm
Roman Numismatic Gallery, (n.d.). Buildings on Roman Coins, Retrieved from: http://www.romancoins.info/VIC-Buildings.html#villa
Wikipedia, (3.8.2015). Villa Publica, Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Publica
Beech-Nixon, N., Cross, J. & Lings, H. (2001). Campus Martius Project, Retrieved from: http://artsweb.bham.ac.uk/DianaSpencer/city_rome/campus_martius_project.htm