In 1862 the "deities mosaic" was discovered in the Small Baths, in a room called "salle de repos", rest room, by the excavators (mosaic 8). The mosaic is for the most part polychrome. On one side is a narrow black-and-white zone with stars and squares. The room was entered from this side, from the west.
Click on the image to enlarge. Mosaic 8 (Von Gonzenbach 1961, nr. 5). Meas. 4.60 x 4.25 m. Photo: Von Gonzenbach 1961, Taf. 60.
Click on the image to enlarge. Mosaic 8. Dubois 2016, fig. 175.
Mosaic 8. Photo: Wikimedia, Leemburg-CH.In the four corners are heads representing the Four Seasons. Spring is wearing a blue-and-white diadem, Autumn a wreath of vine leaves and grapes. Half of the hooded Winter has been preserved, Summer is lost.
Head of the season Spring. Photo: Pro Urba.
Head of the season Autumn. Photo: Pro Urba.
Head of the season Winter. Photo: Pro Urba.Between the Four Seasons are hunting scenes. On one side is a man with three dogs hunting a boar. Another side has a panther amidst fleeing deer. The third side has a lion chasing two horses, and a bull facing a dog. On the fourth side only some fleeing animals are preserved.
A man with three dogs hunting a boar: right part. Photo: Pro Urba.
A man with three dogs hunting a boar: left part. Photo: Pro Urba.
A lion chasing two horses: right part. Photo: Pro Urba.
A lion chasing two horses: left part. Photo: Pro Urba.
A bull facing a dog. Photo: Pro Urba.
Fleeing deer. Photo: Von Gonzenbach 1961, Taf. 64.The Four Seasons and the animals form the frame of thirteen octagonal medallions. Between the medallions are braids and black-and-white triangles. Next to each side are two vegetative motifs.
Details of the braids, triangles, and two of the vegetative motifs. Photos: Pro Urba.Each of he four corner medallions contains a Nereid and either a Triton, half man half sea creature, or a Sea Centaur, half man half sea creature, with hooves. One of the Nereids is sitting on a sea horse, the others rest on the body of the Triton or the Sea Centaur. One of the Nereids holds a veil over her head, the others have a sceptre or thyrsus rod. The Sea Centaurs hold a rudder, the Tritons a horn and a dish.
Click on the image to enlarge. Details of the Nereids, Tritons and Sea Centaurs. Photos: Pro Urba.in the centre of the top row we see Ganymedes, holding a shepherd's crook, in the claws of an eagle, the animal of Jupiter. The beautiful young shepherd Ganymedes was abducted by Jupiter and taken to Mount Olympus, where he became the official cup bearer of the gods. In the centre of the bottom row is the kneeling Narcissus, holding a mantle, falling in love with his own reflection in a pool of water (his own face is clearest when looked at from the right). Realizing that his love could not be returned, he turned into the flower that bears his name. The suggestion that we see Hylas and a nymph has been convincingly refuted by von Gonzenbach.
Detail of Ganymedes and the eagle. Photo: Wikimedia, Leemburg-CH.
Detail of Narcissus. Photo: Pro Urba.The second row has depictions of Sol in a four-horse chariot (quadriga) and of Luna in a chariot drawn by two horses (biga). On the head of Sol are sun rays, on the head of Luna is the crescent moon surrounded by a nimbus.
Detail of Sol. Photo: Pro Urba.
Detail of Luna. Photo: source unclear.In the medallions of the third row are Saturnus, Venus, and Mars. The bearded Saturnus, with a mantle over his head, is sitting on a small table. In his left hand is a small harp. The table is carried by two winged male figures, possibly Notus and Zephyrus, gods of the south wind and west wind. Venus is in the centre of the mosaic. Like Saturnus she is sitting on a small table, this time carried by two winged Erotes. In her right hand is a mirror, with her left hand she holds her mantle. Mars, with helmet, is sitting in a large chair. With his left hand he holds a shield,, with his right had a lance. Behind the chair are a winged Victoria and possibly another Victoria.
Detail of Saturnus. Photo: Pro Urba.
Detail of Venus. Photo: Paunier et al. 2016, fig. 687.
Detail of Mars. Photo: Wikimedia, Leemburg-CH.The fourth row has depictions of Jupiter and Mercurius. Jupiter is carried by an eagle. In his left hand is a sceptre, on his right arm rests a bolt of lightning. Mercurius, with wings on his head, is riding a ram. With his right hand he holds a money pouch (marsupium), with his left hand a herald's staff (caduceus).
Detail of Jupiter. Photo: source unclear.
Detail of Mercurius. Photo: Pro Urba.The seven deities are planetary deities, representing the days of the week: Sol Sunday, Luna Monday, Mars Tuesday, Mercurius Wednesday, Jupiter Thursday, Venus Friday, Saturnus Saturday (in French: dimanche, lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi). The Severan date of the mosaic brings to mind the Septizodium in Rome, related to the planets and the Zodiac. The theme of the mosaic might be described as the life cycle in which love leads to a happy eternal life after death. The life cycle is depicted through the Four Seasons in the corners of the frame and through the days of the week (it is difficult not to think here of the "rustic procession mosaic", in which the months seem to have been depicted). Life and death are reflected by the hunting scenes in the frame. Venus, in the centre, represents love. The Nereids, Tritons and Sea Centaurs in the corners may be seen as the "marine thiasus", a wedding procession linked to Venus. Narcissus embodies the absence of love and failed love, Ganymedes true love and the success of love.
[16-Mar-2024]
