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Typology: Villas and archaeological areas

Address

Address: Via dell'Amba Aradam, 5
Zone: Rione Monti (Colosseo-S.Giovanni-S.Maria Maggiore) (Roma centro)
Presso Palazzo della Direzione Metropolitana dell’INPS di Roma

Contacts

Description

These ancient structures came to light in 1959 during the construction of the new INPS building, on the corner of Via dei Laterani and Via Amba Aradam. In the remains of the complex, the Domus Faustae, the residence of Flavia Maxima Fausta, wife of Emperor Constantine and sister of Emperor Maxentius, was recognised.

The uncovered structures seem to belong to three different building nuclei, with phases ranging from the 1st century A.D. to the 1st century A.D. (walls in opus reticulatum with reticulated stonework). (walls in opus reticulatum with restorations from the 2nd century) to the 4th century AD.
The most remarkable and interesting structure is the long corridor, 5 metres wide, of which it has so far been possible to excavate a 27-metre long section, extending in an east-west direction. On the south side it has large windows, on the north side, inside, a series of large frescoes depicting larger-than-life figures - somewhat damaged and of uncertain interpretation - dating to the 4th century.
The same corridor widens at the eastern end into an exedra, also with windows, with a basement in the centre. A hypothetical reconstruction of the complex places the exedra as the centre of a portico that extended 60 metres and a building in a north-south direction with a depth of about 40 metres. The shape of the ground and the subsequent discovery of the nymphaeum at the junction with Via dei Laterani, however, suggest a smaller structure.

The most popular theory is that the two oldest nuclei were the House of Piso and the House of the Laterans, expropriated during the reign of Nero and incorporated in the fourth century in the imperial Palace of Fausta, which would include the third nucleus, the one with the frescoed corridor.
This reconstruction would also be supported by the interpretation of the characters depicted in the corridor fresco as members of the Constantinian family.

In reality, the attribution of the buildings as the residence of Emperor Constantine's wife is not so obvious: firstly, as regards the frescoes, the figures, as mentioned above, are rather damaged and missing their heads, and their attributes do not allow us to decide whether they are members of the imperial family or an assembly of gods. Moreover, they date from the early fourth century to the second quarter of the same century.

In conclusion, the only thing that is certain is that we are dealing with part of a late antique house of a high standard, with a decidedly luxurious decoration for which it is also possible - but so far not proven with certainty - that it belongs to the imperial family.

Last checked: 2023-03-16 15:00