L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano MARIELLA RADAELLI W hen modern bikini hit the shelves in Paris in the summer of 1946, Mediterranean women quickly snatched up it. One year later the world's smallest bathing suit was introduced to the United States. Unleashed on the world, it conquered both America and Europe. A woman's love affair with it lasts for 71 years. Bikini never lost its allure. However, it sounds amazing that the two-piece's real inventor is not a French tailor, Louis Réard who also coined the name after the island Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific where that summer the United States con- ducted two atomic tests- Réard chose that name hoping the min- imalist swimsuit would elicit the s a m e s h o c k t h a t t h e a t o m i c bomb did… Oddly enough, the tiny swim- suit was already worn by Roman girls in the 4 th century and this particular free spirit of ancient Rome regarding female gar- ments is proven trough intrigu- ing mosaics in Piazza Armerina, Sicily. P i a z z a A r m e r i n a i n E n n a P r o v i n c e s t a n d s s o m e 7 2 1 meters above sea level atop one o f S i c i l y ' s m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r views. An outstanding UNESCO W o r l d H e r i t a g e s i t e i s 5 k m southwest of the town: Villa Romana del Casale, a supreme example of a luxury Roman villa that graphically illustrates the predominant social and econom- ic structure of its age. Its early 4th century mosaics are exceptional for their artistic quality, inventiveness and num- ber. An attraction for visitors all over the world, you can down- load its official guidebook for free at villaromanadelcasale.it S o m e o f t h e v i l l a ' s m o s t famous mosaics depict the peri- style and great hunt. The stun- n i n g w o r k s a l s o i n c l u d e t h e famed "Bikini Girls," a depic- tion of a group of young women wearing bandeau tops, bikini bottoms and even anklets that would look perfectly at home on t h e b e a c h e s o f S o u t h e r n California today. Y e t i t w a s a n c i e n t S i c i l y instead and the so-called bikini girls are ante litteram, Roman g y m n a s t s . W e a r i n g w h a t appears to be the very first ver- sion of the bikini, they are per- forming in an athletic contest and look very fit. The incredible s c e n e i s k n o w n a s t h e "Coronation of the Winner". S c h o l a r s n o w a g r e e t h a t t h e scene depicts an athletic compe- t i t i o n , a s a t t e s t e d t o i n f o u r sources, while previous theories f a v o r e d a b e a u t y c o n t e s t . Certainly, the sponsorship of female athletic contests would have been associated with only the absolute upper class of the Roman Empire. In this beautiful Sicilian villa, girls in subligar, as the Latin called women's briefs, partici- pated in number of activities s u c h a s l o n g j u m p i n g w i t h weights in their hands, playing handball, running and throwing the discus. What remains of this sumptu- ous villa shows the sophistica- tion and civilization of the rich in Roman times. Covering 4,000 square meters, it was built on a series of terraces with three major axes that offer the visitor spectacular views of the detailed m o s a i c f l o o r s . S c e n e s f r o m hunting, mythological tales, domestic life and exotic land- scapes all exhibit astonishingly r e a l i s t i c a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l . Artists from North Africa were e m p l o y e d t o c o m p l e t e t h e works. Several theories have been advanced about the probable identity of the luxuriant villa's f i r s t o w n e r . M a n y s c h o l a r s a s s e r t i t w a s M a x i m i a n u s H e r c u l e u s , D i o c l e t i a n ' s c o - Emperor from AD 286 to 305. The theory is supported by the presence of ivy leaves in many of the mosaics, a decorative ele- m e n t o f t e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h Maximilianus. His son and suc- cessor Maxentius continued the decoration, with Constantine tak- ing over upon Maxentius's death in 312. The vast patrician villa was a single-story building centered on t h e p e r i s t y l e , a r o u n d w h i c h almost all the main public halls, private quarters, baths and court- yards were organized. Entrance to the peristyle is via the atrium from the west, with thermal baths to the north- west, and service rooms and p r o b a b l e g u e s t r o o m s t o t h e n o r t h . T h e b a t h s c o m p r i s e d the calidarium, a large hot room with pools of water to humidify t h e a t m o s p h e r e , t h e lukewarm tepidarium, a large m e e t i n g p l a c e k n o w n a s the frigidarium and a natatio, an open-air swimming pool. There is also a huge basilica to the east. Here in his villa in the coun- t r y s i d e a m a n c o u l d p u r s u e the otium, a pause with the ease and leisure of inactivity and sheer indolence. He could read a book on the ancients and sleep or rest as his mood dictated while enjoying the fresh food of Sicily in great abundance. The owner was free from negotium, or pub- lic affairs and business. The pursuit of otium was a w a y o f l i f e f o r t h e l e i s u r e d Roman classes and gave birth to the classic Roman villa. The Villa Romana del Casale is one o f t h e b e s t e x a m p l e s i n t h e ancient Roman world due to its beauty and complexity. Sicilians were providers of grain for the ancient Romans. Over the centuries, the country- side of Piazza Armerina well represented the Sicilian granary, of which la masseria, a fortified large farm, is its symbol. Citrus and olive groves stretch into the d i s t a n c e a n d a b u n d a n t p i n e forests lend the air that unmis- takeable Mediterranean aroma. T h e d o w n t o w n o f P i a z z a Armerina is half medieval and half baroque. Its 17th-century Duomo is the most interesting of the baroque buildings. In August the lively Palio dei Normanni festival attracts many visitors. The stunning works of Villa Romana del Casale also include the famed "Bikini Girls", a depiction of a group of young women wearing bandeau tops, bikini bottoms and even anklets that would look perfectly at home on beaches of Southern California today. Piazza Armerina in Enna Province stands some 721 meters above sea level atop one of Sicily's most spectacular views. Photo by ggkuna ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES The Bikini girls, archeological gems of Piazza Armerina

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