According to Ligorio's description there are a vast rectangular room surrounded by a double portico with pillars, a courtyard with a portico, a roof garden with a fountain in the center and a hall with three naves separated by columns, used as a vestibule for the three "noble halls" in back, two shaped like a Greek cross and one rectangular, that opened onto a garden enclosed by a spectacular nympheum wall, were brought to light.
The sphinx
Experts now think it was probably the original entrance to the sprawling complex.
Near the staircase (8,5 m wide) leading to the three-nave hall a valuable, life-size statute of a sphinx dating to Hadrian's period was found, unfortunately without its head (perhaps Antinous' features) and hindquarters. The sculpture was placed there in the 18° century, but perhaps it was already part of the staircase decoration in ancient times.
A statue of an athlete and a huge theatrical mask, both in marble, have also been found at the site.
