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MISSING MOSAIC FROM THE BOAT OF CALIGULA DISCOVERED AND NOW USED AS A COFFEE TABLE

Published: 2025-08-07 21:03:52 Last Updated: 2025-08-08 10:47:45

A long-lost antique mosaic was found in a Manhattan apartment, where it was being used as a coffee table. This is one instance of life being stranger than fiction. The ancient Roman mosaic, made for Emperor Caligula's party ship, was miraculously recovered to its proper location. It would have stayed in the house of art dealer Helen Fioratti, who was unaware of its amazing beginnings, if not for a string of fortunate events.
Fioratti claims that in the 1960s, she and her spouse bought the mosaic from a family of Italian aristocrats. After that, they turned the item into their coffee table by mounting it on a platform. And until recently, the mosaic served that purpose. Not until Helen and a friend went to Professor Dario del Bufalo's book signing in 2013 did fate step in.
Stone sculpture specialist Del Bufalo was advertising his book Porphyry. He noticed a man and a lady looking through the book while he was signing copies. The man said, "Oh, Helen, see, that's your mosaic," when they reached a page featuring a picture of a Roman mosaic that had vanished during World War II. On 60 Minutes, Del Bufalo revealed to Anderson Cooper the entire tale of how this fortuitous meeting led to the rescue of this priceless relic.

The fact that the mosaic belonged to Caligula makes it even more significant. This contentious Roman emperor was assassinated at the end of his brief reign. He was mostly erased from history following his death, despite being described as "crazy" by others. However, two sizable ships were found in 1930, just outside of Rome, at the bottom of Lake Nemi. Caligula constructed several pleasure boats, the biggest of which served as a floating mansion. The mosaic and the remnants of these ships are housed in the same museum. Actually, one of the ships' dance floors was the mosaic.

Even though Fioratti no longer has her coffee table, she has an amazing story to share about giving it to the Italian authorities at their request. Fortunately for her, Del Bufalo has offered to have a copy made so she can keep admiring the piece at home.

Article Tags: Viral Coffee Table Party Boat Caligula Mosaic