Domvs Romana
Ruins of the Domvs Romana
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| Location | Mdina/Rabat, Malta |
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| Coordinates | 35°53′7.1″N 14°24′0.3″E / 35.885306°N 14.400083°ECoordinates: 35°53′7.1″N 14°24′0.3″E / 35.885306°N 14.400083°E |
| Type |
Domus Cemetery |
| Part of | Melite |
| History | |
| Material | Limestone and marble |
| Founded | 1st century BC |
| Abandoned | 2nd century AD 11th century AD |
| Periods |
Roman Arab |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1881, 1920–1925 |
| Archaeologists |
Antonio Annetto Caruana |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Ownership | Government of Malta |
| Management | Heritage Malta |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | Heritage Malta |
The Domvs Romana is a ruined Roman-era house located on the boundary between Mdina and Rabat, Malta. It was built in the 1st century BC as an aristocratic town house (domus) within the Roman city of Melite. In the 11th century, a Muslim cemetery was established on the remains of the domus. The site was discovered in 1881, and archaeological excavations revealed several well preserved Roman mosaics, statues and other artifacts, as well as a number of tombstones and other remains from the cemetery. Since 1882, the site has been open to the public as a museum, which is currently run by Heritage Malta.
The Domvs Romana is believed to have been built in the beginning of the 1st century BC, and it remained in use until the 2nd century AD. The house had a colonnaded peristyle inspired by ancient Greek architecture, and its best features are the well-made polychrome Hellenistic style mosaics found in the peristyle and the surrounding rooms, which show decorative motifs or mythological scenes. Two types of tesserae were employed: opus vermiculatum, in the centre of the pavement; opus tessellatum, larger tesserae to create three-dimensional designs all around the main image. The picture sought to imitate a highly popular motif which may be fist painted by an artist from Sophos. The domus also shows fine painted wall plaster imitating coloured marbles and showing partly stylized architectural elements which would place them somewhere between the 1st and 2nd Pompeian Styles.
Although the house was mostly destroyed over time, its mosaics have survived largely intact, and they are comparable with those found at Pompeii or Sicily. A number of 1st century AD statues of the imperial Roman family, along with coins, glassware, tableware, bath accessories, amphorae and other fine artifacts have also been found in the domus.
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