Many Roman villas, private residences, as well as public buildings, were lavishly decorated with mosaic floors.
Some depicted scenes from everyday life, such as athletics playing and ladies bathing.
Others were full of drama and violencegladiator fights, hunts and exotic creatures from mythological episodes.
Mosaic of a woman playing with a ball on the floor of the Villa Romana del Casale.
The complex remained inhabited for at least 150 years, after which it was partially damaged.
The villa was almost entirely forgotten after that.
Small scale excavation around the site continue to this date.
One can recognize the port of Carthage, the Italian coast, Egypt and the Nile.
A scene from the Great Hunt.
Here one can see the famous Bikini Girlsa sceneshowing ten young women wearing what comes off as modern bikinis.
Underneath them are two more girls playing with a multicolored ball.
Today, the villa is open to visitors.
Elevated walkways provide an above-ground view of the mosaics while protecting the delicate artwork from damage by footfalls.
