La testa del Doriforo dalla “Palestra” di Villa Adriana a Tivoli

A newly discovered head of the Doryphoros, unearthed during excavations at Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) in Tivoli, Italy, reveals a dual purpose for the site's 'Palestra'—serving both as an athletic training space and a cult area. The analysis suggests that the inclusion of this iconic Polykleitos sculpture, along with other works attributed to the ancient Greek sculptor, reflects Hadrian's imperial patronage and a deliberate connection to classical art. This finding supports Pirro Ligorio's original identification of the Palestra, while also highlighting its significance in housing statues of Egyptian deities, thereby enriching our understanding of the villa's multifunctional design and its cultural context.

Calandra, E. (2025). The head of the Doryphoros from the “Palestra” of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. LANX. Rivista Della Scuola Di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici - Università Degli Studi Di Milano, (33), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.54103/2035-4797/30352