It was inhabited for at least 150 years and then taken over by attacking forces and eventually by the Normans in the middle ages. It was abandoned 800 years later in about 1200 AD and (fortuitously for us in the modern era) buried by a mudslide so the villa and its elaborate mosaic floors are well preserved. The mosaic floors were designed and built by African artisans in either a popular pattern from the time or in a scene that depicts a fictional story or a common activity. One of the most famous of the mosaics is the Bikini Girls, which shows eight women in an athletic competition. The mosaic was so well done that the face detection feature on my camera was finding the faces of the girls.
Portion of the villa leading to the baths.
The heated Gymnasium
Closeup of the tiles, which we were allowed to walk on
Fishing scene showing fisherman line fishing, using a net, harpoon and fish traps
A hunting scene when they released the dogs to chase the quarry. Two men carry a boar while two others study birds in a tree.
The great hunt, an enormous mosaic running the entire length of the room.
The great hunt capturing lions, elephants, camels and various other animals that will be shipped to Rome for use in the Coliseum during the games.
Entrance to a private room with the Bikini Girls mosaic floor
The Bikini Girls participating in various competitive sports. The woman on the bottom left is offering a crown and a victors palm frond to the winner.
The great hunt.
Four boys in a pretend athletic competition using chariots pulled by trained ostriches
Erotic scene
Tom reading his new book about the villa and absorbing all of the history possible
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