Sicily has been in the hands of many: the Lebanese (Phoenicians), the Moors, the Greeks, the Normans and…..the Romans! It’s what happens when you are basically the crossroads of the Mediterranean and everyone wants your strategic parking lot to advance their agendas.
The Romans fizzled on their own but before they did, someone who had some money and power (a senator? Or the Emperor, or a businessman who imported animals from exotic places like Africa and India) had a place in the Sicilian countryside. This place was built around 300 AD and was loaded with mosaics, but then left in the forest and covered by a landslide in the 1300’s. Then rediscovered in the 1930’s.
The site has been lovingly excavated and was amazing!
The mosaics are from fancy to mega elaborate. There are baths, and frigidarium, kitchen and prep areas for the slaves, there are rooms for the children and halls to exalt hunting and transporting exotic animals. And a gym for women athletes in bikinis. You cannot make this up! See photos below and note the elephants, tigers and even a griffin being loaded on boats, the aforementioned bikini gymnasts and ostriches and more!
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