How about we unearth the secrets of the Yacimiento romano de Carabanchel together? This Roman site whispers tales of ancient Madrid. It challenges the long-held beliefs about the city’s origins. The Yacimiento romano de Carabanchel suggests a Roman past. It potentially predates the Arabic influences.
The most significant find here is the Mosaico de Carabanchel. This mosaic dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries AD. Today, it is preserved in the Museo de San Isidro. It is fragmented into three pieces.
Imagine a luxurious Roman dining room. This mosaic likely adorned the floor of a wealthy home’s triclinium. This is where the family would host banquets. The gatherings were probably in honor of the god Bacchus. The Mosaico de Carabanchel depicts Bacchic themes. It also shows the four seasons. The seasons are symbolized through plant cycles.
The discovery of the Mosaico de Carabanchel fueled a hypothesis. It suggests that the Eugenia de Montijo site was more than a villa. Some even proposed it could be the Roman settlement of Miaccum.
The exact discovery date of the Mosaico de Carabanchel remains unknown. Most sources say it was the late 18th century. Some say around 1790. This happened during construction work on the Montijo estate. Other accounts place the discovery later in 1860. Public knowledge of the mosaic came in 1819. Antonio Merino and Francisco Antonio González reported it to the Real Academia de la Historia. 2019 marked the bicentennial of this public announcement.
The Mosaico de Carabanchel represents late antique Roman visual culture. It was initially dated to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. This was due to the frequent depiction of the four seasons. Similar mosaics were found elsewhere in Hispania. The trend shifted toward the 5th century.
Prospero Merimee helped with the mosaic’s early restorations. The mosaic was then kept in a small house on the Montijo estate. Manuel del Palacio Freire-Duarte painted an 1896 watercolor of the mosaic. It showed Eugenia de Montijo’s restoration of the upper and lower left fragments. This restoration may explain the mosaic’s reinforced edges. They were made of lime, ceramic, and marble tiles.
In 1979, the Mosaico de Carabanchel was divided. It was then restored due to its poor condition. Santiago Ferrete Ponce restored it again in 1982. It was then displayed at the Museo Municipal. Cement and sand had been used to support the fragments. This caused conservation problems. The cement deteriorated and penetrated the tiles. This obscured their appearance. It caused detachment and blistering.
Cotton cloths soaked in glue were applied to loose tiles. Polyvinyl acetate was injected to keep the tiles in place. Iron staples secured cracks on the back. Oxalic acid in low concentrations removed calcareous deposits. The mosaic was cleaned with water and a soft bristle brush. The mosaic was reintegrated into three fragments.
The latest restoration took place in 1997. This happened at the Museo de los Orígenes de Madrid. Concrete supports were replaced with lighter ones. The Mosaico de Carabanchel now resides in the Museo de San Isidro.
The mosaic’s central part is poorly preserved. You can see the head. Also the neck and front legs of a possible tiger. Or maybe a panther with a collar. A human hand holds the collar. This hand likely represents the god Bacchus. The upper right corner of the mosaic is fully intact.
The mosaic measures 5.50 meters by 4.30 meters. It consists of limestone, ceramic, marble, and glass paste tiles. The colors are red, pink, ochre, blue, black, green, and white. The ornamental pattern is simple. It has nine sections. Five panels show scenes. Four panels show decorations.
The upper right fragment shows autumn. This is depicted through symbols such as bunches of grapes. A dark-haired woman wears a crown of vine shoots and grape bunches. She wears a Roman tunic. She also wears a green stone pendant.
Dry branches evoke winter in the upper left fragment. In the lower right, sprouting buds symbolize spring. A panther led by a hand appears in the central part. This figure is attributed to Bacchus. He is often shown riding a panther. Some suggest it could be Ariadne. Or it could even be a Dionysiac genius.
The Mosaico de Carabanchel uses the opus tessellatum technique. This involves inserting tiles larger than 4 millimeters directly. The Mosaico de Carabanchel shows the beliefs of Carabanchel’s Roman inhabitants. The images reflect Greek mythological legends. They portray gods like Bacchus. Swastikas were also used as decoration. This pattern was common throughout the Roman Empire. It originated in ancient Greece.
The faces on the mosaic are the earliest known depictions of Carabanchel residents.
In conclusion, the Yacimiento romano de Carabanchel and its Mosaico offer a window into Roman life. It gives us a glimpse into the art, beliefs, and daily life of ancient Madrid. This discovery reshapes our understanding of the city’s origins.