Villa del Cortijo de los Vila

Published: 2026-10-01
Last modified: 2026-10-01

Dates

late third or early fourth century CE

Excavation Dates

1985 and 1986

Garden Description

Excavations in 1985 and 1986 brought to light a villa dating to the end of the third or beginning of the fourth century CE. The villa is also known as the "Finca del Moral." Measures were taken to preserve the fine mosaics. In the peristyle of the villa there was a rectangular garden area [A] with rounded corners and semicircles on the four sides. At its center is a square brick structure faced with marble, which was probably a fountain. Also found in the villa was a statuette of Priapus, who was often associated with gardens, and whose cult images often appeared in them. The figure, placed in the center of the garden and dating from the end of the second century, is adorned with bunches of grapes, surrounded by flowers, birds and a pair of sandals.

Bibliography

  • F. Almohalla, M. J. Botos,Villa romana del cortijo de los Vila (Alameda), (Malaga 1989), (unpublished memorandum deposited with the Diputacion de Malaga, Area de Urbanismo)
  • J. M. Blázquez,'Los jardines en la Hispania Romana,' Historia de los Parques y Jardines en España, C. Añón Feliu, ed. (Madrid 2001) 29. (worldcat)
  • Mª L. Loza Azuaga,'La escultura de fuentes en Hispania: ejemplos de la Bética,'Actas de la I Reunión sobre escultura romana en Hispania, T. Nogales Basarrate, ed. (Mérida 1993) 103. (worldcat)
  • E. Arcos von Haartman, A. Alvarez Rubiera, 'Análisis de la naturaleza, estructura y tecnología del conjunto de mosaicos de la villa romana del Cortijo Auta (Riogordo), villa romana del Cortijo Vila (Alameda) y del ninfeo romano de Carnicería de los Moros (Antequera),' Mainake No. 10, (Malaga 1988), 159-80. (worldcat)

Keywords

Places