Article author:
Associated Press
Nicole Winfield
Rome (AP) — The Baths of Caracalla, one of the most spectacular examples of ancient Roman baths, has become more spectacular. On Thursday, Roman authorities opened to the public a unique private house that stood on the grounds before the bath. There is a frescoed ceiling and a prayer room to honor the Roman and Egyptian gods.
The two-story house, or "Domus," dates back to about 134-138 AD during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. It was partially destroyed to give way to the construction of the Karakala Public Baths, which opened in 216 AD. Today, this place attracts tourists with its multi-layered brick ruins of Roman baths, libraries and gymnasiums, and the marble mosaics on the floor.
Given the quality of the frescoes, this house, believed to have been owned by a family of wealthy merchants, represents what was in the same place before bathing. And shows how the city developed in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, Roman archaeological director Daniela Polo said at the beginning.
The ruins of Domus were first discovered in the mid-19th century, about 10 meters (yards) below the current bathhouse. They were excavated about a century later, and debris from the ceiling of the interior prayer room and frescoed dining room was removed for restoration and preservation.
The prayer room was briefly exhibited, but has not been open to the public for 30 years. Reopened on Thursday are some of the unprecedented pieces of ceiling featuring images of the Roman god of wine and agriculture, Bacchus, using precious Egyptian blue and cinnabar red pigments. increase.
When Domus was erected, "The Hadrian-era Roman panorama is unique in both the subject matter and the peculiarities of the painting," said the director of the Karakala site. Millera Cell Lorenzi said.
The inner temple has statues of the Roman gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva on one wall and the silhouettes of the Egyptian gods Isis and Anubis on the other wall, religious. Evidence of "synchronism". System — This was common at public monuments in Rome, but not at national monuments at the time.
"It's the first time I've found something like that in Rome, but not so many in the world," said Celllorenzi.
She said that what experts know about Roman painting comes mainly from the towns of El Kraneum and Pompeii near Naples. These towns were destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and are preserved under a layer of volcanic material.
"So Roman paintings from the 1st century onwards remained a mystery because there wasn't a well-preserved room up to the ceiling," Serlorenzi said.
The Domus exhibition entitled "Before the Bath: The House Where the Gods Lived Together" has become a permanent part of Karakala's itinerary.
