Sicily, the Mediterranean’s largest island
A mosaic on the floor of the room dubbed the “Chamber of the Ten Maidens” (Sala delle Dieci Ragazze), excavated in 1959-60. Informally called “the bikini girls”, the maidens appear in a mosaic artwork which scholars named Coronation of the Winner. The young women perform sports including weight-lifting, discus throwing, running and ball-games. A woman in a toga at far left is depicted with a crown in her hand; one of the maidens holds a palm frond.
Photo by Ludo Kuipers, Tue Oct 11, 1994