The old Servian Wall,
that included both peaks of the Aventine in the Roman enclosure,
even before the building of the Aurelian Wall, is visible on this picture, as,
on the south point, left of the picture, appears the promontory which was used to
build the private House of Hadrian. In the foreground, the Aurelian Wall.
Identified as the " Private House of Hadrian " ( Privata Hadriani ),
this splendid building built on several levels
on the south point of the minor Aventine, must have been impressive.
More than a house, it can be considered as a palace with gardens.
This builder emperor may have let this house been built as a
private residence in Rome, but surely hasn’t much been living in it.
The
House of Cornificia
on the left side of the picture. This could have been the house of the sister
of Marcus-Aurelius who married M. Ummidius Quadratus. This house, like that of
Hadrian, was a rich mansion with an impregnable sight onto the Aventine.
A bird’s eye view
on the left the House of Cornificia, and on the right Hadrian’s private House.
This huge property with gardens was the House of Ummidia Quadratilla,
probably Cornificia’s daughter. She was actually a rich merchant,
who lived very old and was quite wealthy. At the top of the picture,
next to the house, are three family trade warehouses.
The vast gardens went until the Servian Wall.
