Re-discovery
Excavations began in Stabiae in 1749, one year after those at Pompeii and eleven after those at Herculaneum. The excavations were directed by Rocque Joaquín de Alcubierre under the auspices of Charles de Bourbon.
Alcubierre, together with Karl Weber, worked on the excavation of the Villa San Marco between 1749 and 1754, laterly extending the excavation to cover the Villa of the Shepherd.
The site expanded between 1757 and 1762 to include the Villa Arianna and the surounding area. Excavations continued again, after a break of 13 years, between 1775 until 1782.
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The picture to the left is the plan of the Villa San Marco drawn up by Karl Weber. In 1782 the excavated buildings were re-buried after the removal of finds and the best of the surviving frescoes. |
After the Bourbon excavations, there were only occasional discoveries.
Perhaps just as well, as the illustration on the right shows that
excavation techniques at that time left a lot to be desired.
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Systematic excavations began after the end of World War II. In 1950 local enthusiasts began the re-excavation of the Villa Arianna, and part of the Villa San Marco.
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The
excavations continued methodically until interrupted in 1962. The
material uncovered during this period included some frescoes and these
and other artifacts form the nucleus of the collection in the Stabian
Antiquarium.
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In 2004 the Restoring Ancient Stabiae Foundation (RAS) was formed - an Italian American collaboration between the Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei,
the region of Campania and the University of Maryland.
The prime goal of the Foundation
is to excavate,
restore and build an archaeological park at the ancient site of Stabiae. |
Map of Stabiae
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Map showing location of the Villas
Summary Details
Door
No. |
Property
Name or Description
|
Area (Sq.m)
|
No of Rooms
|
Description,
Decoration and Comments
|
N/A
|
Villa San Marco
|
TBA |
TBA |
The villa is believed to have belonged to Poppaea Sabina, the second wife of the Emperor Nero and dates back to the 1st century BC. |
| N/A |
Villa of the Shepherd
|
TBA |
TBA |
This is an unusual complex and consists of two nuclei built on different axes and at different times. It may not have been
a villa but a valetudinarium (a health spa) with nothing but
bath quarters, guest rooms, and a garden. |
| N/A |
Villa Arianna
|
TBA |
TBA
|
A rustic building built on two levels arranged around a monumental peristyle with a double order of doric columns.
|
| N/A |
The 'Second Complex'
|
TBA |
TBA |
This property is situated across a narrow lane from the Villa Arianna. First excavated in 1762 by Weber it was
subsequently re-buried. |
| N/A |
Villa of Anteros and Hercules
|
TBA |
TBA |
This property is the only example of an otium villa (a
residential building used for rest and recreation) in the town of
Gragnano. First excavated in 1749 by Karl Weber it was
subsequently re-buried. |
| N/A |
Villa Carmiano
|
400
|
11
|
A villa rustica first discovered in 1963 noted for its fine fourth style frescoes. The building was re-buried in 1998.
|
| N/A |
Villa Petraro
|
1,000 |
30+ |
A villa rustica discovered in 1957. The building appears to have been in the process of being for solely domestic use. It was re-buried in 1958. |
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