POLYCHROME EMBLEMA FROM TOR MARANCIA, C. 150 CE. VATICAN MUSEUMS This is how we do it Roman-style. From a dig in 1817-1823 on the estate of Tor Marancia this small-tessera mosaic emerged from the ruins of a C2 CE villa. The mosaic begins with a nested series of black and white frames, beginning on the outside edges with a lotus-like pattern in white formed by overlapping half-circles. Further in, a braid of guilloches surrounds a white frame and then a checkerboard pattern. Hanging from the inmost frame are a plucked fowl and a fish, with a large bundle of dates from a palm next to them at right. Below, a bucket of seafood stands next to another fish, and at lower right, a large bundle of, what else, asparagus. This vivid collection of food represents the intangible spirit of xenia, the love of the stranger, of the guest, which made a good centrepiece for a dining room.
For #MosaicMonday this week, an #emblema from the #triclinium of the villa of Numisia #Procula at #TorMarancia along the via #Ardeatina, c. 150 CE. The #polychrome centre is full of delicious delicacies representing the host's #xenia or guest-welcoming. #AncientBluesky 🏺
