Fresco Naval Battle

A wall fragment/painting from the Royal Box of the theater at the Herodium.  It depicts a naval battle with two ships with sails billowing the wind.  On the deck are soldiers armed with shields and spears.  "The painting may represent the victory at Actium and possibly the beginning of Augustus's rule following the conquest of Egypt.  The choice of theme supports the possibility that the royal Room was decorated in anticipation of the visit of Marcus Agrippa, Augustus's second–­in–­command, in 15 BCE, since he was the general responsible for the victory."

"The walls of the Royal Room were decorated with wall paintings in the secco technique [painting on dry plaster] and stuccowork.  They were divided vertically by stuccowork pilasters and decorated with painted 'hanging pictures' that were suspended by imaginary 'strings' and 'nails.'  The pictures imitate windows with open shutters affording views of imaginary landscapes."

From the descriptions of the paintings in the Israel Museum.

To view the site of the Herodium Click Here.