Pictured above: A section of the mosaic from a photo courtesy of the Italian Culture Ministry.
Italian archaeologists have discovered an “unparalleled” 2,300-year-old Roman mosaic featuring glass, shells and marble buried under the streets of Rome near the Colosseum.
By Rhona Duffy
The “rustic” mosaic, which is about 2,300 years old, was discovered during a years-long dig by Italian archaeologists near the Roman Forum, a forum surrounded by the ruins of several ancient government buildings at the centre of the city of Rome.
Normally, ancient mosaics discovered by archaeologists in modern times are floor mosaics. As this one is on a wall, it’s largely intact. It has been described by Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano as an “authentic treasure.”
The mosaic is believed to have been part of a dwelling dating back to the latter half of the 2nd century BC and that it may have belonged to aristocratic family of a Roman senator (a politician in Roman times).
The intricate mosaic features three large ships riding waves towards a city, its walls dotted with towers. Other marine scenes include a mix of real and mythical creatures. Numerous tridents (three-pronged spears) are featured, which were weapons often used by gladiators in the Colosseum.
The materials used include pieces of glass, coloured marble, fragments of seashells, Egyptian blue stones, other stones, and coral. Experts are trying to establish where the coral came from, saying it could be from the Mediterranean or the Red Sea.
It is expected that the mosaic will be open to the public in 2024 once archaeologists complete their work.