In 1830 workers stumbled upon a mosaic near the village of Cormérod, a few kilometers to the south-east of Aventicum (Avenches VD). It surely comes from a villa, but nothing at all is known about the building. Some tiles and sherds were seen on the surface.
Click on the image to enlarge. The mosaic of Cormérod. Photo: Ducaté 2018, fig. 15.Only the right end of the mosaic was lost. Originally it measured 4.88 x 4.88 m. The round Cretan labyrinth is depicted in black and white. It is surrounded by a crenellated wall. The wall has four gates flanked by birds. The labyrinth has one entrance and one exit. In the centre is a polychrome tondo depicting Theseus fighting the Minotaurus. The mosaic was made in the late second or early third century. It is on display in one of the buildings of the Université de Fribourg.
Click on the image to enlarge. Theseus and the Minotaurus. Photo: Von Gonzenbach 1961, Taf. II.
Literature
Von Gonzenbach 1961, 96-99; Schwab 1965; Daszewski 1974; Ducaté 2018.
[11-Mar-2024]
