Ancient garden from Babylon to Rome
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Fragment of wall painting with peacock and plants
 © Institute and Museum of the History of Science

Fragment of wall painting with peacock and plants

Painted plaster, 1st cent. A.D.
Rome, Esquiline, Horti Lamiani
Rome, Musei Capitolini, Centrale Montemartini, inv. AC 4857

The representation of such an elegant, exotic animal as the peacock, worthy of inhabiting royal gardens (paradeisoi), was a sign of the owner's wealth and aristocratic distinction.