Bikini girls mosaic, Roman Villa, Sicily - Villa Romana del CasaleVilla Romana del Casale. This is a Roman villa, so far off the usual track, that it is well preserved. The mosaic wall here depicts athletic girls (informally known as the "bikini girls" there).
The Villa is about 3 miles southwest of Piazza Armerina, in the interior. See http://www.sights.seindal.dk/sight/456_Villa_Romana_del_Casale.
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See a videeo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc9t-MhVd30
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This area is thought to be the large estate - public and private halls and facilities - that belonged to Diocletian's co-emperor, Maximianus Herculeus in late 3d and early 4th centuries AD. For overview, see the mosaic and site photos at http://www.galenfrysinger.com/geometric_mosaics_sicily; and at www.bluffton.edu/%7Esullivanm/armerina/armerina. Fine floor and wall mosaics survive. The sanitary conditions were unexpectedly functional. A water course had been diverted to serve the W.C. There is a rather large communal seating area in 3 sides of a square with a rectangular slot (unisex) so gravity would work, with running water below and out. Excellent. Servant-slaves were nearby with sticks on which cotton or other batting material did the job, we were told.
Rome: a remarkably intact Roman villa of similar wealth and size has been found at the Domus Valeriorum, a grand home in Rome. It was uncovered during excavation for construction at the Addolorata Hospital, with ancient frescoes, mosaics , niches, and designs very lavish, and looking very much like this Romana del Casale. See http://www.archaeology.org/0605/abstracts/villa.html.
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The mosaic room in our photo is known as the Bikini Girls.
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Rome's architecture is widespread of course outside Rome, but always comes as a magnificent surprise. For the retirement palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian himself, see Croatia Roadways, Split post. Diocletian was from the Dalmatian Coast, Croatia.
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