4 Captivating Depictions of Ancient Runners
These will make you appreciate the fact that runners started wearing clothing!
Running is one of the most ancient sports, so it’s no surprise that there’s a lot of wonderful ancient artwork depicting runners.
Running With Dumbbells
You’d be forgiven for thinking that this mosaic is a recent work of art. After all, the depicted woman looks completely modern, from her athletic wear to her dumbbells. However, the mosaic actually dates all the way back to the fourth century!
The mosaic was discovered at the Villa Romana del Casale, an ancient Roman palace located in Sicily. Excavations of the palace have revealed an incredibly large collection of stunning and well-preserved mosaics, including the running woman above.
The villa contains such a treasure trove of art that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site in 1997. According to UNESCO, it contains “the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world.”
Runners in a Stadion
