This term indicates a support used for writing consisting of two symmetrical tablets, called leaves, held together by a hinge, originally made of wood or metal. Their inner surface was covered with wax, a material on which it was possible to write with a stylus. The diptych, which resembled a rudim...

The lampadarius was a master of the ceremony, or the person who carried the torch that preceded, in public functions, individuals of important rank, among them the Emperor. In the floor mosaic of the vestibule of the Villa del Casale, he has the face of an old man, with his head surrounded by a cro...

The nuncupatio votorum was a celebration still in use in the 4th century AD, an annual and solemn votive offering with prayers for the health of the emperor celebrated in the first three days of the year and included in the New Year celebrations....

Son of a Greek officer, Constantius Chlorus, appointed Augustus in place of Galerius in 305 AD, and Helena, he was probably born in 280 in Naissus, Moesia. After living at Diocletian’s court and moving to Britannia, following his father, he was acclaimed emperor by the army in 306 AD, in a histori...

The word tetrarchy literally means government of four; it was a form of power devised by Diocletian to facilitate control of the Empire in all its vast provinces. At first the system began with a diarchy, a government of two, when in 285 AD Diocletian called Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus to hi...

The Latin term phalera indicates decorative metal elements, circular in shape, chiselled or embossed with a central decoration. The phalerae could be fixed as pendants on the harnesses of horses, or used on the armour of soldiers, tied with orthogonal straps and hooked onto the breastplate symmetri...

The restoration work on the Villa involved the roofing of the archaeological complex, which was entirely replaced in order to adequately preserve the floor mosaics and wall paintings; appropriate measures have been taken to drain the water away from the walls. The restorations involved the entire m...

Vertical element with a load-bearing function, to support the weight of the upper part of a building. Columns or pillars are also considered to be imposts. In the case of an arch, the impost is identified as the brickwork element, which the base of the arch is set....

The ogival is an architectural element, also called the Roman arch because of its main use in constructions of that period. An ogival arch is a pointed Gothic arch drawn with compasses or using the arcs of an ellipse. What distinguishes it from other types of arches is its perfect semicircular shap...

Large opening indicating a passage, used for public transit, as in the case of entrances to cities through the city gates, or relating to the triumphal arches. The fornix was usually defined as an arch and covered by a semicircular vault, called a barrel. [dettaglio_immagine id="35265"]...