Villa Romana del Casale

History

The currently visible remains of the villa were constructed in the first quarter of the fourth century AD on the remains of an older villa rustica and are the pars dominica, or master's residence, of a large latifundium or agricultural estate.

It is likely that the nearby settlement of Philosophiana was the centre of production and commercial activities, as well as a rest stop for travellers along the Catania-Agrigento road, as mentioned in the Itinerarium Antonini as a mansio or statio, for those seeking shelter for the night and a change of horses. The latifundium extended to the mouth of the Gela River that is identifiable by the many brick stamps with inscriptions PHIL SOPH.

During the first two centuries of the Roman Empire, Sicily had gone through an economic depression due to the production system of large estates based on slave labour: urban life had suffered a decline, the countryside was deserted, and the lack of suitable villas seems to indicate that the wealthy property owners did not reside there. Furthermore, the remote conquering Roman government neglected the territory that became a place of exile and a refuge for slaves and brigands.

At the beginning of the fourth century rural Sicily entered a new period of prosperity with commercial settlements and agricultural villages that seem to reach the apex of their expansion and activity. New constructions are seen in the localities of Philosophiana, Sciacca, Kaukana (Punta Secca), Naxos, and elsewhere. An obvious sign of transformation was the new title assigned to the governor of the island, from corrector to consularis. …

The latifundium and the villa

In late antiquity the Romans partitioned most of the Sicilian hinterland into huge agricultural estates entitled latifundia. The size of the villa and the amount and quality of its artwork indicate that it was the pars dominica of such a latifundium. The commercial part of the villa, or pars rustica, of the latifundium is most likely centred on the nearby settlement of Philosophiana, 6 km away and cited in the Itinerarium Antonini. However, to the west of the entrance area a room divided in three parts by pillars for storage of agricultural products is related to agriculture.

The villa was so large as to include multiple reception and state rooms, which reflects the need to satisfy a number of different functions and to include spaces for the management of the estate, as well as of the villa. This transformed the villa into resembling a miniature city. The villa would likely have been the permanent or semi-permanent residence of the owner; it would have been where the owner received local clients in the role of patron.

The villa was a single-story building, centred on the peristyle, around which almost all the main public and private rooms were organised. The monumental entrance is via the atrium from the west. Thermal baths are located to the northwest; service rooms and probably guest rooms to the north; private apartments and a huge basilica to the east; and rooms of unknown purpose to the south. Somewhat detached, and appearing almost as an afterthought, is the separate area to the south containing the elliptical peristyle, service rooms, and a huge triclinium (formal dining room).

The overall plan of the villa was dictated by several factors: older constructions on the site, the slight slope of the site, and the paths of the sun and prevailing winds. The higher ground to the east is occupied by the Great Basilica, the private apartments, and the Corridor of the Great Hunt; the middle ground by the Peristyle, guest rooms, the entrance area, the Elliptical Peristyle, and the triclinium; while the lower ground to the west is dedicated to the thermal baths. …

Mosaics

In 1959–60, Gentili excavated a mosaic on the floor of a room variously identified then as the "Room of the Gymnasts" and the "Chamber of the Ten Maidens" (Sala delle Dieci Ragazze in Italian). The subjects of the artwork appear in a mosaic that scholars have named Coronation of the Winner. Several women athletes are shown competing in sports that include weight-lifting, discus throwing, running, and ball-games. An official on the bottom left who is shown wearing a toga holds the trophies that she will award to the victor (a crown and a palm frond), and in the centre of the mosaic the victor appears with her crown and the palm frond. Much attention has been given to the two-piece sport or exercise outfits worn by the women, which closely resemble modern-day swimsuits.

Another well-preserved mosaic shows a hunt, that includes men hunting with dogs to capture a variety of game.