Tivoli, Spanish archaeologists at Hadrian's Villa discover a triclinium...aquatic. Unique in the world

Important archaeological discovery at the Villa Adriana in Tivoli: a team of Spanish archaeologists from the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville, directed by Professor Rafael Hidalgo Prieto, has discovered a sumptuous triclinium, a room where lunch was served. However, it would not be a triclinium as there are so many, but a very special room, which, according to Prieto, would have no other counterpart in the world: in fact, archaeologists found there a marble platform that in ancient times was surrounded by water and fountains and gave Emperor Hadrian and his diners the feeling of dining on water.

“What we have found,” Professor Prieto explained to the Spanish daily ABC, “is a nymphaeum, a monumental fountain: it is like a large pool with fountains all around it, with a some marble pillars on which Emperor Hadrian arranged a walkway, also made of Carrara marble, and with this he set up a triclinium, an aquatic banquet hall, where one had the sensation of floating on water while standing on a marble platform.”

In other words, according to Prieto, “the emperor stood over a pool, with water behind, with the sound of the water always present during the banquet, and with the view of the garden in front. This is absolutely unique in the world. There is no banquet hall as sophisticated as the one we found at Villa Adriana.”

“Pablo de Olavide” University has been working on the excavation in the Palace area at Hadrian’s Villa since 2013, and what was presented to the Spanish press yesterday is probably the most important discovery of these years of work.

Pictured: the environment discovered

Tivoli, Spanish archaeologists at Hadrian's Villa discover a triclinium...aquatic. Unique in the world

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.