Ancient Roman sailors had bowl-cut hairstyles and childlike faces – this is how a recently unearthed portrait of a naval officer in Italy has been described. 
Carved on a stone slab, the portrait was found 3 meters underwater near the Classe cemetery in Ravenna, a port city that housed the Adriatic fleet of the Roman Empire.
The marble slab, measuring 1 meter in length, dates back to the 1st century AD and features a hole at the top, originally intended for the ashes of the deceased soldier. According to the partially damaged inscription, the slab was commissioned by a man named Cocneus for Monus Capito – an officer who served on the galley named Aurata.
As a vital component of the Roman fleet, galleys were fast, lightweight, and maneuverable ships used to combat pirates in the Adriatic Sea – a constant threat to Roman merchant vessels.
“Finally, we know what an ancient Roman sailor looked like. While excavating, we also discovered other stone slabs, but all the individuals depicted were dressed in civilian attire with loose cloaks,” said archaeologist Maria Grazia Maioli.
Wearing a breast and back protective armor, a military skirt adorned with leather fringes, and specialized thick-soled sandals, Monus Capito was fully equipped. On his elaborately decorated belt hung a sharp short sword – the main weapon of the Roman navy in close-quarter battles. Monus Capito held a spear in his right hand. This weapon was extremely deadly because it featured a pointed tip capable of piercing shields or even injuring a man in armor.
“He also wore a long strap over his shoulder. It was not for holding weapons but merely served as a military ornament,” Maioli explained. The complete gear was fitting for a marine.
Considered a lower component of the armed forces, the Roman navy employed traditional combat methods. Galleys would approach enemy ships so that soldiers could board and engage in hand-to-hand fighting. Nevertheless, despite being fully armored and armed, Monus Capito did not appear fierce or imposing.
According to archaeologist Valentina Manzelli, the youthful expression of the soldier indicates the poor quality of the sculpture. “It is evident that the artist who carved this slab was not professional. But even though this is not an outstanding work, it holds immense significance. What makes it unique is its rich detail,” Manzelli noted.
The portrait of Monus Capito will be displayed at the Classe Archaeological Museum next month.
M.T. (according to Discovery)
