One of the most unprecedented finds in archaeology records has been found in a Roman historical site (Image: Parco archeologico del Colosseo)
working at Emperor Nero’s grand palace in , known as Domus Aurea, uncovered a rare and rather big Egyptian blue ingot.
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was a Roman emperor, reigning from AD 54 until his death in AD 68.
Known as the “Golden House” of Emperor Nero, the Domus Aurea has never ceased to amaze, with this new discovery being hailed as one of the greatest finds, able to shed light on the artistic workings of his time.
Egyptian blue, also known as calcium copper silicate or cuprorivaite, is a pigment first developed in Egypt and Mesopotamia more than 4,000 years ago. It was used also in ancient Rome, with Romans calling it caeruleum.
The ingot found at the Domus Aurea was the star of the discovery, which also included the finding of yellow ochre pigments in an amphora and other shades of red such as realgar and red earth.
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The discovery of the Egyptian blue ignot has been jailed as remarkable (Image: Parco archeologico del Colosseo)
This remarkable and rare artifact also sheds light on the advanced techniques and artistic sophistication involved in the palace’s many lavish decorations.
This extraordinary find measures 5.9 inches in height and weighs an impressive 5.29 pounds. Its presence at the imperial residence suggests a high degree of specialisation used back then among the artisans.
An ingot is a piece of relatively pure material that is cast into a shape suitable for further processing.
Most Egyptian blue pigments are found in smaller fragments or often in powdered form, such as those found at Pompeii.
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Yellow ochre pigments contained in an amphora (Image: Parco archeologico del Colosseo)
To create this magnificent blue, a process would take place involving heating at high temperatures a mixture of limestone, copper-containing minerals, silica and sodium carbonate at high temperatures.
The vibrant blue that was then produced became a highly sought-after item among ancient artists.
So much so that this pigment grew esponentially in popularity, spreading across the Mediterranean and later becoming a cornerstone of decoration among the Romans.
Egyptian blue was a firm favourite among some of the best artists of that time, who hailed the pigment for its ability to create shadows, folds in garments, glow highlights in eyes and its all-round luminous effect it gave to artwork.
This incredible artefact discovery is now considered to be one of the oldest and also the most precious pigments of the ancient world.
This Egyptian blue ingot find connects two crucial periods in art history: the Renaissance revival of its techniques and the grandeur of the Roman Empire.