Pebbled mosaic floor of satyrs found in Greece

A pebbled mosaic floor with a central scene of two satyrs has been unearthed in Eretria, southeastern Greece. The floor is part of a house from the Late Classical period and dates to around the middle of the 4th century B.C.

Eretria was founded in the Greek Dark Ages, so early that it even ranks a mention in Homer’s Illiad as one of the cities who sent ships to fight against Troy. Thanks to its success in trade, it was a regional power by the 8th century B.C., controlling Aegean islands, territories in central Greece and founding colonies on the northern Aegean coast, mainland Italy and Sicily. The prosperity of the city was reflected in the luxury of the private homes that began the appear in Eretria in the 4th century B.C. They were designed in the classical style with a central peristyle courtyard surrounded by the private rooms of the family and public areas where guests were welcomed on official occasions and celebrations.

The remains of the recently-discovered house were found during installation of a new water pipeline in the center of the ancient city where other important ancient remains have been found, including the sanctuary of Apollo Daphniforos, the Quarter of the Panathenaic Amphorae and the House of the Mosaics. The latter also dates to the 4th century B.C (ca. 360-350 B.C.) and as its name suggests, contains mosaic floors made in a similar pebbled style.

The excavation uncovered a room just under 12 feet square with surviving walls on the south and east sides. The floor was covered with small, white natural pebbles. In the center of the room is a circular medallion with small black pebbles as the background. Against the black backdrop are two nude satyrs with goat tails, pointed ears and horns. One is a beardless youth playing the double flute; the other is older, bearded and in motion, likely dancing to the music. The details of their faces and bodies are highlighted with pebbles in red and yellow as well as white and black, while both of the satyrs’ hair were rendered with the yellow pebbles.

A raised floor about an inch high was unearthed along the north and east sides of the room. This feature, found in other houses from the period in Eretria, was a platform where reclining couches were placed, identifying the room as a banqueting space. This dovetails with the motif of performing satyrs in the middle of the floor, as these rooms were used for celebrations, gatherings and entertainments.

The floor and structure of the house were disturbed in the early Christian era (5th-6th c. A.D.) when the abandoned dwelling was used as a cemetery. Five tombs were found there, one your basic pit tomb, the other with ceramic tile roofs. They had been dug into the embankment of the house and disturbed the mosaic floor. Another five tombs (again four with ceramic roofs, one pit) were found just outside the room on the other side of the south wall.

The floor has been temporarily covered for its protection while the water pipeline is redesigned so it does not interfere with the discovery.

* This article was originally published here