marble

A report of illegal digging on the rural edge of Rome has led archaeologists to one of the most striking recent discoveries in the city’s western countryside: a Roman imperial-period villa with mosaic floors, painted walls, and a white marble statue that may represent Silvanus, the rustic god of fields, woods, and agricultural life. This monumental discovery sheds new light on the life of elite Romans of the time and the rich history of the area. The villa was uncovered at Castel di Guido, a large agricultural estate west of Rome, in an area connected with ancient Lorium, a settlement and imperial property along the Via Aurelia. The discovery was made during investigations by the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma of