LA VOLTA A BOTTE DEL CD. SERAPEO DI VILLA ADRIANA NOVITÀ NELL’AMBITO DELLE SOLUZIONI STRUTTURALI ROMANE

Abstract

Besides verifying whether elements of the Egyptian type marked the area of the so-called Serapeum
and Canopus, this paper mainly highlights significant novelties concerning the roofing of the socalled
Serapeo, a topic little addressed, presumably due to its geometric and structural complexity.
The coherent identification of the roofing system has highlighted the innovative adoption of an ingenious
structural expedient to support the mighty barrel vault that completed it. The vault is currently
the largest example, in terms of free span, among the analogous structures built until then. Moreover,
an exquisite system of subordinate vaults supported the main barrel vault rather than the usual
impost masonry walls. If the apex of the conjoined use of vaulted structures and concrete material
is recognisable in many of the Villa Adriana complexes, then the case of the Serapeum constitutes a
true apogee in terms of architectural, structural, and functional solutions, fully dialoguing together:
a precious addition to the theme of the integral approach to the design of Hadrian’s Villa.

Keywords: Villa Adriana; Serapeo; strutture voltate; volte a botte; costruzione romana imperiale.