As the summer draws to a close, many of us are eager to enjoy some more bikini time before the cooler autumn weather arrives and we pack away our summer clothes. Interestingly, while the bikini is often thought to have been invented by Louis Réard in 1946, the garment actually goes back around 1700 years.
The Romans were pioneers in many things, including fashion. This is vividly illustrated in the mosaic tiles at the UNESCO World Heritage site “Villa Romana del Casale” in Sicily.
This grand imperial villa, dating back to 320-350 AD, was home to wealthy, possibly even imperial, members of the Roman Empire. Although it suffered damage, possibly from the Vandals and Visigoths, and saw use during the Byzantine and Arab periods, it was eventually abandoned in the 12th century after a landslide.
The villa was almost forgotten until the 19th century when fragments of mosaics and columns were discovered. Major excavations in the early 20th century uncovered 3000 square meters of mosaic flooring, along with wall mosaics, columns, statues, capitals, and coins.
Today, following extensive excavation and restoration, the site draws visitors worldwide. It is renowned for the richness and quality of its mosaics, which decorate nearly every room and are considered some of the finest in situ Roman mosaics.
In the Hall of the Ten Girls in Bikini (“Sala delle Dieci Ragazze in Bikini”), there is a mosaic depicting two rows of girls in bikinis, engaged in various exercises such as weight-lifting, discus throwing, running, and ball games. In the lower row, a girl in a toga crowns another girl, awarding her the palm of victory for her hoop exercises.
So, like our Roman predecessors, we need to keep active to look great in a bikini. So, get off your computer, head outside, and enjoy some physical activity while it’s still warm enough for bikinis!
suansuan