The glass sectilia from excavations of the Roman villa in Aiano-Torraccia di Chiusi (Siena, Tuscany)

This note presents, not a complete study, but an initial analysis of many pieces of glass paste sectilia, dating to the fourth and fifth centuries, that were found at the Roman villa excavated in Aiano (Siena, Tuscany). More than 1,600 fragments have been uncovered. They consist of small, square monochrome pieces in green or blue, extremely refined, that were part of representations of polychrome fish. A comparison with similar pieces found elsewhere suggests that the glass paste was probably made in Egypt and imported to Aiano as a luxury item. Unfortunately, these sectilia are preserved only in small fragments because the mosaics, together with other materials (marble, glass, and metals), were plundered and fused in a systematic process of reusing the building materials of the villa.