Big Game Hunt mosaic

The Big Game Hunt mosaic displays scenes of hunters and animal enclosures featuring various African animals such as lions, leopards, giraffes, and rhinoceroses. The scenes stretch across a long corridor showing in detail how the creatures were captured, transported, and held in cages.

The mosaic was created in the early fourth century AD for a wealthy Roman landowner. The work shows the artistic skill of the late Roman period and reveals Sicily's connection to the broader Roman world at that time.

The scenes reveal how wealthy Romans displayed their command over distant lands by collecting exotic animals for entertainment and spectacle. This way of showing off was a mark of power and status among the upper classes of the time.

Access is via elevated walkways that protect the original floor and let you view the details up close. The site lies outside Piazza Armerina and is open most days; wear comfortable shoes since there is a lot of walking involved.

The mosaics were buried underground after they were laid, preserving them for centuries beneath the soil. When uncovered, the colors and patterns remained remarkably vivid and clear, a rare example of ancient Roman art in near-original condition.