Bikini

• The Bikini is a women’s two piece swimsuit that has existed as early as 5,300 BCE, Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.
• Roman mosaics show women athletes wearing the Bikini as do Roman statues of the Goddess Venus. However, it is uncertain that Roman women in general wore them.

Examples

• The House of Julia in Pompeii
  • This held a statue of the Goddess Venus wearing a Bikini.
  • Several other statues of Venus wearing a Bikini were also found in Pompeii.
• Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily
  • Built during the time of Diocletian (286-305 CE), it contains a mosaic of ten women playing at various sports and athletics, all wearing Bikinis.

Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily