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Introduction The paintings The graffiti |
The baths, "tower" C8, porticus D10, exedra F1 and the piers of porticus F2 were decorated with paintings that were partly found on the wall, and partly as tens of thousands of fragments fallen on the floor. Many fragments could be assembled by the excavators. In exedra F1 they were placed back on the wall.
Paintings on the piers of porticus F2. Left: with the fragments. Right: reconstructed. May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 122.
Preserved paintings in the southern corner of exedra F1. Photo: May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 59.
Restored paintings in exedra F1. Photo: Wikimedia, Odrade123.In exedra F1 only the decoration of the lower part of the back wall was found. Due to a fire the colours had changed: the yellow at the bottom had turned red, the green of column bases was beige, and the black background of figurative panels is now almost white.
Reconstruction of the back wall of exedra F1 with a hypothetical upper part. May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 157.Four painted column bases (0.57 m. wide, 0.87 m. high) separated five figurative panels (0.25 m. high). On the two outer panels trees and columns with architraves were depicted.
Detail of one of the outer panels in exedra F1. Photo: Wikimedia, Odrade123.On the three central panels scenes from the circus were depicted. On either end of the second and fourth panel was a group of three conical columns, the turning points in the circus (metae). Between the turning points were two charioteers in chariots drawn by two horses (bigae). There were four racing factions in Rome: the Reds, the Greens, the Blues, and the Whites. The tunics of the charioteers indicated to which faction they belonged. The leftmost charioteer, in the second panel, belongs to the Greens. He has won the race and holds the palm of victory with his left hand, the reigns and a whip in his right hand. To his left was a man with raised arms, an assistant in the races.
Click on the image to enlarge. The left part of the second panel. Photo: Archéolab, Pully.
Detail of the charioteer of the Greens on the left part of the second panel. Photo: Wikimedia, Odrade123.Of the other charioteers only small fragments were preserved. The second charioteer was one of the Blues. In the fourth panel were a Red charioteer, who seems to crash, and a White charioteer, with another assistant to the right. On the central panel a bearded, seated man can be seen, with a wreath on his head. He must be the high dignitary who offered the games. He started the race by extending his right arm and dropping a cloth. It is surprising that bigae were depicted: the races in the circus were held with quadrigae, chariots drawn by four horses. Bigae with winged Erotes can be seen on sarcophagi, and it has been suggested that the paintings symbolize the conquering of death. They have been dated to the second quarter of the second century.
Detail of the magistrate starting the race. Photo: May Castella et al. 2013, fig. 154.On the upper floor of the exedra was a mosaic, partly black-and-white partly polychrome, with leaves in hexagons and with braids. On the back wall must have been hunting scenes with wild animals. The ceiling was decorated with stucco reliefs.
Fragments of mosaics from the upper floor of exedra F1. Photo: Archéolab, Pully.
Introduction
The paintings
The graffiti
[21-Mar-2024]
