Marine Mosaic. House of Menander. 60×83 cm

Description

Handcrafted mosaic in the Roman style depicting a marine scene.

Dimensions: Height: 60 cm. Width: 83 cm.

Mosaics are pictorial works made with small pieces of stone, ceramic, glass, or similar materials of various shapes and colors, known as tesserae, joined with plaster or other binding agents to create decorative compositions, either geometric or figurative.

This mosaic is entirely handmade today, following the ancient Roman technique of “opus tessellatum,” a mosaic style using small cubic stone tesserae.

For its construction, 8 mm tesserae of natural stones and marble in various colors were used. Set on a mortar with a metal framework, it is ready to be hung on a wall or used as flooring.

This marine scene mosaic depicts two male figures swimming and battling sea monsters and fish. Inspired by the mosaics of the House of Menander in Pompeii.

The Romans adopted the art of mosaics from Greece and Asia Minor starting in the 2nd century BCE, after conquering these regions. This decorative art became so popular that it became an essential element in the decoration of Roman domus of the affluent classes.

The decorative motifs of Roman mosaics were very diverse, from geometric patterns to images representing natural elements such as trees, gardens, and landscapes, or scenes with human figures based on mythology or domestic life. Marine motifs were also very common, depicting scenes with sea monsters, various fish, as well as nereids, tritons, and deities like Neptune. This type of marine-themed mosaic was widely used in baths, both in private homes and in public baths and thermae.