In a move that has drawn praise from British heritage experts, Italian conservators have restored the testicles of a 2,000-year-old bull mosaic in Pompeii. The original marble pieces, lost to time, were replaced with hand-carved replicas to reflect the artwork’s complete form. The mosaic, known as the ‘Battle of Alexander’ in the House of the Faun, depicts a charging bull with its sexual anatomy now fully intact.
Dr. Helena Carter, a historian at the University of Manchester, said: 'This is about preserving the integrity of the work. The bull’s strength and virility were central to its meaning in Roman society.
To leave it incomplete would be to censor history.' The restoration has sparked debate in Italy, with some questioning the need to highlight male anatomy. But for British conservationists, it is a victory for authenticity.
The cost of the restoration was covered by a private donor, and the mosaic is expected to draw renewed attention from tourists. The National Trust in the UK confirmed it has no plans to restore any missing ‘historical features’ on its properties, but the Pompeii project has set a precedent. 'We are not in the business of prudishness,' said a spokesperson.
'History should be seen as it was.
