Photos of the Roman Mosaics of Villa Romana de Casale Sicily

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Photos of the spectacular Roman Mosaics of Villa Romana de Casale Archaeological Site, Sicily. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Roman Mosaics of Villa Romana de Casale

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Photos of the spectacular Roman mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale , Piazza Armerina , Sicily.

The Preservation of the Villa Romana del Casale Mosaics

Around 1160 a huge mud slide in the Morgantina hills near Piazza Armerina in central Sicily buried an abandoned Roman Villa. It wasn’t until the 1950s that fragments of exposed wall drew the attention of archaeologist. As a result 3,500 square meters of exquisite Roman mosaics perfectly preserved by the mud were excavated.

These were the mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale. The mosaics comprise the largest area of Roman mosaics in situ in the world and the site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dating the Villa Romana del Casale Mosaics

The Villa Romana del Casale mosaics have been dated to the first quarter of the fourth century AD. The clothing and themes in the pictures point to the villa belonging to Emperor Maximinianus.

The scale of the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale is breathtaking. Animals are depicted from all of the 5 Roman African Diocese. Panthers from Mauritania, Antelopes from Numidia, Wild Horses from Tripolitana, the now extinct Berber Lion from Morocco and Wild Boar from Byzaena now Tunisia. The mosaics depict African animals being loaded into ships to be transported to Rome for the games in the Colosseum.

Depiction of the Emperor Maximinianus

A figure wearing traditional hats from the Pannonia Province, assumed to be Maximinianus, stands watching the animals being put aboard a ship. Next to them is an Elephant, an animal reserved specially for the Emperors games in the Colosseum. Next to the Elephant are the letters “MA” which stand for Maximinianus Augustus. This lends weight to Villa Romana del Casale being the Emperor’s Villa.

Themes of the Villa Romana del Casale Mosaics

The floor of every room at the Villa Romana del Casale is decorated with lavish mosaics each having a different theme. The exercise room of the Villa has a gigantic mosaic of the Circus Maximus of Rome complete with racing chariots. Children’s rooms have mosaics of children chariot racing at a miniature Circus Maximus.

Mosaics in other rooms depict mythical figures and Roman Gods. Scenes depict Cupids fishing in several mosaic panels The extent of the Roman Empire’s influence is celebrated with depictions of people from as far away as India.

Hunting is celebrated in many mosaic panels with scenes of Roman hunting deer and wild boar with dogs

The Bikini Girls Mosaic

One of the most surprising mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale are the Bikini Girls. This shows 10 young women in bikini style tops and bottoms. They appear to be in competition with each other as one of them, presumably the winner, is about to be crowned with a laurel crown. Their athletic dress with bikini tops would not be out of place in a modern gym.

Descriptions of the wonderful Roman mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale could fill pages but it is far easier to look at them in this photo gallery. Please enjoy.