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Mosaic of theatrical masks

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This great mosaic is at display at the Musei Capitolini in Rome. It was found on the site of the baths constructed by Trajan Decius (AD 249-251). Other sources, like wikipedia, claim the mosaic to be found in Hadrian's villa at Tivoli. Despite the fact that I found it hard to make any proper pictures in the lightbulb environment of the museum, it belongs to this blog. The first one is taken by Anthony Moose (Wikimedia Commons), the second one by me. The mosaic represents two masks leaning on a socle projecting out from two walls that meet an angle, seen in perspective. Two flutes lean on one wall. The female mask depicts a woman with large eyes and wide-open mouth. A ribbon knotted into a bow at the center of her brow, appears in her curly hair with long ringlets. The physiognomic features of the man are exaggerated and ridiculed. On his head ivy and berries, associated with the cult of Dionysus, which was linked to the birth of the Greek theater .  The masks belonged to two ...
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A green grapevine: the amphitheater of Cumae

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One of the best hidden ampitheaters of 'Campi Fregrei' or 'lands on fire', named after the once numerous vulcanic wells and activities, is the amphitheater of Cumae. We have been searching for it for almost two hours. Due to a incorrect signpost, but also because the entry is along a narrow, obscure road and the amphitheater is on private property, it almost escaped our hunt. The reward, once at the site, was worth while the effort. While still partly unexcavated, it gives you the impression you are one of the first visitors with many secrets still to be revealed. Cumae (Italian; Italian: Cuma, Ancient Greek: Greek: Κύμη Kūmē, Κύμαι Kūmai or Κύ̂μα Kūma) is an ancient Greek settlement lying to the northwest of Naples. Cumae was the first Greek colony on the mainland of Italy (Magna Graecia), and the seat of the Cumaean Sibyl. It was the Cumaean alphabet, as used throughout the Greek island of Euboea, that was adopted in Italy, first by the Etruscans and later by th...
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Amphitheater of Pompeii

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In 2002, 2004 and 2007, I visited Pompeii and its splendid amphitheater. These pictures show the amphitheater after a rainy night in 2004. It is the oldest Roman amphitheater in existence, dating 70 BC. An inscription records that it was erected by the duumvirs Quinctius Valgus and Marcus Porcius, "at their expense". It was built against the southeastern corner of the city walls, which buttressed the shell-like structure of the cavea. These terraces were divided into three sectors: ima cavea (the front row around the arena) for the magistrates and leading citizens, media cavea, further up, and summa cavea, at the top, for the other spectators. The tall parapet surrounding the arena was decorated with paintings of gladiatorial combats, hunting scenes, victory celebrations and so on. It could host approximately 20,000 spectators. Leaving the ampitheater, you have got a splendid view on Pompei gardens and the Vesuvius. During one show in 59 AD the supporters of the rival...
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