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Neighbouring Area

Villa of Agrippa Postumus, Boscotrecase

Also known as the Imperial Villa or the Villa of Augusta, this was one of the most sumptuous villas at Boscotrecase. It was built by Agrippa, friend of the Emperor Augustus and husband of his daughter Julia. When Agrippa died (in 11 BC), the villa passed into the hands of his posthumously born infant son, Agrippa Postumus.
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The frescoes, which are among the finest existing examples of third style Roman wall painting, must have been painted during renovations begun at that time.
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Most of the panels feature ornamental landscapes and mythological scenes set against richly colored backgrounds.
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The third style of Roman wall painting flourished during the reign of Augustus. While earlier artists focused on creating an illusion of architectural depth with solid architectural forms, the artists at Boscotrecase presented more whimsical elements.

Other frescoes from the villa depict mythological scenes such as the ones pictured above of Perseus and Andromeda and Polyphemus and Galatea taken from a cubiculum of the villa.

Many of these frescoes can now be seen at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
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The servants’ quarters included a large ergastulum with an iron bracket to which slaves would have been chained. Unfortunately the villa was re-covered by lava in 1906.

Fresco from the Villa of Agrippa Postumus

Villa Sora, Torre del Greco

The villa, in modern day Torre del Greco, dates to the first century AD, and, given its size and decorative scheme, is thought to have belonged to the imperial family. The villa was laid out over three floors; the topmost floor collapsed following the eruption of Vesuvius while the lower floors were buried by volcanic debris.

The villa, known in the seventeenth century after the discovery of some marble sculptures, was the subject of 'excavations' by the Bourbons in the eighteenth century. The villa was rediscovered in 1974.

The photograph opposite is of a statue of a satyr found in the property in 1797. It was gifted to the National Archaeological Museum in Palermo by Ferdinand II.

The building was decorated with fine frescoes and mosaic floors and panels composed of marble.

The large apsed hall opened onto a corridor that lead to a semicircular fountain. The peristyle of the villa measured over 60m square, paved in polychrome marble.

Some of the best frescoes are being held in the storerooms at Herculaneum, the nearest Soprintendenza facility to the site.

In uncovering the frescoes it was found that their distinctive red colour had blackened in many places.

The origins of this degradation has not yet been clearly identified and remains a major issue for curators. Vitruvius, in his treatise De Architectura, mentions the problem, which at that time was prevented by applying a protective coating based on 'punic wax'.

Nearby there are also the remains of a bath complex. The villa is currently open to the public, but visits only access the middle floor.

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clemio	Latest page update: made by clemio , Apr 30 2009, 8:31 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by clemio 1 word deleted view changes - complete history)
	Keyword tags: Boscotrecase Bourbon Satyr of Sora Torre del Greco Villa of Agrippa Postumus Villa Sora More Info: links to this page