Malek, A. (2026). "House of Venus (Maison du cortège de Vénus)." Gardens of the Roman Empire, accessed October 2, 2026. https://roman-gardens.github.io/id/58c73aa8e4/

House of Venus (Maison du cortège de Vénus)

Published: 2026-09-28
Last modified: 2026-09-29

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

Places