Nile mosaic of Palestrina

The mosaic, with an arch-headed framing that identifies its original location as flooring an apse in a grotto, features detailed depictions of Ptolemaic Greeks, Aethiopians in hunting scenes, and various animals of the Nile river.

[5] [6] [7] [8] Discovered at an unspecified date in the second half of the sixteenth century, the mosaic was examined in 1614 (with copious sprinklings of water to enliven its colored images) by Federico Cesi, the founder of the Accademia dei Lincei, who came to Palestrina on the occasion of his marriage to Artemisia Colonna.

About a decade later, the mosaic was purchased by Cardinal Andrea Peretti (bishop of Palestrina from 624 to 626), who had it detached, divided into square fragments and transferred to Rome.

He then arranged for it to be relocated back to Palestrina, but during transport the mosaic work, placed on wagons to the contrary, suffered such damage that it had to be restored again by the Caiandra who avvaise the panels executed by Cassiano Dai Pozzo.

[10] When first noticed shortly before 1507 by Antonio Volsco, a humanist in the circle of Pomponio Leto, the mosaics were still in situ among the vestiges of Sulla's sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia.