Archaeologists unearth largest Roman mosaic wall in Rome
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Archaeologists in Rome, Italy, have revealed a large Roman mosaic wall hidden for centuries beneath the Baths of Trajan. The discovery came after excavations funded by Italy’s PNRR program expanded on work begun in the 1990s, uncovering not only the mosaic but also a painted city scene beneath it.
The mosaic once adorned a monumental hall before the construction of the Baths of Trajan around 109 AD, featuring theatrical scenery with buildings, columns, and figures linked to the god Dionysus.
Further digging revealed additional mosaic sections depicting what appear to be seaside villas and traces of marble slabs and a niche for a statue. Alongside the mosaic, archaeologists also explored a painted scene of a Roman city viewed from above. This fresco, approximately ten square meters in size, shows walled streets, a port, a theater, and residential areas. The building containing the fresco predates the Baths of Trajan, existing in the mid-first century AD.
The identity of the city depicted remains uncertain, though scholars have considered the possibility it represents Ostia, an ancient port city. The Baths of Trajan themselves were built on a large artificial terrace and incorporated older structures, including parts of the Domus Aurea. After restoration work costing 2.701.760 euros, the subterranean gallery housing these discoveries will open to the public on September 12, 2026, with limited groups of fifteen visitors at a time.
