MOSAIC FLOOR WITH CRUSTÆ, C1 BCE. SCAVI SOTTO S. CECILIA This complex site began as a domus in the C2-C1 BCE, and in the C2 CE an insula was built onto the domus, evidently a comfortable one as it had its own set of baths, much like the Caseggiato degli Aurighi at Ostia. There are mosaic floors at the C2 CE ground level but here we see a cut into that level which reveals a C1 BCE mosaic about 50 cm lower down. This mosaic, interrupted by a C2 CE wall, has a white background and a simple black frame. Within it at relatively even intervals are larger irregular coloured marble pieces known as crustæ. This style echoes the first mosaic pavement of the temple of Capitoline Jupiter, a marker of prestige. At the centre of the mosaic is a kantharos or vase in black tesseræ.

#MosaicMonday takes us into the confusing excavations under #SantaCecilia in #Trastevere to find this #mosaic floor from the C1 BCE, from a #domus on the site that was built over with an #insula in the C2 CE. It has a #kantharos at centre, but otherwise uses coloured #crustæ. #AncientBluesky 🏺