- Roman mosaic discovered underwater revealing a glimpse into ancient luxury
- Marble mosaic dated back to the third century C.E
- Celebrating a window into the opulent past of ancient Rome
A mesmerizing Roman mosaic has been discovered underwater near Naples, Italy, revealing a glimpse into ancient luxury. The vibrant marble mosaic, dating back to the third century C.E., once adorned a villa in Baiae, known as the “Las Vegas” of ancient Rome for its opulent lifestyle and hedonistic parties frequented by figures like Julius Caesar and Nero.
The mosaic, part of a “protiro” or porch at the villa’s entrance, is crafted in the “opus sectile” style, where artists cut marble into various shapes to form intricate patterns. This style contrasts with the more uniform tiling of other mosaics. The villa, originally perched on a prime seaside location, eventually succumbed to bradyseism—a geological phenomenon causing ground subsidence due to pressure changes. This natural process led to the villa’s collapse into the Gulf of Pozzuoli.
Currently, the mosaic is undergoing delicate restoration. The broken pieces are being submerged in freshwater to remove salt, with efforts underway to reconstruct the designs. Fragments of the villa’s walls, once towering up to 32 feet, have also been found, buried under the mosaic. Bacoli’s mayor, Josi Gerardo Della Ragione, has highlighted the mosaic’s importance, celebrating it as a window into the opulent past of ancient Rome.
