Thread: Let's watch night turn into day with some dawn views of the Peristyle; the monumental heart of Diocletian's retirement palace at Split, Croatia - completed in 305 AD. The Peristyle is undoubtedly one of the world's finest surviving examples of Roman palatial architecture. 
The Peristyle was the central monumental court of Diocletian's palace-fortress, constructed for the Emperor's retirement to his Dalmatian homeland and where he lived out his final years; the only emperor to peacefully and permanently abdicate the position.
A grand tetrastyle facade and porch (prothyron) dominates the courtyard, acting as a gateway between the public and private sectors of the palace, leading to the southern residential wing and the Emperor's private apartments.
The pedimental porch is supported by four monolithic pink granite columns with Corinthian capitals, imported from Roman Egypt.
Two small chapels topped with arched aediculae and a central archway built between the Roman columns are all Renaissance additions.
The grand peristyle and monumental prothyron has been described as a space designed for imperial self-presentation, through which Diocletian would emerge from his private residence to address a political or military audience.
The porch facade incorporates a cutaway "Syrian arch" more commonly seen in architecture of the eastern Roman Empire. With sacred associations recalling the design of temple facades, Diocletian's presentation under the arch would emphasise his status as a semi-divine being.
Diocletian is thought to have introduced the Eastern practice of proscynesis (prostration) to Rome, with subjects compelled to bow, kneel or even lie down in submission before the Emperor; the peristyle courtyard may have been a space where he was venerated in this way.
The spellbinding 27m long Peristyle courtyard under the dawn moon, flanked by two arcades of seven arches. Both arcades use mirroring column arrangements, each with four monoliths of pink marble and two in grey marble.
In an easily-missed architectural detail, the area of the Peristyle is further delineated by a sunken ground level three steps below surrounding structures. The perimeter echoes sunken temple courtyards in locations such as Baalbek, perhaps distinguishing it as a sacred space.
Almost daylight now; the first rays of sun hitting the Romanesque bell tower of St. Domnius Cathedral, added to the Mausoleum of Diocletian in 1100 AD.
The Peristyle now in the cool light of dawn. The courtyard unifies the palace's temple precinct to the west with the mausoleum of Diocletian to the east. With unironic planning, the Temple of Jupiter faced the Emperor's own burial chamber across this square.
Soon the first rays of morning sun stream into the Peristyle (along with the first of the day's tourists!), casting lovely shadows of the Roman arcades across the courtyard.
The Roman arcade of the Peristyle (300 AD) with the Romanesque bell tower behind (1100 AD).
Analysis of the slightly clumsy way the lateral arcades connect to the Prothyron porch has shown they were later additions. Before the arcades formed a barrier, the Temple of Jupiter and Diocletian's Mausoleum had been united, perhaps too directly, in a large open plaza.
A final view of the Peristyle from above; it is thought the porch facade was once surmounted by a now-lost bronze quadriga chariot driven by the Emperor. I hope you enjoyed exploring this incredible ancient space from night to day. #Roman #Croatia @Croatia_hr @ahencyclopedia
