The Mosaics of the Roman Villa of São Simão, Penela, Portugal

Abstract

The Roman Villa of São Simão, part of the ancient municipium of Conímbriga, in the province of Lusitania, is located in the area correspondent to the churchyard, public road and lands adjacent to the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace, in São Simão, within the fertile valley of the Dueça River, in the municipality of Penela, district of Coimbra. The mosaic pavements uncovered in 2001 together with the newly discovered mosaics identified in 2015 and the remaining set of in stucco wall coverings reveal an impressive occupation whose study reinforces and brings new information about the Roman rural rule of this territory. A preliminary study of the mosaic pavements is presented taking into consideration the decorative motifs depicted, the state of conservation and the interventions made in situ during the archaeological excavation.

Keywords

• mosaic
• villa
• s. simão
• conservation
• excavation