A rare Egyptian blue ingot weighing 2.4 kilograms and measuring 15 centimeters in height was discovered by archaeologists at the Domus Aurea, Emperor Nero's grand palace built in 65 CE.
Egyptian blue, also known as calcium copper silicate or cuprorivaite, was developed more than 4,000 years ago in Egypt and Mesopotamia. As reported by Focus Online, it was produced artificially by heating a mixture of silica, limestone, copper-containing minerals, and sodium carbonate at very high temperatures. The vibrant blue pigment became a highly sought-after item among ancient artists.
It was used in wall decorations and frescoes. "The charm conveyed by the depth of the blue of this pigment is incredible," commented Alfonsina Russo, as reported by Archéologia Viva.
Among the pigments found at the Domus Aurea, there is a notable presence of yellow ochre in an amphora, as well as vessels containing red pigments such as realgar and red earth, according to ANSA. These findings reveal details about the way frescoes were created, nearly 2,000 years ago.
Artists appreciated Egyptian blue for its ability to create shadows, draw folds in garments, make eyes shine, and give artworks a luminous effect, according to Express.co.uk. In the Roman world, it was used in pictorial decorations either alone or in combination with other pigments to create specific chromatic varieties and sought-after effects of luminosity and brightness.
Historically, one of the major centers of production and export of Egyptian blue was Alexandria, Egypt, from where the pigment spread throughout the ancient Mediterranean, as noted by Archéologia Viva. Recent discoveries have identified other centers in Italy, such as Cuma, Liternum, and Puteoli, confirming the rarity of the discovery in Rome. Vitruvius described the preparation of Egyptian blue in De Architectura (Book VII, XI): "It was in Alexandria that the preparation of azure blue was first made, and Vestorius has since established a factory at Puteoli."
The Domus Aurea continues to surprise those who study it. The frescoes often depicted mythological scenes and imaginary animals. The strange motifs of the frescoes were first discovered in a sort of cave, which was actually the buried Domus Aurea. Upon their rediscovery, these artworks strongly influenced Renaissance artists.
The brilliant Egyptian blue connects the painters who decorated the palace and the painters who, with astonishment and emotion, rediscovered it in the Renaissance.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq