Muslim Tombstones

Excavations on the site by Sir Themistocles Zammit in 1920-25 revealed an extensive cemetery containing at least 245 burials. During the course of investigations, a large number of tombstones of a prismatic shape and bearing Nash or Kufic inscriptions were discovered along the tombs. These tombstones are of a type called mqabriyyah and seem to have originated in the Maghreb. The majority are carved out of the local Globigerina Limestone with scripts either carved or in low relief, but one example is made out of a grey-streaked white marble.

The Nash and Kufic scripts were usually reserved for passages from the Koran or for monumental inscriptions but their function became purely ornamental after the 12th century AD. Most inscriptions quote passages of the Koran, while others record the name of the deceased and the date of death.

Draped Female Statue

The statue of an unknown draped female figure is particular in that it is quite different from the statues found at the Domus. Its particular features probably place it in a time that is probably much earlier than the carving of the other marble statues. Although missing its head, the statue conserves traces of an elaborate hairstyle of the type commonly known as Egyptian wig due to its particular locks. The neck is also adorned with a heavy necklace showing ram’s heads and peacocks, all features that can somehow be associated with representations of the goddess Astarte or Isis. The provenance of this statue is still unknown but the earliest reference dates back to 1647 in Giovanni Francesco Abela’s book “Della Descritione di Malta”, in which he recalls that the statue once stood outside the gate of Mdina.

Baby Rattle

The fragments of a tiny bone rattle seem to have been discovered from within a cave in the area at the back of the Domus Romana. The cave lies in the vicinity of the poorer houses and seems to have been utilized as a rubbish dump. The rattle consists of three minute parts; two small flappers once attached by a cord to the main body and handle.

Hairpins

The collection includes numerous bone hairpins once used by Roman women to hold their normally elaborate hairstyle in place. Most pins have spherical knobs but some have been delicately carved with human heads that although minute, show an impressive amount of detail. Like today, hairstyles were given considerable importance by Roman women and fashion-keeping was as important as it is today. Hair was curled, braided or pinned up with the help of elaborate headdresses and pins of bronze, ivory or bone. One such hairstyle can be found in the head of a marble Maenad that is also on display.

Unguentaria and Balsamari

The Romans paid great attention to cleanliness and thus used various oils, perfumes and cosmetics in their daily life. These were normally considered as luxury goods and were often kept in a variety of glass and bone bottles normally called unguentari, balsamari and aryballi of which a considerable selection is on display at the Domus Romana. Glass was normally clear but is now greenish in colour because of various degrees of deterioration and faults in the original mixture. Blue, green and marbled glass was however also available.

Rython

The rython is a drinking vessel shaped in the shape of a horn and usually terminates in a complex figure representing a stylized animal. The one on display at the Domus Romana, the only one to have ever been found in Malta, has its end shaped to represent the head of a snail. The rython was often modelled off complex metal prototypes and was commonly found amongst Roman tableware. The rython was part of a Roman table game during which wine was poured through the funnel-like end of the vessel and the drink would have been consumed through the small hole making up the ‘mouth’ of the stylized head.

Glass Amphora

The glass amphora on display at the Domus is considered one of the highlights of the display. It has a height of 46.5 cm and its elongated body tapers down at the bottom to a spherical ‘knob’ at the very bottom. This amphora is of a rare typology and very few examples have been found in the Classical western Mediterranean with the exception of Pompeii. It probably once formed part of a Roman table set and was used for the storage of liquids such as wine. Jean Houel records that this ‘vase cineraire de verre’ was discovered in a catacomb where it was used as a cinerary urn, but Caruana states that it was recovered form the ruins of an ancient temple by the ditch of fort St Angelo in Vittoriosa.

Imperial Cycle

By far one of the most important find form the Domus is the set of at least three statues representing members of the Imperial family of Claudius. All three statues are of white marble probably coming from the Imperial quarries of Luna (Carrara) The first of the three is in fact a portrait of the emperor Claudius himself. This is considered to be one of the finest and most expressive portraits of the emperor who reign between AD 41 and Ad 54. The second statue is a portrait of a young girl wearing a distinctive hairstyle and probably represents Claudius’ daughter Claudia Antonia. The third statue is unfortunately headless but it certainly shows a young boy wearing a bulla; a spherical amulet worn by boys to ward off evil. It is thought that this statue represented Claudius’ young adopted son, Nero, who succeeded him in AD 54.
This cycle is not only important because it shows the wealth of the occupier of the house. It also shows that the owner wanted to distinctly connect himself with the Imperial family. It remains a fact that this is one of the very few imperial cycles to have ever been found in a domestic context throughout the empire.

The Peristyle Mosaic

The peristyle mosaic is one of the highlights of the visit. This consists of a mosaic of opus tesselatum in bands of red, white and black encasing a detailed 3-dimensional meander and a scroll motif (running dog). At the centre is an emblema in opus vermiculatum, depicting two pigeons perched on the rim of a bowl. Known as the Drinking Doves of Sosos, this representation originated form a second century BC painting by Sosos of Pergamon, but was then widely copied and widespread throughout the Empire.

Decorative Architecture

The peristyle, and without doubt various other parts of the house, were adorned by sophisticated decorative architecture. This courtyard was originally decorated by partly fluted Doric columns which sustained a full Doric entablature. They were carved from the local Globigerina Limestone and then covered with a fine lime plaster that was probably painted. Traces of paint show that at least one of the ovoli of the Doric cornice was painted over with the famous egg-and-dart motif.