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What a wonderful piece if tourist advertising! Note how they selected the mosaic of the bikini girls to illustrate the text.

Yes, this villa is well worth a stop on one's tour of Sicily. Originally built for some governor or other high official, its state of preservation owes much to being buried for hundreds of years under half a mountain following an earthquake. Subsequently, locals helped themselves to some of the more easily retrieved remains to adorn their own gaffs. One example on the hillside opposite the entrance incorporates some of the villa's columns.

Whether this is the best villa in Europe appears to be something of a cheap marketing boast. The mosaics are impressive, but discussing them with one of the site's guides, she was jealous of the quality and quantity of mosaics found in Britain. Apparently, we are much better at discovering these things, preserving them from the light-fingered and the quality is generally better. Despite their superficial appeal, she reckoned that the villa's owner was a cheapskate, effectively calling in any old floor-layers from the region to get the place decorated quickly rather than let a master craftsman take his time.

Ancient and Medieval History / Re: Aphrodite's Throw

Last post by Jim Webster - Today at 07:56:21 AM

I wondered about that. Here's a picture showing 'prepared' knuckle bonesYou cannot view this attachment.

Ancient and Medieval History / Re: Aphrodite's Throw

Last post by Keraunos - Today at 07:03:17 AM

This set me thinking whose knucklebones were used in the game, perhaps those of a recently deceased foe or a revered aunt? I was disappointed to find that it is sheep bones that are used (handy if in Wales

). I have never handled such a bone and, from the photographs, find it hard to see that there is an even chance of each of the four faces coming up on a roll.