Roman, the Levant, Imperial Period, ca 3rd to 5th century CE. A gorgeous and massive section of a floor mosaic with thousands of colorful tesserae squares. The tesserae are arranged in geometric schemes in hues of rusty orange, rosy-pink, beige, blue-gray, black, and yellow. The arrangement is a series of squares and rectangles that create a star and cruciform shape. The patterning is like a quilt, with these interlocking symmetrical motifs. This example is abstract in its intention and presents the ancients' keen eye for design using a warm color palette! Size: 59.25" L x 36.25" W (150.5 cm x 92.1 cm)
In the Roman provinces of the ancient Near East and Levant, mosaics developed as a popular art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements - of which many embellished public baths. Popular mosaic themes from this region were often mythological or religious scenes, depicting gods and goddesses; however, sometimes mosaics were created to fit the theme of a building or room.
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired ca. 2005; ex-Knox Artifacts Gallery, Scottdale, Arizona, USA
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#166698
Condition
All the mosaic tesserae are ancient. Set in a modern matrix and wooden frame. Some expected nicks to tesserae and some tiles are lost; however, the vast majority of the composition has survived. Losses to edge corners of matrix. Some fissures to the matrix as shown.