Domus e mosaico del Leone

Step into the heart of ancient Teramo and discover the Domus e mosaico del Leone, a fascinating glimpse into the grandeur of Roman domestic architecture and artistry. Nestled in the basement of Palazzo Savini, this archaeological gem offers a unique journey back to the 1st century BC, a time when Teramo, known as Interamnia Praetutiana, was a bustling Roman town.

The Discovery

The Domus e mosaico del Leone was unearthed in June 1891 during the renovation of Palazzo Savini. This discovery was nothing short of a treasure trove, revealing the remnants of a Roman house adorned with exquisite mosaic decorations. The site is located in the San Leonardo district, not far from another significant Roman domus beneath the Church of Sant'Anna dei Pompeti. Unfortunately, the renovations of 1891 caused considerable damage to the site, with parts of the house being reburied or incorporated into new structures. Additionally, high humidity levels have further compromised the mosaic pavements, making some sections difficult to interpret.

The Domus

The Domus e mosaico del Leone exemplifies the Greco-Roman house type that emerged in the 2nd century BC and became widespread in cities like Pompeii. This architectural style typically features a linear arrangement of vestibule, atrium, and tablinum, with the addition of a peristyle or colonnaded garden. The presence of numerous marble fragments and other decorative elements in the area adjacent to the tablinum suggests that this domus also boasted a peristyle.

The Entrance

Visitors would have entered the house through a doorway leading directly into the atrium. Although only the threshold remains, it provides a tantalizing hint of the grandeur that once greeted those who crossed its threshold.

The Atrium

The atrium, measuring 10.40 meters in length and 6.70 meters in width, was covered by a roof supported by four corner columns, known as a tetrastyle. The floor is an opus scutulatum, a type of mosaic made with stone or marble chips of various colors and sizes set into different types of backgrounds. The white tesserae are arranged in a regular pattern, interspersed with small chips of different marbles and colors, all framed by a broad band of black tesserae. Between the columns of the impluvium, a rhomboid pattern of elongated, bipartite scales in contrasting black and white adds a striking decorative touch. This type of flooring first appeared in the early 1st century BC and continued into the 1st century AD, during the Julio-Claudian period.

The Impluvium

At the center of the atrium lies the impluvium, a large basin designed to collect rainwater for household use. The water would flow through an underground channel into a cistern. The basin, measuring 4.90 meters in length and 2.50 meters in width, is paved with opus spicatum, a herringbone pattern of bricks. A shaped step runs around the perimeter, with the bases of fluted columns at the corners supporting the roof.

The Tablinum

From the atrium, one could enter the tablinum through a wide opening, likely covered by a curtain for privacy. The threshold is decorated with a mosaic featuring a perspective meander pattern of swastikas and squares in reddish, white, black, ochre, and greenish colors—a motif typical of Hellenistic art. The tablinum itself is a square room with sides measuring 3.80 meters, flanked by two narrow corridors that possibly led to the peristyle. Although much of the wall decoration has been lost, traces of red plaster on the back wall hint at its former splendor. The floor is paved with opus tessellatum, a type of mosaic made with regular-shaped stone tesserae. The dominant decorative motif is a coffered ceiling pattern, with naturalistic designs filling the panels. At the center of the floor is the emblematic mosaic of a lion battling a serpent, surrounded by a two-strand braid and rich garlands held by theatrical masks at the four corners. The outermost border features a chalice-shaped braid pattern.

The Mosaic of the Lion

The centerpiece of the tablinum is the Mosaic of the Lion, an emblematic panel created using the vermiculatum technique. This method involves using tiny, irregularly shaped tesserae to follow the contours of the figure, achieving a painterly effect. The background tesserae are quadrangular, while those of the lion's whiskers are elongated, and the pupils and irises are round. The tesserae are arranged in a centripetal pattern, with their size decreasing from the outside in. The mosaic is framed by a two-strand braid pattern in orange and grey-green tones, creating a striking three-dimensional effect. The scene depicts a lion in an attacking pose, with its front paws spread and back arched, clawing at a serpent that coils around its left hind leg. The lion's head, with its open jaws and flowing mane rendered in various shades of gold, dominates the scene. The serpent's skin is depicted in dark green and orange on the back, with a beige belly speckled with dark spots. The background features a blue water pool and various plants, including a broad-trunked tree and a slender tree with palmate leaves and berries. The chiaroscuro effect is pronounced, with light appearing to come from the right, illuminating the lion's face.

The Domus e mosaico del Leone is not just an archaeological site; it is a window into the opulent lifestyle and artistic achievements of ancient Teramo. A visit to this remarkable domus offers a rare opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Romans and marvel at the enduring beauty of their art and architecture.