Rome Unveils Largest Roman Wall Mosaic On Oppio Hill

(MENAFN- USA Art News) What could be the largest ancient Roman wall mosaic ever discovered has opened for limited public viewing in Rome this week. Roberto Gualtieri, the mayor of Rome, presented the 1st-century CE mosaic and a newly uncovered fresco in the city.

These artworks were initially identified during excavations in the 1990s at the Baths of Trajan, located on Oppio Hill near the Colosseum. However, they remained largely unexcavated until now. Dedicated by Roman emperor Trajan in 109 CE, the baths were an expansive leisure complex covering over 15 acres, featuring areas for cultural activities, sports, and bathing pools.

Situated in an underground gallery beneath the baths, the mosaic measures 33 feet high and more than 50 feet across. Its original size may have been even greater, as its uppermost section was removed during the construction of the Baths of Trajan, and its base has not yet been fully excavated. The mosaic's upper levels display human and mythological figures arranged between rows of columns. Below these figures, a detailed depiction of a port city is visible. Researchers are uncertain whether this city existed historically or is an idealized representation.

“Either way,” Francesco Pacetti, an archaeologist involved in the excavation, stated,“it has been painted in great detail. You see the stone walls and a main gate with two towers and a glimpse of a temple.”

Within the same chamber, archaeologists also found a fresco offering a bird's-eye view of another Roman town, complete with a theater, a temple, and residences. It is thought that these artworks once adorned either a domus, a private residence of a wealthy Roman family, or the Domus Aurea, the palace built by Roman emperor Nero and subsequently covered after his death.

Beginning this month, the mosaic and fresco will be accessible for public viewing in small groups of 15 people. The fragile artworks will be monitored during this trial period to assess their ability to withstand larger crowds.

Source: ARTnews

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