Plutonium Project, Hadrian’s villa, Tivoli, Rome

Directors: M.E. Gorrini, Pavia University, and M. Melfi, Oxford University

Area: Hadrian’s villa, Tivoli, Rome, Latium

Timespan: Roman, Hadrianic reign and later

Methodologies: archaeological excavations, geophysical investigations, study of materials, architectural surveys, archive research.

In the Spring 2016, the Universities of Oxford and Pavia started a common project in the area of the so-called the Plutonium at Hadrian’s villa. We carried out a series of non-invasive investigations of the area traditionally interpreted, from the 16th century onwards, as a reproduction of the Underworld.

The little-studied and never published site is located on one of the highest rises of the complex, in the Eastern part of the Villa and it consists of:

i) the Inferi, a Grotto/cave/nymphaeum connected to an artificial canal where water was channeled to evoke the river Styx in the land of the dead;

ii) The Plutonium or Temple of Pluto/Hades, Lord of the Underworld, known from the first travellers’ accounts as a large building on a high podium;

iii) a network of underground passages, partially connecting to the known routes running under the villa.

The campaigns of survey and documentation demonstrated that the plan of the building does not entirely correspond with that recorded by the historical maps of the area (e.g. Piranesi), and the complex is closely connected to the surrounding landscape. The building known as ‘Plutonium’ or ‘temple of Pluto’ is a large structure on high podium, with a central courtyard surrounded by a series of rooms, with wide windows and balconies, providing vistas on the surrounding landscape by exploiting its elevated position (this area is known as the ‘higher ground’ because it occupies the only elevated hill of the Villa). The building was probably part of an artificially landscaped area, since both ‘Inferi’ and ‘Plutonium’ were made at the same time (the valley of the Inferi being used as a quarry for the construction of the Plutonium), enjoy the same orientation and are possibly connected by a pattern of ditches and tunnel revealed by the geophysical survey. We carried out, so far, three excavations campaigns which produced mainly architectural findings, along with pottery.

For 2025, we are planning to do geophysical surveys and study the materials, likely in the month of July.  The activities, the period and the number of students involved in the 2025 campaign will be specified in February: a call will be done in order to select participants. Food and accommodation will be provided by Pavia University, whilst travel expenses are not covered