EUROMED POSTAL - Traditional mosaics of the Mediterranean

EUROMED POSTAL – Traditional Mosaics of the Mediterranean

Roman mosaic from the villa maritima at Simonov Zaliv

Following the Roman conquest of Istria, much of its fertile land became part of large estates owned by wealthy and influential Romans. The coastal strip in particular was dotted with villae maritimae, seaside villas that served both as centres of economic activity and as residences, where their owners would retreat with family and guests during the summer to escape the heat and stifling air of the towns.

One of the finest villas on the Slovenian coast was built in the first century BC at Simonov Zaliv (St Simon’s Bay), near Izola. Its estate comprised fertile farmland, a well-protected harbour and a residential complex on a promontory commanding magnificent views of the cliffs, the open sea and the Alpine peaks.

Its prestigious rooms were paved with mosaics, most of them decorated, in keeping with the fashion of the day, with geometric designs composed of black and white stone tesserae. One of these mosaics was bordered by a guilloche, a detail of which is depicted on the stamp. Its refined design and superb workmanship bear witness both to the craftsman’s skill and to the sophisticated taste of the person who commissioned it.

The local inhabitants have always been aware of the remains of the villa lying beneath the sea and the surrounding fields. They were first mentioned in descriptions of Izola in the sixteenth century, while the first excavations took place just over a century ago. Today the excavated areas form part of an archaeological park, whose conserved and presented mosaics are among its principal attractions.

Andrej Preložnik, University of Primorska Science Centre, Simonov Zaliv Archaeological Park