Where our history will lead us, no one can say…

#aurigae
#crypticmacho

MOSAIC EMBLEMA WITH CHARIOTEER AND HORSE, 193-235 CE. PALAZZO MASSIMO ALLE TERME This magnificent emblema comes from a cubiculum in the gigantic villa of the Severan emperors at Baccano at the fifteenth mile outside Rome along the via Cassia. As it was excavated unscientifically during the exciting period of 1869-1870, we don't know the configuration of this floor, only that it had four emblemata, each representing one factio or team of charioteers in the Circus Maximus. This chap is driving for the factio albata, the Whites, as we can tell from his doublet which is made of closely woven white ribbons. He holds his roan horse by his reins, and faces us directly in his quadrigaria or short tunic. He holds a whip in one hand and wears a grey helmet. The horse is caparisoned with two ribands and looks well up to his task of winning races. These emblemata are made with extraordinary skill, a true high point of Roman mosaic work in the very difficult style of opus vermiculatum.

#MosaicMonday finds us looking at a masterpiece of #mosaic work from the area of #Rome, one of four #aurigae or charioteers in an #emblema from a cubiculum of the #Severan #imperial #villa at #Baccano just outside the urbs. The shading using the minimum of #tesserae is amazing. #AncientBluesky 🏺