Mallegni was able to determine the shape of the face, the length and width of the nose, mouth and eyes. Then, after making a cast and applying the necessary layers of muscle, he replicated all the contours and characteristics of the sailor. The face is the centerpiece of a traveling exhibition on life in ancient maritime Rome opening this weekend in Florence. The skeleton reveals a vigorous and strong sailor with a powerful chest. He was probably from Naples, as the clay containers found in the ship contain a distinctive type of sand that comes from the Bay of Naples.
Some scholars say the storm that killed the sailor was catastrophic in scale.
But he did not forget his dog, a basset hound who probably earned his food by keeping down rats attracted by jars full of grain, oil and wine. His loving gesture proved fatal. Trying to escape the fury of the sea, his dog in his arms, the sailor caught his foot in a rope. We found him hugging his dog. It was a scene I won't forget.