Luxurious Roman Domus with Extraordinary Mosaic Discovered Near Palatine Hill
In Rome, archaeologists have unearthed an opulent late-Republican domus situated between the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, which boasts a distinctive mosaic in its banquet hall. This discovery expands upon wall structures identified during 2018 excavations. Dating from the late 2nd century BCE to the close of the 1st century BCE, the domus is located behind the Horrea Agrippiana and features a cave-like banquet hall intended for summer use. The intricate mosaic, created in the final decades of the 2nd century BCE, showcases elaborate scenes involving shells and glass, possibly alluding to a military victory. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano commended the find, with excavations set to wrap up in early 2024. Meanwhile, the exhibition "Splendori Farnesiani" has launched at the Horti Palatini Fernesiorum.
Key facts
- Luxurious late-Republican domus discovered between Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
- Domus located behind Horrea Agrippiana, warehouses built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
- Structure spans multiple floors around an atrium with three building phases (2nd century BCE to 1st century BCE)
- Main room is a cave-like banquet hall (specus aestivus) used in summer
- Wall mosaic dates to last decades of 2nd century BCE, made of shells, Egyptian blue tesserae, glass, marble, tartar, pozzolana
- Mosaic depicts weapons, Celtic trumpets, ships with tridents, trireme rudders, and a seaside city with three ships
- Excavation will conclude in early 2024; site to be made accessible to public
- Exhibition 'Splendori Farnesiani' opened in Horti Palatini Fernesiorum on Palatine
- Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano and Parco director Alfonsina Russo commented
- Domus exemplifies 'luxuria asiatica' of late Republic
Entities
Artists
- Caterina Angelucci
Institutions
- Parco Archeologico del Colosseo
- Ministero della Cultura
- Horrea Agrippiana
- Artribune
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Roman Forum
- Palatine Hill
- vicus Tuscus
- Tiber
- Horti Palatini Fernesiorum