Le terme Nord-occidentali della Villa del Casale di Piazza Armerina: considerazioni sulle fasi d’uso nel contesto dell’archeologia delle ville tardoantiche

The north-western baths of the Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina are of outstanding interest due to their architectural layout, the opportunity they offer to investigate water supply and heating systems, the richness of their mosaic decoration, and the long period of use attested by decorative changes, mosaic restorations, and associated archaeological finds. This paper aims to provide a critical assessment of the main construction phase of the complex, as well as its subsequent transformations and/or reuse over time, with particular attention to decorative programs and wall and floor revetments. These elements are examined within a broader interpretative framework that allows for further considerations on the role and function of bath complexes within Late Antique residential architecture, drawing on both literary sources and archaeological evidence from Italy and other regions of the Roman Empire.