Terme di Nannon

The Baths of Nannon preserve a Hellenistic chapter of ancient Kaulon. Their decorated pavement brings dragons, dolphins and a hippocamp into the architecture of a bathing complex.

Why it matters

The building records the adaptation of domestic space for bathing and its subsequent change of use. It belongs to the Greek city beneath modern Monasterace, rather than to a later Roman bath establishment.

What to notice

The mosaic combines marine creatures with floral ornament, including a rosette at the threshold. Its fantastic animals link the pavement with the wider decorative world of Hellenistic Kaulon.

Context and history

A dwelling was converted into baths in the fourth century BCE; the complex later acquired a religious function. The decorated floor came to light during excavations in 2012, with work continuing after the initial discovery to expose more of the composition.