Domvs Romana

Domvs Romana
Ruins of the Domus Romana
LocationMdina/Rabat, Malta
Coordinates35°53′7.1″N 14°24′0.3″E / 35.885306°N 14.400083°E / 35.885306; 14.400083
TypeDomus
Cemetery
Part ofMelite
History
MaterialLimestone and marble
Founded1st century BC
Abandoned2nd century AD
11th century AD
PeriodsRoman
Arab
Site notes
Excavation dates1881, 1920–1925
ArchaeologistsAntonio Annetto Caruana
Themistocles Zammit
ConditionRuins
OwnershipGovernment of Malta
ManagementHeritage Malta
Public accessYes
WebsiteHeritage Malta

The Domus Romana (Latin for "Roman House"), stylized as the Domvs Romana (after Latin's lack of distinction between u and v), is a ruined Roman-era house located on the boundary between Mdina and Rabat, Malta. It was built in the 1st century BC as an aristocratic town house (domus) within the Roman city of Melite. In the 11th century, a Muslim cemetery was established on the remains of the domus.

The site was discovered in 1892, and archaeological excavations revealed several well-preserved Roman mosaics, statues and other artifacts, as well as a number of tombstones and other remains from the cemetery. Since 1882, the site has been open to the public as a museum, which is currently run by Heritage Malta. It was erroneously called the Roman Villa when rediscovered as it was thought to be outside the city of Melite but on further examinations, it was clarified to be within city limits.[1]

  1. ^ "Zammit, V. (1999, June 27). Domus Rumana : ir-Rabat. Mument : Pizzikanna, pp. 3" (PDF).