https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/underwater-marble-floor-mosaic-discovered-off-the-coast-of-naples-180984772/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&spMailingID=50023925&spUserID=NzU3Njg4NDk0NTQS1&spJobID= [login to see] &spReportId=Mjc0MzEyODc3MQS2
A stunning floor mosaic that once adorned an ancient Roman villa has been unearthed underwater near Naples, Italy. The colorful marble would have made up a late Roman-era porch, or “protiro,” at the building’s entrance, according to a statement from the Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park. Researchers think the discovery dates to the third century C.E.
The luxurious villa was located in the ancient city of Baiae, sometimes called the Las Vegas of ancient Rome. During the late Roman Empire, rulers like Julius Caesar and Nero owned homes in the town, which was known as a destination that aristocrats flocked to for drinking, parties and general hedonism.