Rare 2,300-year-old mosaic found under Rome

A five-year excavation on Rome's Palatine Hill yielded treasure last week when archaeologists discovered a lavish banquet hall dating from around the first or second century BC, featuring a large, intact and brightly colored wall mosaic.

Estimated to be around 2,300 years old, the structure is part of a large aristocratic residence near the Roman Forum, which has been excavated since 2018.

Measuring nearly 16 feet long and depicting vines, lotus leaves, tridents, trumpets, helmets and mythical sea creatures, the mosaic scene was meticulously created using mother-of-pearl, seashells, coral, precious glass fragments and flecks of marble. The work is framed by multi-colored crystals, porous travertine and exotic ancient Egyptian blue tiles.

The 2,000-year-old shell cave is used as an outdoor dining room and features a large wall mosaic of brightly colored shells, coral and glass. (Photo: Emanuele Antonio Minerva/MiC)

What makes the discovery “unique” is not only the mosaic’s incredible preservation, but also its decoration, which also features celebratory scenes of naval battles, said archaeologist Alfonsina Russo, head of the Colosseum Archaeological Park in charge of the site.

The complexity of the mosaics depicting the victory surprised the project team. They show a walled coastal town with lookout towers and arcades – either a fictional or real-life location – perched atop a cliff face fashioned from pieces of travertine. Scenes of galleons with full sail also appear, along with images of mythical sea monsters devouring enemy fleets.

Archaeologists are trying to determine whether the fragile – and expensive at the time – coral used in the display came from the Mediterranean or the Red Sea (the closest and most common oceans the Romans used to mine the material). The team believes that a rare blue glass powder used in the design may have come from the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria.

“In ancient times, when powerful noble families lived on the Palatine Hill, rich decorative elements were often used as symbols to express luxury and high social status,” says Russo.

The room, which Russo calls “the crown jewel,” is an outdoor banquet room overlooking the garden, which can be used in the summer to entertain guests.

Such an elaborate space could also be used to impress visitors with water games, which were very popular among the nobility at the time.

Marco Rossi, professor of Roman antiquities and head of the mosaic laboratory at Rome's Università degli Studi di Roma Tre, points out that these summer banquet halls were not only places to relax but also expressions of their wealth and class.

Discovering an entire wall mosaic is extremely rare, Rossi added, especially since these pieces are more delicate than those intended for floors.

While this new discovery still leaves a lot of secrets to be revealed—like why the property was abandoned and how long ago—Russo believes there's one mystery archaeologists can solve: The identity of its owner, possibly a Roman senator.

“The individual was so wealthy that he could afford to import such precious items from across the empire to decorate this villa,” said Russo. “So far, we have not found anything to clarify the identity of the homeowner, but we believe that further research may allow us to pinpoint the aristocratic family. This is truly an incredible display of Roman opulence.”

(Source: Tien Phong)

Source