Emblematic of Ancient Rome, Villas Impacted the Entirety of Roman Life
This sourcebook compiles newly translated Greek and Latin sources to provide rich insights and understanding—even enjoyment—on villas and their importance
Ancient Roman Villas
The Essential SourcebookAuthor
Guy P. R. Métraux
Body Content
Villa means farm in Latin, and while the term may seem generic today, the meaning of villas extended across the whole of ancient Roman life, encompassing a wide variety of domiciles and land-owning configurations.
A villa could range from a rural establishment owned by a citizen farmer (agricola), or maintained by a grower (cultor), or cultivated by a tenant (colonus), to the property of an owner (dominus) of any status. Most villas were simple farms. Others could be architecturally substantial, with separate residential, utilitarian, and storage sectors. Villas supplied food, oil, and wine to towns and cities throughout the Italian peninsula and produced raw materials for craft industries and building construction. Villas were also venues for pleasure, relaxation, and the cultivation of friendships and the mind. Many villas were known for their spectacular sites, architecture, decoration, and furnishings. In all their forms, villas came to be ubiquitous throughout ancient Rome's European and Mediterranean rural hegemony.
Ancient Roman Villas: The Essential Sourcebook (J. Paul Getty Museum, $55) compiles a wealth of newly translated Latin and ancient Greek sources—treatises, letters, poems, histories, biographies, and other works of literary art—to vividly convey the architectural, economic, social, political, and cultural significance of ancient Roman villas, from their Greek antecedents through the early Christian period. Thematic chapters reveal ancient Roman attitudes on villa architecture, agricultural operations, and the practices of buying, building, and decorating villas as well as entertaining and the pursuit of leisure. References to family, gender relations, and the lives of enslaved persons aim to situate, if only indirectly, a broad range of experiences within villas. Supplemented by generous commentaries, copious annotation, a comprehensive bibliography, and a glossary, this definitive sourcebook equips scholars and students alike for further research and makes for fascinating reading.
Endorsements
“Impressive for its breadth of coverage and erudition, Ancient Roman Villas by Guy Métraux is far more than a sourcebook. Dipping into this carefully curated compilation of ancient writings on villas is both informative and engaging, like sitting in a Roman tavern hearing conversations about the occupants of local estates, current concerns, and shared aspirations—a delight for scholarly and general readers alike!”
— Diane Favro, Distinguished Research Professor, Architecture and Urban Design, School of the Arts and Architecture, UCLA
“Guy P. R. Métraux’s Ancient Roman Villas: The Essential Sourcebook proves to be a captivating read, appealing to both scholars and students with its fascinating commentary and informative translations. Offering insights into various aspects of ancient Roman villas, including regional differences and economic structures, this book serves as an essential resource for classical philologists, archaeologists, and cultural historians. Métraux’s extensive expertise and passion for the subject are evident, making this book a valuable addition to any academic or enthusiast’s library.”
— John R. Clarke, Annie Laurie Howard Regents Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Ancient Roman Villas
The Essential Sourcebook$55/£50
