Uncovering Medusa: Ancient Mosaics Revealed.
Archaeologists excavating the Villa of the Antonines, a villa used by ancient Roman emperors in Italy, have uncovered two mosaics depicting the Greek mythological figure Medusa. The mosaics likely date to the second century A.D. and were found in a circular room of the villa. It is still unclear what the room was used for and why it contained Medusa mosaics. The Antonine dynasty ruled the Roman Empire between the reigns of Emperors Antoninus Pius and Commodus. The villa is immense and even has what appears to have been an amphitheater used by Emperor Commodus for gladiator practice and the killing of wild beasts.