TOR PATERNO - THE IMPERIAL VILLA

There are numerous ruins in the area of Tor Paterno (to the north of the Via Litoranea, at the Quinto Cancello). See the map below. Not on the map, a bit to the north, are some remains of which the function is not clear yet (Lauro - Claridge 1998, E3-E6). Top left on the map we see an aqueduct arriving, followed by a Roman road and coming from locality La Santola, so from Rome. Buildings F3 and F4 are both baths. At F12 are extensive remains of baths, which will be discussed on a separate page. F13 is a large cistern, F15-16 a villa with a small nymphaeum. Here fragments were found of paintings of very high quality, once decorating a ceiling.

In 1903 Rodolfo Lanciani assigned the various ruins in the area to a huge, single complex, regarding it as an Imperial villa. There is no conclusive evidence for ownership by the Emperor, but it is possible, when we remember the flight of Commodus to the Laurentine area in 189 AD, and plausible, in view of the special aqueduct that supplied the area.

Map of the Tor Paterno area. North is to the left. Image: Lauro 1998, fig. after p. 64.

Remains of baths F3. Photo: Lauro - Claridge 1998, fig. 24.

Plan of baths F4 by Lanciani. Image: Lauro 1998, fig. 24.

Remains of baths F4. Photo: Lauro 1998, fig. 26.

Remains of villa F15. Photo: Lauro 1988, fig. 24.

Click to enlarge. Painting of an Egyptian figure from villa F15.
Photo: generazionediarcheologi.com.