Latest news with #RomanLondon
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Newly Reconstructed Wall Painting Gives Us Rare Insight Into Roman London
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." After four years of reconstruction, the remains of a painted wall in Roman London, founded in AD 43, have a big story to tell. Since 2021, archaeologists from the The Museum of London Archaeology (Mola) have been trying to match thousands of pieces of the fallen fresco wall, believed to have come from a luxe villa. Found in Southwark, near the Thames River, it's one of three major discoveries in the same area that's currently being developed by Landsec in Southwark, according to the BBC. Among the finds is a mosaic floor—the largest of its kind found in the last 50 years. The floor patterns include a guilloche, Solomon's knot, flowers, and geometric patterns, thought to be the work of a known band of mosaicists, called the Acanthus group, who made a distinct style found in other unearthed works in Germany, suggesting that the band traveled. The floor panels were found along with a handful of objects associated with Romans of status. This, alongside the cemetery found at the same site, believed to be for wealthy Romans, leads archaeologists to see the story behind the reconstructed wall as one of Romans investing in Londinium. "There was this thriving, bustling settlement quite early on in the Roman period, and it's almost the kind of wealthy suburb—the Beverly Hills of Roman London," Andrew Henderson-Schwartz of Mola told the BBC. The patterns revealed after the plaster pieces were put in order by senior building material specialist Han Li and a team of experts show fruit, flowers painted with a rare, bright yellow, people, and instruments like the lyre. Perhaps most curiously, the word 'fecit' appears, which would roughly translate to 'has made this." Though the name that might have followed hasn't yet been uncovered, the team is hopeful. If and when it does, it will tell us who this nearly 2,000-year-old interiors painter to the Roman stars was. "The group or groups of painters responsible for creating these frescos took inspiration from wall decorations in other parts of the Roman world," writes Mola. "...These paintings were designed to show off both the wealth and excellent taste of the building's owner or owners." In another interesting turn, however, this wall, painted at some point after Londinium was founded and before AD 150, was torn down, according to Mola, by AD 200. "These beautiful frescoes once decorated around twenty internal walls of the building; however, the enormity of our find wasn't immediately obvious. That's because the decorated plaster was found dumped in a large pit, shattered in thousands of fragments—the result of Roman demolition works to clear the old building." Fashion, it seems, has always been fickle, and keeping up with it has always been paramount. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Huge Roman frescoes buried in pieces for 1,800 years uncovered
Archaeologists have assembled the 'world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle' to reveal huge frescoes that once adorned a luxury villa in Roman London. Fragments of shattered wall plaster, which were discovered during excavations by experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), have been meticulously pieced together to reveal frescoes that covered about 20 internal walls of the building. The significance of the plaster pieces was not immediately apparent when they were first unearthed at a site in Southwark. Thousands of fragments were found dumped in a large pit, probably as a result of Roman demolition work carried out prior to 200 AD, MOLA said. Han Li, senior building material specialist at MOLA, spent three months painstakingly laying out the fragments in order to restore the massive artwork, which has not been seen for more than 1,800 years. It features painted images of fruit, flowers, birds, candelabras and stringed musical instruments popular at the time. worlds most difficult jigsaw puzzle Yellow and imitation porphyry panels. (MOLA) Another piece shows a crying woman with a hairstyle from the Flavian period (69-96 AD). 'This has been a 'once in a lifetime' moment, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when I started to lay the plaster out,' said Li in a MOLA press release sent to CNN Thursday. 'Many of the fragments were very delicate and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together when the building was demolished, so it was like assembling the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle.' The archaeologists, who are continuing to analyze the plasterwork in further depth, believe the paintings were inspired by designs from other parts of the Roman world. 'Some fragments imitate high status wall tiles, such as red Egyptian porphyry (a crystal speckled volcanic stone) framing the elaborate veins of African giallo antico (a yellow marble). Styles like these have been found north of the river in Londinium, in Colchester, Germany, and Pompeii,' the press release says. The identity of one of the painters is also hinted at in a 'tabula ansata,' which is a carving of a decorative tablet, which was then used to sign artwork. One plaster piece is scored with the Latin word 'fecit,' meaning 'has made this.' Unfortunately, the mystery of who the individual was remains as the fragment where their name should be is missing. worlds most difficult jigsaw puzzle The remains of the tabula ansata. (MOLA) Elsewhere, the team discovered an etching of an almost complete Greek alphabet, which appears to have been 'skillfully scored' by a 'proficient writer,' according to the release. It is the only known example of its kind from Roman Britain, but similar examples have been found in Italy. The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and founded Londinium, the basis of modern London, shortly afterwards. Their occupation lasted for almost 400 years, ending in 410 AD. This is not the first discovery at the site, which is being redeveloped as The Liberty of Southwark, a complex of offices, homes and shops. Well preserved mosaics that once decorated the floor of a large room were found there in 2022, while a rare Roman mausoleum was unearthed the following year. Article by Lianne Kolirin.
CNN
19-06-2025
- General
- CNN
Huge Roman frescoes buried in pieces for 1,800 years uncovered
Archaeologists have assembled the 'world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle' to reveal huge frescoes that once adorned a luxury villa in Roman London. Fragments of shattered wall plaster, which were discovered during excavations by experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), have been meticulously pieced together to reveal frescoes that covered about 20 internal walls of the building. The significance of the plaster pieces was not immediately apparent when they were first unearthed at a site in Southwark. Thousands of fragments were found dumped in a large pit, probably as a result of Roman demolition work carried out prior to 200 AD, MOLA said. Han Li, senior building material specialist at MOLA, spent three months painstakingly laying out the fragments in order to restore the massive artwork, which has not been seen for more than 1,800 years. It features painted images of fruit, flowers, birds, candelabras and stringed musical instruments popular at the time. Another piece shows a crying woman with a hairstyle from the Flavian period (69-96 AD). 'This has been a 'once in a lifetime' moment, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when I started to lay the plaster out,' said Li in a MOLA press release sent to CNN Thursday. 'Many of the fragments were very delicate and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together when the building was demolished, so it was like assembling the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle.' The archaeologists, who are continuing to analyze the plasterwork in further depth, believe the paintings were inspired by designs from other parts of the Roman world. 'Some fragments imitate high status wall tiles, such as red Egyptian porphyry (a crystal speckled volcanic stone) framing the elaborate veins of African giallo antico (a yellow marble). Styles like these have been found north of the river in Londinium, in Colchester, Germany, and Pompeii,' the press release says. The identity of one of the painters is also hinted at in a 'tabula ansata,' which is a carving of a decorative tablet, which was then used to sign artwork. One plaster piece is scored with the Latin word 'fecit,' meaning 'has made this.' Unfortunately, the mystery of who the individual was remains as the fragment where their name should be is missing. Elsewhere, the team discovered an etching of an almost complete Greek alphabet, which appears to have been 'skillfully scored' by a 'proficient writer,' according to the release. It is the only known example of its kind from Roman Britain, but similar examples have been found in Italy. The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and founded Londinium, the basis of modern London, shortly afterwards. Their occupation lasted for almost 400 years, ending in 410 AD. This is not the first discovery at the site, which is being redeveloped as The Liberty of Southwark, a complex of offices, homes and shops. Well preserved mosaics that once decorated the floor of a large room were found there in 2022, while a rare Roman mausoleum was unearthed the following year.
CNN
19-06-2025
- General
- CNN
Huge Roman frescoes buried in pieces for 1,800 years uncovered
Archaeologists have assembled the 'world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle' to reveal huge frescoes that once adorned a luxury villa in Roman London. Fragments of shattered wall plaster, which were discovered during excavations by experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), have been meticulously pieced together to reveal frescoes that covered about 20 internal walls of the building. The significance of the plaster pieces was not immediately apparent when they were first unearthed at a site in Southwark. Thousands of fragments were found dumped in a large pit, probably as a result of Roman demolition work carried out prior to 200 AD, MOLA said. Han Li, senior building material specialist at MOLA, spent three months painstakingly laying out the fragments in order to restore the massive artwork, which has not been seen for more than 1,800 years. It features painted images of fruit, flowers, birds, candelabras and stringed musical instruments popular at the time. Another piece shows a crying woman with a hairstyle from the Flavian period (69-96 AD). 'This has been a 'once in a lifetime' moment, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when I started to lay the plaster out,' said Li in a MOLA press release sent to CNN Thursday. 'Many of the fragments were very delicate and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together when the building was demolished, so it was like assembling the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle.' The archaeologists, who are continuing to analyze the plasterwork in further depth, believe the paintings were inspired by designs from other parts of the Roman world. 'Some fragments imitate high status wall tiles, such as red Egyptian porphyry (a crystal speckled volcanic stone) framing the elaborate veins of African giallo antico (a yellow marble). Styles like these have been found north of the river in Londinium, in Colchester, Germany, and Pompeii,' the press release says. The identity of one of the painters is also hinted at in a 'tabula ansata,' which is a carving of a decorative tablet, which was then used to sign artwork. One plaster piece is scored with the Latin word 'fecit,' meaning 'has made this.' Unfortunately, the mystery of who the individual was remains as the fragment where their name should be is missing. Elsewhere, the team discovered an etching of an almost complete Greek alphabet, which appears to have been 'skillfully scored' by a 'proficient writer,' according to the release. It is the only known example of its kind from Roman Britain, but similar examples have been found in Italy. The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and founded Londinium, the basis of modern London, shortly afterwards. Their occupation lasted for almost 400 years, ending in 410 AD. This is not the first discovery at the site, which is being redeveloped as The Liberty of Southwark, a complex of offices, homes and shops. Well preserved mosaics that once decorated the floor of a large room were found there in 2022, while a rare Roman mausoleum was unearthed the following year.
CNN
19-06-2025
- General
- CNN
Huge Roman frescoes buried in pieces for 1,800 years uncovered
Archaeologists have assembled the 'world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle' to reveal huge frescoes that once adorned a luxury villa in Roman London. Fragments of shattered wall plaster, which were discovered during excavations by experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), have been meticulously pieced together to reveal frescoes that covered about 20 internal walls of the building. The significance of the plaster pieces was not immediately apparent when they were first unearthed at a site in Southwark. Thousands of fragments were found dumped in a large pit, probably as a result of Roman demolition work carried out prior to 200 AD, MOLA said. Han Li, senior building material specialist at MOLA, spent three months painstakingly laying out the fragments in order to restore the massive artwork, which has not been seen for more than 1,800 years. It features painted images of fruit, flowers, birds, candelabras and stringed musical instruments popular at the time. Another piece shows a crying woman with a hairstyle from the Flavian period (69-96 AD). 'This has been a 'once in a lifetime' moment, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness when I started to lay the plaster out,' said Li in a MOLA press release sent to CNN Thursday. 'Many of the fragments were very delicate and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together when the building was demolished, so it was like assembling the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle.' The archaeologists, who are continuing to analyze the plasterwork in further depth, believe the paintings were inspired by designs from other parts of the Roman world. 'Some fragments imitate high status wall tiles, such as red Egyptian porphyry (a crystal speckled volcanic stone) framing the elaborate veins of African giallo antico (a yellow marble). Styles like these have been found north of the river in Londinium, in Colchester, Germany, and Pompeii,' the press release says. The identity of one of the painters is also hinted at in a 'tabula ansata,' which is a carving of a decorative tablet, which was then used to sign artwork. One plaster piece is scored with the Latin word 'fecit,' meaning 'has made this.' Unfortunately, the mystery of who the individual was remains as the fragment where their name should be is missing. Elsewhere, the team discovered an etching of an almost complete Greek alphabet, which appears to have been 'skillfully scored' by a 'proficient writer,' according to the release. It is the only known example of its kind from Roman Britain, but similar examples have been found in Italy. The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and founded Londinium, the basis of modern London, shortly afterwards. Their occupation lasted for almost 400 years, ending in 410 AD. This is not the first discovery at the site, which is being redeveloped as The Liberty of Southwark, a complex of offices, homes and shops. Well preserved mosaics that once decorated the floor of a large room were found there in 2022, while a rare Roman mausoleum was unearthed the following year.
