Praeclarum otium. Ville e imperatori dai tetrarchi a Costantino: casi studio nei Balcani

The question of otium takes on more specific connotations, particularly with regard to the Roman emperors in the Tetrarchic age. According to the literary sources, the Tetrarchs did not appear to have had much time for the traditional otia, since they were perpetually on the move. However, after Diocletian's extraordinary decision to retire from public life, a change occurs, the inauguration of a new type of residence. The villa-palace of Split was intended not only for the emperor's praeclarum otium, but also as a structure that would act as a memorial after the emperor's death. Galerius' residence in Gamzigrad ought to be interpreted in this perspective. Recent research proposes to classify other residences attributed to Tetrarchs in this category, since they too were all linked to the Balkan homelands of their illustrious owners, which, incidentally was where many of the most important political decisions of empire were now being made.