The Villa Selene, Libya
The Fine Mosaics and Frescos of a Villa in Roman Tripolitania
Situated on the coast Libyan coast to the east of Leptis Magna, the villa Selene is notable not only for its fine mosaics but for the survival of its overall structure.
Discovered in 1974, The Villa Selene revealed itself when the sands that had covered it for nearly two thousand years partially shifted. Subsequent excavations revealed it to be a high status Roman villa that had survived in an almost complete state, with intact mosaic floors, largely complete frescos and a clear room plan. It is a perfectly preserved example of a house that evolved and expanded in close proximity to the three trading cities that constituted Roman Tripolitania: Sabratha, Leptis Magna and the city that became modern Tripoli.
Basic Design of the Villa Selene
The central core of the house is centred on the atrium in the classic Roman design. However, with time, the house expanded eastwards, parallel to the sea in order to incorporate the view into every major facing room. This parallel development demonstrates how the sea side location must have contributed to its desirability as a residence.
Mosaics and Frescos
The house has many examples of fine mosaics such as the room of the chariot racing mosaic and the room of the bull jumpers. Often overlooked are the frescos whose plain geometric designs survive in the corridors and in the delicate rendering of ducks, garlands and cupids on a plain white background in what has been identified as a bedroom. Scenes of mythology and from then contemporary life feature throughout, telling us about their social relevance and general function within the house.
Peristyle Garden
Mosaic pathways featuring helmeted dwarfs battling cranes and crocodiles amidst stylised flora and fauna line the pathway of the peristyle that surrounds this garden on three sides. The garden stretches down the whole extent of the building, overlooking the Mediterranean. Its most original feature is the division of the garden flower beds using mosaic borders adorned with the same pattern as the pathway.
Atrium
Now entered via the peristyle garden rather than through its original entranceway, the atrium was the focal point of the original building. The impluvium remains. However, a compluvium or roof opening has not been incorporated into the reconstruction of the roof, destroying some of the effect of the room. The atrium has a well preserved but unremarkable mosaic floor. However, its star feature is the wall frescos that feature scenes of a wild beast hunt in vivid, clear colours.
Library
Leading off from the atrium is the room identified as the library by nature of the shelving for scrolls built into the wall itself. The mosaic here features a square pattern, alternating male and female human faces with those depicting birds and cupids.
Winter Triclinium
A moderate sized internal room with no view, owing to its function, the winter triclinium again leads off from the atrium. It’s most remarkable feature is its mosaic, the centre panel being a depiction of Lycurgus, the King of Thrace driven mad by Dionysus as punishment for driving off his worshippers.
Summer Triclinium
Incorporated into the narrow corridor of building connecting the old atrium house to the new wing and bath house, the summer triclinium is notable for the stunning views it situation granted it. Dinners would have taken place opening out onto the peristyle garden with clear views of the sea.
Bath House
The bath house is remarkably complete, with even the drainage holes in the baths surviving. However, what is unique is its layout and the preservation of its décor. Its entrance way was lined with blue marble. Bathers would then enter the apodyterium to change, overlooked by wall mosaics and frescos of wrestlers. From here, they would enter the bathhouse proper. Several bathrooms with small plunge pools were built about one larger room with an intricate aquatic themed mosaic with Neptune’s head in its centre.
Sources
Villa Silin by Omar Saleh Almahjub. Dar Al-Anies Publishing, Libya.
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