At the centre of the eastern side of the ambulacrum of the “great hunt”, in correspondence with the mosaic scene relating to the “land between two seas”, 
which symbolises Rome, the unifying city of peoples, is the entrance to a grandiose rectangular
apsidal hall
.
The
basilica
is considered to be the most important place of reception, for public use, used for audiences of the dominus during his official duties. The rectangular hall consists of polychrome marble slabs, 
only partly preserved, divided into seven bands with an east-to-west orientation. These contain squares and rectangles of different sizes and alternate with narrower aisles, mostly of solid-coloured alabaster. In the centre of the hall, a square with concentric circles placed inside it breaks the regularity of the pattern. 
In the
apse
, along the midline, a second square larger than the first is visible.
, of which only a few parts remain.
Porphyry, a precious marble, not only had an imperial use, but was also widespread in private residences with a public character.
, which housed the seat, underlining the authority of the dominus.
, whose divine virtues were symbolically transferred to the dominus of the villa.
