Images: 3D Models of Roman Emperor Hadrian's Villa

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Hadrian's Villa in 3D

(Image credit: Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University)

The Digital Hadrian's Villa Project brings to life all 250 acres of the Roman emperor Hadrian's sprawling estate in Tivoli, Italy, through gaming software and 3D reconstructions. Shown here is the Maritime Theater where Hadrian had his bedrooms, bathrooms and study surrounded by a moat to ensure privacy.

Maritime Theater

(Image credit: Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University)

This is what the ruins of the Maritime Theater look like today.

Piazza D'Oro

(Image credit: Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University)

The Piazza D'Oro's garden courtyard view as it's been digitally restored for the project.

Piazza D'Oro Today

(Image credit: Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University)

The Piazza D'Oro at Hadrian's Villa would have been one of the most luxurious sites at the emperor's compound. The imperial banquet complex included many rooms, fountains, private urinals and gardens and had a subterranean road under it.

Serapeum

(Image credit: Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University)

A reconstruction of the so-called Serapeum at Hadrian's Villa.

Serapeum

(Image credit: Virtual World Heritage Laboratory at Indiana University and the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts at Ball State University)

The Serapeum now

Megan Gannon
Megan Gannon
Live Science Contributor
Megan has been writing for Live Science and Space.com since 2012. Her interests range from archaeology to space exploration, and she has a bachelor's degree in English and art history from New York University. Megan spent two years as a reporter on the national desk at NewsCore. She has watched dinosaur auctions, witnessed rocket launches, licked ancient pottery sherds in Cyprus and flown in zero gravity. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.