Colorful mosaics uncovered in underwater Roman spa puzzle experts. Take a look

Moira Ritter
Updated ·1 min read
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Between the 1st century B.C. and 3rd century A.D., the Italian coastal town of Baia was a hot spot for vacationing Roman aristocracy and imperial families.

Now, the once bustling city is mostly submerged, including what was once a spa crafted with mosaic and marble floors. The spa, known as Terme del Lacus, opened to the public in the summer of 2020, according to Campi Flegrei, the archaeological park that is home to the spa.

Recently though, archaeologists noticed something strange beneath the sand, Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei said in a Facebook post. Underneath the sand they discovered a new, vibrant mosaic.

Only a portion of the mosaic has been uncovered from the sand, archaeologists said.
Only a portion of the mosaic has been uncovered from the sand, archaeologists said.

Experts described the tiled artwork as having a “psichedelico” or “psychedelic” pattern composed of interwoven geometric lines and shapes.

The center of the mosaic has archaeologists puzzled. The pattern at the center of the mosaic is still partly covered, making it hard for experts to determine what it depicts, but using similar mosaics in Tunisia a potential rendering was created, they said.

Experts created a potential rendering of the mosaic using similar example from Tunisia, the park said.
Experts created a potential rendering of the mosaic using similar example from Tunisia, the park said.

Despite the rendering, archaeologists said they are still prepared for any surprises their excavation might uncover, noting that the red elongated lines within the mosaic were particularly interesting and intricate.

Campi Flegrei and Parco Sommerso di Baia

The mosaic discovery comes from within Campi Flegrei — a sprawling archaeological park that is home to 26 individual sites.

The park is also historically significant as it previously was the first Greek colony in the Western Mediterranean, and it was a thriving commercial city during Roman rule, according to the park’s website. Campi Flegrei is also the setting for several significant ancient myths.

Baia and Campi Flegrei are on the western coast of Italy near Naples.

Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from Parco Archeologico Campi Flegrei and the Campi Flegrei website.

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