Diocletian Art Story | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations
Art Story Museum Roman Baths | Cloisters Epigraphs
Diocletian Baths: The Small and Large Cloisters and the Epigraph Collection
Sculpture in the Ludovisi cloister Built in 1565, this small cloister known as the “Ludovisi cloister” was built on the site of the “Natatio” the large swimming pool one metre deep covering an area of 4,000 m².
In fact, the cloister occupies only a third of this area, but it features several beautiful ancient sculptures, including the group of Mars and Venus found in Ostia.
The goddess Venus is depicted almost entirely naked, seducing the god of war.
The beautiful Venus asks Mars to lay down his sword, forget his warlike fury, and succumb to her charms and flattery.
Another fine work depicts a large, veiled woman whose cloak covers her down to the ground. The way she holds her cloak suggests that she is a priestess.
A very pretty head of Apollo is also on display here, as well as that of Emperor Augustus.
Of course, the head of Emperor Diocletian, the “builder” of these baths, is part of the cloister's collection.
Funeral stele This head depicts a young man with a broad face, a strong nose and small eyes.
The Epigraph Collection of the Museum of the Baths of Diocletian
10,000: That is the number of plaques and inscriptions, mostly funerary, on display in the museum. A collection of epigraphs particularly well presented in fully restored rooms.These epigraphs are located inside the museum, which has three levels where you can also visit a wing dedicated to protohistory and the various religions practised by the Romans, including the cult of Mithras.
The Great Cloister known as Michelangelo's Cloister
The name of Michelangelo has always been associated with this cloister as if he had designed it, but this is probably a mistake, as the artist died a year before it was built.It is true that Michelangelo was commissioned to build the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the Baths of Diocletian, which he did brilliantly three years before his death, but there is no connection between him and this cloister.
Michelangelo's Grand Cloister Whether or not Michelangelo was involved, the fact remains that this cloister is absolutely magnificent.
Square in shape, it was built in 1565 and features arcades 100 metres long on each side.
Under these arcades, supported by 100 columns, several hundred statues, sarcophagi and other funerary monuments are on display.
Most of these works date from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
In the centre of the cloister, surrounded by cypress trees, is a beautiful fountain dating from 1695, surrounded by large animal heads believed to have come from Trajan's Forum.
Art Story Museum Roman Baths | Cloisters Epigraphs
Diocletian Art Story | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations
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