The Finnish Institute in Rome is located at Villa Lante, a Renaissance villa that was built in 1519–1531 on Gianicolo Hill. The name of the hill in antiquity was Janiculum, which probably derived its name from the god Janus whose cult was associated with the hill. Villa Lante offers a magnificent view over Rome, the best view in all of Rome – at least according to us Finns.
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| The view from the loggia of Villa Lante |
The Janiculum was known for its vistas already in antiquity as illustrated by Martial in a poem where he describes the villa of his friend Julius Martialis:
The few acres of Julius Martialis,
more blessed than the gardens of the Hesperides,
lie on Janiculum’s long ridge.
A high retreat rises from the hills;
the flat summit, a moderate swelling,
enjoys serener sky, shining with a light all its own
while mist covers the winding valleys.
Rising gently to the clear stars
are the dainty rooftops of a lofty villa.
On one side you may see the seven
imperial mounts and appraise all Rome;
likewise the hills of Alba and Tusculum
and whatever cool spot lies near the city,
ancient Fidenae and little Rubrae
and the fruitful grove of Anna Perenna
that rejoices in the blood of virgins(?).
On the other side the traveller
on the Flaminian and Salarian Way is in view;
but his carriage makes no sound,
lest the wheel disturb soothing slumbers
that neither boatswain’s call
nor bargee’s shout can interrupt,
even though Mulvius be so near
and keels glide rapidly down sacred Tiber.
This country place, or perhaps it should
rather be styled a city mansion,
is commended by its owner.
You will think it your own,
so open and ungrudging is its welcome,
so liberal and courteous;
you would think it the hospitable household
of Alcinous, or of Molorchus, newly become rich.
You folk nowadays for whom nothing is big enough,
go, till cool Tibur or Praeneste
with a hundred hoes and consign
perching Setia to a single tenant,
so long as my judgment prefers to all that
the few acres of Julius Martialis.
(Mart. 4.64; transl. by D. R. Shackleton Bailey)
Villa Lante was built on top of ancient Roman ruins on the Janiculum. Some of these foundation walls can still be seen at the bottom of the Eastern facade of the villa. The later structures have prevented a closer study of the remains, and the form and use of the Roman building is unknown. The builders of Villa Lante in the 16th century thought that they were building the villa on the spot which Martial describes in the above-mentioned poem. Part of the poem was inscribed on the wall of the loggia of Villa Lante as a reminder of this.
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| "On one side you may ... appraise all Rome" |
It is, however, not certain if the ridge on which Villa Lante is located, is the place that Martial describes in his poems. Many of the details in the poem do not match with what one could see from the ancient Janiculum. The outlines of the seven hills of Rome were visible, the Alban Hills and Tusculum could seen in the South, and the atmosphere probably was serener and quieter than down in the city just as Martial writes. But Fidenae and Rubrae as well as the Milvian Bridge and the Salarian way were too far to be visible from the Janiculum.
Due to these inconsistencies some scholars have suggested that the villa of Julius Martialis should be placed on the Monte Mario -hill further North. From there the Milvian Bridge and the Flaminian way could probably be seen. These scholars assume that the Romans called the whole line of hills West of the Tiber Janiculum. However, the Salarian way and shrine of Anna Perenna, which was found in the neighborhood of Parioli in 1999, are not visible from Monte Mario either.
The poem of Martial fits neither Janiculum or Monte Mario. The logical conclusion is that Martial didn't intend to describe a specific location, but took some creative license to craft a mental image of a tranquil countryside far away from the bustle of the city. At the same time he wanted to attach his poem to places and vistas that his Roman readers were familiar with.
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| Rome seen from the terrace of Villa Lante |
Even though the poem of Martial isn't quite consistent with the view from the Janiculum, I want to believe that Martial visited the hill and the area where Villa Lante now stands. After all, he explicitly says that the villa of Julius Martialis was located on the Janiculum. Standing on the terrace of Villa Lante and admiring the view over Rome, I can imagine how, many centuries ago, these same vistas inspired Martial whose poems I'm now studying here in Rome.
Sources:
Kajava, M., "La Villa Lante al Gianicolo e la villa di Giulio Marziale", teoksessa Villa Lante al Gianicolo: storia della fabbrica e cronaca degli abitatori, toim. T. Carunchio & S. Örmä, Roma: Palombi Editori, 2005.
Moreno Soldevila, R., Martial, Book IV: a Commentary, Leiden – Boston: Brill, 2006.
Shackleton Bailey, D. R., Martial: Epigrams, Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, 1993.
Gideon Nisbet, blog posts: Illinc, Impossible vistas, a speciality, Martial on Monte Mario: coda
Map of Rome: Google Maps
The photos are my own.
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