The Mahdia shipwreck
The Mahdia shipwreck was off the coast of Tunisia and has been dated to 80 BC. It is thought that the ship was driven off course by a storm and that it was intended to reach Italy. This is because of the huge numbers of expensive items on board all of which would have been destined for Roman buyers. Among the cargo were marble and bronze sculptures, jewels, decorative items and lavish furniture. There were also several marble columns. One of the statues recovered from the wreck is of Dionysus the Greek god of wine, fertility and ecstasy.
The Mahdia shipwreck was off the coast of Tunisia and has been dated to 80 BC. It is thought that the ship was driven off course by a storm and that it was intended to reach Italy. This is because of the huge numbers of expensive items on board all of which would have been destined for Roman buyers. Among the cargo were marble and bronze sculptures, jewels, decorative items and lavish furniture. There were also several marble columns. One of the statues recovered from the wreck is of Dionysus the Greek god of wine, fertility and ecstasy.
