LATRINE WALL FRESCO, C. 190-210 CE. VIA GARIBALDI The Sovrintendenza or Superintendency that has responsibility for Roman antiquities in situ has just announced the restoration of a quite unusual site, a frescoed latrine, which was buried in 1605 by the huge retaining wall holding up the terrace on which the church of S. Pietro in Montorio stands, a work paid for by money left for the purpose by the unfortunate Beatrice Cenci, who was buried in the church. In 1963 a partial collapse of the retaining wall brought this public latrine to light -or at least part of it, as one whole wall had disappeared under the building works for the terrace. It seems to have had wooden seats, which have naturally disappeared, and a black and white geometric mosaic on the floor. The surprise is the the simple but graceful fresco work on the surviving walls. It has a white background and simple but perfect frame lines in red, yellow, and blue, with figures occupying the centre of the larger panels. Some are human, some avian. And, this being a public latrine, it's covered in scratched-in graffiti: a big phallus and balls with the Greek word "Gole" can be spotted in the upper register.

#FrescoFriday this week celebrates the restoration, and, hopefully, the reopening of an interesting site of the #Janiculan hill: a #Severan #latrine decorated with delicate #fresco work. 📸 Sovrintendenza Capitolina. #AncientBluesky 🏺