All photographs are mine, unless otherwise stated taken on 5th July 2023.
In a city filled with extraordinary works of ancient art, perhaps one of the most breathtaking is one of the least visited and one of my favourites. Between tours on a torrid day earlier this week I took myself to the top floor of Palazzo Massimo to the cool and verdant painted garden which once soothed the guests of the Empress Livia, wife of Augustus, at her villa at Prima Porta. During one of the busiest weeks I’ve ever seen in Rome I had the room entirely to myself.
The room was discovered at the Villa of Livia ad gallinas albas (by the white hen) in the area now known as Prima Porta on 30 April of 1863, just ten days after the celebrated statue of Augustus had also been found close by.
The existence and location of the villa is well-documented, amongst others by Pliny and Cassius Dio. They tell us that its name came from a white hen which fell, alive, from the clutches of an eagle into Livia’s lap. The hen, it is said, held a branch of laurel in its beak which was planted and grew with such vigour that it would provide the wreaths for the triumphs of generations to come.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Understanding Rome's Newsletter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.