Sacellum Larum

Auspicious symbols and perhaps the initials of the commissioner’s name decorate the mosaic of the apsidal room

The mosaic decoration of the sacellum larum has a broken meander cornice, which encloses a well-preserved polychrome geometric design, distinguished by an eight-pointed star.In the centre, a laurel wreath frames an ivy leaf, which in the past was considered to be a symbol of good luck. It is reminiscent of the undulating branch, with the same subject, present in the apse area.

One clue that might lead to the identity of the dominus is held in the naturalistic design of the leaf. If we look carefully, its stems end in two curls, from which depart on each side, with a decreasing rate, five oblique dashes which fork at the end to create a V.
The outline of an M with curved bars is seen, which together with the H of Hedera (ivy), could allude to the initials of the emperor Valerius Maximianus Herculius. This is the hypothesis suggested by some scholars, also because of a statue of Hercules in the apse of the sacellum .

Is the profile of the dominus hidden among the scenes depicted in the mosaics?

The prestige of the dominus is revealed through the wall frescoes

The senses tell the Bi-Apsed room

The mosaics of the late antiquity residence

The protagonists of the mosaics

A line of armed men for an important Dominus

A large colonnaded portico, a place of connection between the rooms

An organic microcosm: the structure of the villa

The senses tell the Tri-Apsed Triclinium

A view of the race from the imperial gallery

The senses tell the private entrance to the spa

The Latifundium

The catalogue of animals

The astral interpretation of the mosaic

A small room represents one of the activities of the thermal bath route

The senses tell the bi-apsed ambulatory – Corridor of the “Great Hunt”

The senses tell the Quadrangular Peristyle

High-ranking characters depicted in the mosaics of the apsidal niches of the frigidarium

A royal room housed the Dominus during his audiences

The rural sacrifice

The senses tell the room in the private apartment known as “small hunt”

The protagonists of the mosaic and the military themed frescoes

The realistic depiction of a spa procession with a high-ranking female figure

The senses tell the Vestibule

Semi-public rooms

An individual who has attracted the attention of scholars

A day of hunting at the villa

The senses tell the Basilica

The mansio of Philosophiana. A stopping place

A small room embellished with marble

Solemn and majestic architecture to welcome a high-ranking commissioner

The paths of virus, a reflection of the Dominus

The senses tell the Sacellum of the Lares

The marble from the regions of the empire to decorate the basilica

Banquets and panegyrics enlivened the vast hall, against the background of a floor mosaic celebrating the feats of Hercules

The senses tell the monumental entrance

Outdoor breakfast

The possible celebration of a solemn event

An eloquent symbol: the signum

Worship of the Lares

The senses tell the frigidarium

The capture of wild animals for the roman amphitheatre games

Auspicious symbols and perhaps the initials of the commissioner’s name decorate the mosaic of the apsidal room

Form of greeting or ritual?

A hidden meaning

A small room used as a privileged entrance to the baths

The apotheosis of Hercules

The public and private rooms of the villa

An official ceremony to welcome the Dominus

The senses tell the massage room

A dialogue between mythological and realistic scenes

The main nuclei of the Domus

The late antiquity residence: locus amoenus and centre of administrative activities in the heart of Sicily

The golden age: hypotheses about the villa’s period of construction and clues

A chariot race, set in the circus Maximus of Rome, connects the villa to the city and centre of power