Volubilis on Gardens of the Roman Empire

House of Flavius Germanus (La maison de Flavius Germanicus)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

Third century CE

Garden Description

The House of Flavius Germanus, dating to the third century, is located between the decumanus maximus, the decumanus north I, the House of the Labors of Hercules, and the House of Dionysus and the four Seasons. The peristyle was enclosed on four sides by a portico supported by 14 columns (Plan view, Fig. 1). The space between the columns was spanned by a low wall. Along the north portico, a rectangular pool, curved at its center, extended into the garden and faced the oecus (label 12) opening into the garden. At the southeast corner was a domestic shrine with an inscription giving the name of the owner. During the second phase of the house, a large garden was added at the rear, bounded by a wall on the southern side.

Plans

Bibliography

R. Etienne, Le quartier Nord-Est de Volubilis, Paris, 1960, 34-8, Pl. V, XLVI, 2. (hathitrust)
R. Thouvenot, "Maisons et hydraulique dans le quartier NE de Volubilis", p. 27-58, Plan I, Pl. IV. (worldcat)

Keywords

Places

House of Flavius Germanus (Pleiades:814800402)

House of the Columns (La maison aux colonnes)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

unspecified

Garden Description

The House of the Columns, approximately 1880 square meters, is located to the north of the triumphal arch along the decumanus. The large Rhodian-type peristyle was enclosed on four sides by a portico supported by 14 columns. The space between the columns was spanned by a low wall (Plan view, Fig.1). A large circular pool filled most of the courtyard. Plants may have been grown in the space between the portico and the pool. The central space of the north portico was framed by two taller, twisted Corinthian columns in between which was a pedestal that supported a fountain sculpture. The elevated north portico permitted a good view into the garden from the triclinium (label T).

Plans

Bibliography

Ichkhakh," Recherches sur les Maisons du Quatier de l'arc de Triomphe (Volubilis)", to be published in PSAM 2010, Fig. 7. (worldcat)
Thouvenot, R., "La maison aux colonnes", PSAM, 7, 1945, 132-145, fig. 4. A. (worldcat)

Keywords

House of the Ephebe (Maison de l'Ephebe)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

Third century CE

Garden Description

The House of the Ephebe, approximately 1972 square meters and dating to the third century, is located to the north of the triumphal arch along the decumanus (Plan view, Fig. 1). The large rectangular garden peristyle, 28 by 15 m, was enclosed on four sides by a portico supported by 17 smooth Corinthian columns. The space between the columns was spanned by a low wall, 0.60 m high. The north part of the garden contains a square shallow pool, with water spouting from semicircular recesses placed along the inner sides of the pool. The overflow drained through a recess carved in the north external side of the pool facing the main reception room (label T). The peristyle is of Rhodian type; the north side of the portico was elevated in order to give more light and air to the reception room. Additionally, the low wall that enclosed the peristyle was interrupted on the north side to allow a better view of the garden from the reception room.

Plans

Bibliography

A. Ichkhakh," Recherches sur les Maisons du Quatier de l'arc de Triomphe (Volubilis)", to be published in PSAM 2010, Fig. 7. (worldcat)
R. Thouvenot, "La maison de l'éphèbe.", PSAM, 7, 1945, p. 115-31, fig.2. (worldcat)

Keywords

Places

House of the Ephebe (Pleiades:125904446)

House of the Labors of Hercules (La maison des travaux d'Hercules)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

Second century CE

Garden Description

The House of the Labors of Hercules, dating to the beginning of the second century CE, is located between the cardo maximum, the cardo north II, and the decumanus north I in the northeast neighborhood of Volubilis. The peristyle had a trapezoidal shape and was enclosed on four sides by a portico supported by 12 columns. The space between the columns was spanned by a low wall. The peristyle is of Rhodian type with higher columns along the side of the oecus that opened into it. In the center of the garden, set slightly closer to the oecus, was an elaborate pool made of recesses that enclosed a masonry fountain ornamented with rectilinear and curved niches. Five reception rooms opened into the garden, among which is the triclinium 5 with its pavement mosaic featuring the Labors of Hercules.

Plans

Bibliography

R. Etienne, Le quartier Nord-Est de Volubilis, Paris, 1960, p. 31- 4, Pl. IV, XLIV, 2. (haithitrust)
R. Thouvenot, "La maison des travaux d'Hercule", PSAM, 8, p. 69-107, fig. 1. (worldcat)

Keywords

Places

House of the Labors of Hercules (Pleiades:297059709)

House of Venus (Maison du cortège de Vénus)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

Third century CE

Garden Description

The House of Venus, approximately 32 by 37 m and dating to the middle of the third century, is located between the south decumanus I, the south decumanus II, the south cardo V, and the House of the Portico. The square-shaped peristyle, 13 by 14 m, was enclosed on four sides by a portico supported by 8 columns. The space between the columns was spanned by a low wall, 0.65 m high. A long I-shaped pool cut the garden along the northeast/southwest axis of the vestibule and the oecus (label 11; 10 by 8 m). Two pilasters framed the north side of the pool that faced the entry of the house. The galleries of the garden peristyle were paved with mosaics, one of which featured a bird-circus. Five rooms opened toward the garden, some of which were reception rooms.

On the south side of the house, adjacent to the oecus, two rooms (labels 14 and 15) opened into a courtyard (label 12) adorned with a curvilinear U-shaped pool. The space limited by the pool may have been planted, a tree grows there today.

Plans

Bibliography

R. Etienne, Le quartier Nord-Est de Volubilis, Paris, 1960, p. 77-80, pl. XVII, LXXII, LXXIII, 1. (haithitrust)
R. Thouvenot., Maisons de Volubilis: Le palais dit de Gordien et la Maison à la mosaïque de Vénus, Rabat, 1958, p. 49-86, fig. 8, pl. 11. (worldcat)

Keywords

The Gordian Palace (Le palais dit de Gordien)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dates

Second century CE

Garden Description

The large domus that belonged to the rich Pompeian family during the second century became the Governor's palace during the Gordian period. The domus, approximately 69 by 74 m, was located on the north side of the decumanus maximus. The vestibule opened into a rectangular peristyle garden enclosed on four sides by a portico supported by 12 columns. A horseshoe-shaped pool faced the large oecus (label 7) on the north and extended into the garden. There was an entrance into the garden on the south, placed along the central axis of the vestibule and the oecus. Two other courtyards (labels 22 and 17) with pools gave light and air to their surrounding rooms. A bath with a courtyard peristyle added to the luxury of the domus.

Plans

Bibliography

R. Thouvenot., Maisons de Volubilis: Le palais dit de Gordien et la Maison à la mosaïque de Vénus, Rabat, 1958, p. 49-86, fig. 8, pl. 11. (worldcat)

Keywords

Places

The Gordian Palace (Pleiades:762613672)