DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Kołątaj, Wojciech: Kom el-Dikka: preservation work, 1998/99
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41274#0023
ALEXANDRIA
EGYPT
THE ROMAN MOSAICS PROJECT
The four mosaics (panels with representa-
tions of birds, a rosette, a panther and the
opus sectile pavement) selected for this proj-
ect belonged to an Early Roman villa (1st-
2nd cent. AD) situated in the Roman resi-
dential quarter, in the southeastern corner
of the site (close to Saphia Zaghloul street)
{Fig. 1, 2). The mosaics, which display dif-
ferent subjects and techniques of execu-
tion, and which testify to subsequent phas-
es of occupation, are located c. 4.5 m above
sea level. They were first excavated in the
1970s, protected provisionally and cov-
ered.2) The present project entailed the
conservation of the mosaics, partial re-
building of enclosing walls, and erection of
a specially designed shelter over the
mosaics (15 x 12 m) complete with an
access path to the building and informa-
tion displays for the public.
The present work provided an opportu-
nity for a thorough study of the full archae-
ological context of the mosaics and a clari-
fication of the villa plan and of the rela-
tions between neighboring structures
{Fig. 3). Moreover, the triclinium (main
hall, 7.5 x 6 m) was cleared in its full
extent. It was sumptuously decorated with
a multicolored opus sect ile pavement that,
although fragmentarily preserved, could be
reconstructed theoretically. The design was
purely geometrical and the imprints of
marble tiles left in the bedding gave an
idea of the pattern.
In room a-6, immediately below the
black-and-white geometrical mosaic (this
mosaic was lifted and transferred to the
stores), yet another panel was found. This
well preserved mosaic is composed of
a central element surrounded by a wide
border that features a geometric design
made of overlapping black and white
squares and circles. The central element
(1.5 x 1.5 m) is decorated with an acanthus
scroll framing a small panel (0.5 x 0.5 m)
with a panther represented. The panel is
made of extremely fine tesserae (2-3 mm).
The new discoveries imposed substan-
tial changes of the original shelter design.
The shelter, which had to be extended to
the west and south, was designed as a kind
of glass case inserted among existing walls
of the Byzantine buildings B and F. The
gable roof of the shelter was covered with
beige-colored corrugated iron sheets, ther-
mally insulated with styrofoam. On the
south, the trusses of the gabled roof rest on
a reinforced concrete beam supported by
four reinforced concrete pillars (measuring
0.50 x 0.25 x 5.1 m) and on the north on
pillars and a steel beam. The supporting
structure is entirely hidden behind the
Byzantine walls.
A walkway, suspended a meter above
the mosaic floors, permits viewing of the
exposition. The area around the shelter was
re-arranged. New slopes were landscaped
and a modern water supply system was
installed permitting proper care of the
greenery that will be introduced in the
next season. The ancient sewage system
running along street R 4 and two ancient
wells located to the east were cleared and
successfully adapted for drainage purposes.
Along the southern limits of the site (close
to the Fire Brigade station) a screening
wall has been built. This wall, some 42 m
long and 3 m high, protects the access path
leading from the Theater to the shelter
from constant littering.
2) Cf. M. Rodziewicz, "Un quartier d'habitation greco-romain a Kom el-Dikka", ET IX (1976), 169-210.
21
EGYPT
THE ROMAN MOSAICS PROJECT
The four mosaics (panels with representa-
tions of birds, a rosette, a panther and the
opus sectile pavement) selected for this proj-
ect belonged to an Early Roman villa (1st-
2nd cent. AD) situated in the Roman resi-
dential quarter, in the southeastern corner
of the site (close to Saphia Zaghloul street)
{Fig. 1, 2). The mosaics, which display dif-
ferent subjects and techniques of execu-
tion, and which testify to subsequent phas-
es of occupation, are located c. 4.5 m above
sea level. They were first excavated in the
1970s, protected provisionally and cov-
ered.2) The present project entailed the
conservation of the mosaics, partial re-
building of enclosing walls, and erection of
a specially designed shelter over the
mosaics (15 x 12 m) complete with an
access path to the building and informa-
tion displays for the public.
The present work provided an opportu-
nity for a thorough study of the full archae-
ological context of the mosaics and a clari-
fication of the villa plan and of the rela-
tions between neighboring structures
{Fig. 3). Moreover, the triclinium (main
hall, 7.5 x 6 m) was cleared in its full
extent. It was sumptuously decorated with
a multicolored opus sect ile pavement that,
although fragmentarily preserved, could be
reconstructed theoretically. The design was
purely geometrical and the imprints of
marble tiles left in the bedding gave an
idea of the pattern.
In room a-6, immediately below the
black-and-white geometrical mosaic (this
mosaic was lifted and transferred to the
stores), yet another panel was found. This
well preserved mosaic is composed of
a central element surrounded by a wide
border that features a geometric design
made of overlapping black and white
squares and circles. The central element
(1.5 x 1.5 m) is decorated with an acanthus
scroll framing a small panel (0.5 x 0.5 m)
with a panther represented. The panel is
made of extremely fine tesserae (2-3 mm).
The new discoveries imposed substan-
tial changes of the original shelter design.
The shelter, which had to be extended to
the west and south, was designed as a kind
of glass case inserted among existing walls
of the Byzantine buildings B and F. The
gable roof of the shelter was covered with
beige-colored corrugated iron sheets, ther-
mally insulated with styrofoam. On the
south, the trusses of the gabled roof rest on
a reinforced concrete beam supported by
four reinforced concrete pillars (measuring
0.50 x 0.25 x 5.1 m) and on the north on
pillars and a steel beam. The supporting
structure is entirely hidden behind the
Byzantine walls.
A walkway, suspended a meter above
the mosaic floors, permits viewing of the
exposition. The area around the shelter was
re-arranged. New slopes were landscaped
and a modern water supply system was
installed permitting proper care of the
greenery that will be introduced in the
next season. The ancient sewage system
running along street R 4 and two ancient
wells located to the east were cleared and
successfully adapted for drainage purposes.
Along the southern limits of the site (close
to the Fire Brigade station) a screening
wall has been built. This wall, some 42 m
long and 3 m high, protects the access path
leading from the Theater to the shelter
from constant littering.
2) Cf. M. Rodziewicz, "Un quartier d'habitation greco-romain a Kom el-Dikka", ET IX (1976), 169-210.
21