Nemi ships, Roman ships museum in Nemi, Italy
The Nemi ships are two Roman watercraft displayed in a museum in Nemi, Italy, originally built in the first century CE. The replicas show the scale of the originals, which measured about 70 meters (230 feet) in length and floated on Lake Nemi.
Caligula ordered the construction of both watercraft between 37 and 41 CE for the small volcanic lake, which held sacred meaning at the time. Mussolini authorized draining the lake in 1929 to recover the sunken vessels that had rested underwater for nearly 2000 years.
The vessels carried mosaic floors, marble columns and bronze fittings that show how Caligula used them for ceremonies and entertainment on the lake. Visitors today see replicas of these luxurious features that reveal how Roman emperors turned watercraft into floating palaces.
The museum sits on the shore of Lake Nemi and is best reached by car, as public transport in the area is limited. The exhibition occupies a purpose-built structure that displays the recovered fragments and models of the watercraft.
Both originals burned in a fire during 1944, leaving only fragments and casts to tell the story of these extraordinary watercraft. Lead pipes bearing Caligula's initials are among the few surviving remains available for visitors to see today.
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