2,300-year-old mosaic of shells and coral found near Rome

A five-year excavation on the side of Rome’s Palatine Hill yielded a treasure last week when archaeologists discovered a sumptuous banquet hall dating to around the first or second century BC, with large, intact and colorful wall mosaics.

The age of the work is estimated at approximately 2300 years. It is part of a larger aristocratic mansion located near the Roman Forum, which has been under excavation since 2018.

The mosaic scene, nearly five meters (16.4 ft) long, featuring vines, lotus leaves, tridents, trumpets, helmets and mythological sea creatures was carefully created using mother of pearl, shells, coral, shards of precious glass and pieces of marble. . The piece is framed in polychrome crystals, spongy travertine and exotic ancient Egyptian blue tiles.

According to archaeologist Alfonsina Russo, head of the Colosseum archaeological park in charge of the site, what makes this discovery “unsurpassed” is not only the incredible state of preservation of the mosaic, but also its decoration, which also features celebratory scenes of sea and land battles likely financed – and won – an extremely wealthy aristocratic patron who immortalized victories on his walls.

Burial underground on the Palatine Hill in Rome protected this fragile mosaic from the elements for centuries. Emanuele Antonio Minerva/MiC

The complexity of depicting victory in the mosaic surprised the team working on the project. They depict a coastal fortified city with observation towers and loggias, which Rousseau said may be an ideal or real site, perched on top of a cliff built from pieces of travertine. There are also scenes of sailing ships with their sails raised, as well as images of mythical sea monsters devouring enemy fleets.

Archaeologists are trying to determine whether the thin—and expensive for the time—coral fronds used in the exhibit came from the Mediterranean or the Red Sea (the closest and most common ocean that the Romans used to mine materials). The team believes that the rare bluish glass paste also featured in the design likely came from the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria.

During a five-year excavation on the slopes of the Palatine Hill in Rome, archaeologists discovered a luxurious banquet hall dating from around the first or second century BC, with large, intact and colorful wall mosaics. Writes about this CNN.

The age of the work is estimated at approximately 2300 years. It is part of a larger aristocratic mansion located near the Roman Forum, which has been under excavation since 2018.

The mosaic scene, nearly five meters long, depicts vines, lotus leaves, tridents, and mythological sea creatures. It was created using mother of pearl, shells, coral, shards of precious glass and pieces of marble. The piece is framed in polychrome crystals, spongy travertine and exotic ancient Egyptian blue tiles.