Gardens of Sallust
The
Gardens of Sallust (
Latin:
Horti Sallustiani) were
Roman gardens developed by the
Roman historian
Sallust in the 1st century BC using his wealth extorted as governor of the province of
Africa Nova (newly conquered
Numidia). The
landscaped pleasure gardens occupied a large area in the north-western sector of
Rome, in what would become
Region VI, between the
Pincian and
Quirinal hills, near the
Via Salaria and later
Porta Salaria. This
rione is now known as
Sallustiano.
The gardens contained many pavillions, a temple to
Venus, and monumental sculptures. Items later found in the gardens include:
*the
Obelisco Sallustiano, a Roman copy of an Egyptian
obelisk which now stands in front of the
Trinità dei Monti church in the
Piazza di Spagna at the top of the
Spanish Steps *the
Borghese Vase, discovered there in the 16th century.
*the sculptures known as the
Dying Gaul and the
Gaul Killing Himself and His Wife*the
Ludovisi Throne, found in 1887, and the
Boston Throne, found in 1894.
The gardens were acquired by
Tiberius and maintained for several centuries by the
Roman Emperors as a public amenity. The Emperor
Nerva died of a fever in a villa in the gardens in AD 98, and they were sacked by the
Goths in 410. Ludovico Cardinal Ludovisi, nephew of
Pope Gregory XV, purchased the site, Much of the area occupied by the gardens was filled in after the break-up of
Villa Ludovisi after 1894, as Rome expanded as the
capital city of
Italy after the
unification of Italy.
*
Gardens of Lucullus*
Horti Sallustiani*Kim J. Hartswick, 2003.
The Gardens of Sallust: A Changing Landscape (University of Texas Press)
Reviewed by Eric M. Moormann, Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 20The first monograph on the subject, covering topography and history, architecture and sculpture.
