House of Venus (Maison de Venus)
Dates
2nd-3rd century CE
Garden Description
This richly decorated house is located to the east of the forum. A portico on four sides enclosed a court (ca 6.6x11.5m) that may have been planted in the early period of the house (Plan view, Fig.1). An oecus-triclinium with the famous fish mosaics opened off the north side of the portico. A large rectangular basin (4.67x2.93 m) oriented northeast-southwest was placed on the axis of the triclinium, which opened on the north side of the portico. A semicircular basin was attached to the large basin on the side facing the triclinium, but the two basins do not appear to be connected. Both basins were built above ground. The base of the large basin was found in situ; the sides consisted of six monolithic pillars (5 of which were found), into which were fitted six limestone plaques (only one was found) 1.63m high, and carved with trellis designs.
Plans
Bibliography
- Bullo, S., Ghedini, F., Amplissimae atque ornatissimae domus: l'edilizia residenziale nelle città della Tunisia romana, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2003, p. 171-173. (worldcat)
- Picard, G. Ch., Bourgeois, A., "La Maison de Vénus.", in Recherches Archéologiques Franco-Tunisiennes à Mactar, Sratigraphie et étude des pavements, I, 1977, EFR, Rome, pp. 213-220, Plan I. (worldcat)