Domus of the Stone Carpets

The floor mosaic had the function of identifying spaces: the most important rooms were often decorated with an ‘emblem’, i.e. a figurative mosaic. Executed in workshops and laid within the space dedicated to it, it was characterised by a precise and refined use of tesserae, often in precious materials. The Dance of the Genii of the Seasons is unique. They are male figures dancing in a circle, according to a still pagan conception of time seen as an eternal circularity. There is winter covered with a green cloak and slippers on their feet. Autumn, with its back to us, wears a banquet crown. Spring, with its headdress of roses and green leaves, wears a rose robe. Summer is unfortunately ruined, but probably had its head girded with ears of corn. The bodies are dynamic, casting shadows. Beating out the rhythm is Time: a musician plays an instrument, the syrinx, in precious gold tiles.

This large room welcomed the visitors waiting to be received by the master of the house. It is a large square room, with a ‘carpet’ of concentric square frames criss-crossed by a labyrinth of weaves, shapes and colours. The colours of the marble tesserae are subdued: white and red dominate. A large circle is inscribed in the central square, within which a rose window stands out, surrounded by shell-like knots and fillings. In the segments, between the large central square and the inscribed decorated circle, appear four vases, called cantharoi, from which four heart-shaped leaves emerge.

The room is decorated with circles inscribed with large flowers with four petals, inside which is a lozenge motif. It in turn encloses decorative elements in knots. It is the so-called Gordian knot. It is named after Gordianus, a peasant from Lycia who became king by fulfilling the prophecy of the oracle of the city of Telmissus. It predicted that the first man to enter the city on an ox-drawn chariot would become king. The sacred chariot was thus tied by Gordius to a pole, wrapping a rope of dogwood bark in an unbreakable knot. In Christianity, this depiction symbolised the indissoluble union between the soul of man and God.

Between room 1 and the atrium we find the dividing threshold emphasised by an astragal decoration. It is a refined alternation of shapes defined by warm red and white tiles, bordered by black tiles defining contours and details. The astragalus was also a kind of dice, used by the ancients for playing games. Made from the small bone of the same name in the legs of goats, sheep or rams, each side of the talus had a value. In play jargon, the dog’s throw was the one with the lowest score, while the luckiest was called the Venus shot.