Ancient Roman Firefighter Barracks with Marine Mosaic Unearthed Near Colosseum
The excavation of an eight-room structure adorned with mosaics and frescoes has been announced by Italy's Ministry of Culture, located on Rome's Caelian Hill, close to the Colosseum. While initially believed to be a residence for the elite, it might actually have served as barracks for the vigiles, the firefighters of ancient Rome. Constructed in the second century C.E. and later renovated in the third, the site boasts a marine-themed mosaic reminiscent of one at the Caserma dei Vigili in Ostia. Augustus established a fire brigade in 21 B.C.E., which became a professional unit following a fire in 6 C.E. If validated as a vigiles barracks, this finding could shed light on the origins of early professional firefighting, as noted by Simona Morretta and Daniela Porro.
Key facts
- Excavation of an eight-room building on Rome's Caelian Hill near the Colosseum
- Building dates to second century C.E., renovated in third century
- Marine-life mosaic depicting lobster, dolphin, fish, and crab
- Mosaic resembles one found in firefighters' barracks in Ostia
- Ostia's Caserma dei Vigili barracks excavated in late 19th century
- Augustus organized fire brigade in 21 B.C.E. with 600 enslaved people
- After fire in 6 C.E., professional vigiles with seven squads of 1,000 firefighters each
- Vigiles used buckets, hooks, pick-axes, ladders, ropes, and pumps
- Vigiles received stipendium, path to citizenship, and free grain
- Vigiles expanded to Ostia, Puteoli, Carthage, Lyon, Ravenna, Constantinople
- Simona Morretta is scientific director of excavation
- Daniela Porro is special superintendent of Rome
Entities
Institutions
- Italian Ministry of Culture
- Caserma dei Vigili
- World History Encyclopedia
- The Collector
- Reuters
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Caelian Hill
- Colosseum
- Ostia
- Puteoli
- Carthage
- Lyon
- Ravenna
- Constantinople