Title: Unearthing an Extraordinary Piece of Rare "Egyptian Blue" in Nero's Palace
Uncovering a treasure trove of color in Rome, archaeologists have unearthed a hefty chunk of an ancient synthetic pigment, commonly known as "Egyptian Blue". This remarkable find, weighing over 5 pounds, was unearthed during excavations at the Domus Aurea, Emperor Nero's extravagant imperial residence. Announcing the discovery on their Facebook page, the Colosseum Archaeological Park elicited awe over the pigment's rich blue hue, affirming the grandeur of the palace's decorative art.
Two vessels, presumably used for processing pigments during construction, yielded an assortment of colorful substances. Among them was an amphora filled with yellow ocher, miniature jars containing red pigments like realgar and red ocher, and, most intriguingly, a mammoth ingot of Egyptian blue. Unlike its yellow and red counterparts, this synthetic pigment is achieved by blending limestone, chemical compounds, and copper-containing minerals. It boasts a long and storied history, dating back over 5,000 years in ancient Egypt. In Roman times, production shifted to southern Italy, making it the oldest synthetically-produced color known to scientists.
Unusual in size, the recent Egyptian blue find towers over the commonly discovered remnants. Derived from ancient Pompeii sites, these traditional Egyptian blue pieces usually manifest as powder or tiny spheres. The enormity of this discovery breaks the mold, with the ingot weighing a whopping 2.4 kilograms (5.3 pounds).
A relic of luxury and wealth, Egyptian blue was popular among the elite. Its use in the Domus Aurea supports this notion, underscoring the refinement and expertise of the artisans tasked with decorating this opulent complex. The prominence of Egyptian blue suggests that the artists and artisans working on the Colosseum-adjacent palace had access to premium pigments, critical for creating the intricate artifacts adorning its rooms.
Traditionally, archaeologists believed that the recipe for Egyptian Blue was lost after the fall of the Roman Empire, only to be rediscovered in the early 1800s by chemist Humphry Davy. Contrary to this supposition, a 2020 study sheds new light on the subject, revealing that renowned Italian Renaissance painter Raphael utilized the pigment in his 1512 fresco, "Triumph of Galatea". The study challenges the assumption that the recipe had indeed been lost, connecting modern artists and ancient civilizations through a shared passion for vibrant blues.
Regardless of its disappearance in the medieval period, Egyptian Blue blazed a trail in pigment technology, providing a stable, long-lasting blue dye that was previously elusive. Imbued with significance in both art and archaeological history, this synthetic pigment continues to inspire artists and art historians across centuries.
The discovery of this large Egyptian blue pigment ingot opens up new possibilities for future research in pigment technology. With the rediscovery of its use by Raphael in the 1512 fresco "Triumph of Galatea", it's clear that the craft of creating this vibrant blue color has a rich and enduring history in the world of art.
Advancements in science and technology have allowed modern chemists to understand and replicate the process of creating Egyptian blue, preserving its legacy while also paving the way for the development of more advanced synthetic pigments in the future.
