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Mosaic of theatrical masks

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This great mosaic is at display at the Musei Capitolini in Rome. It was found on the site of the baths constructed by Trajan Decius (AD 249-251). Other sources, like wikipedia, claim the mosaic to be found in Hadrian's villa at Tivoli. Despite the fact that I found it hard to make any proper pictures in the lightbulb environment of the museum, it belongs to this blog. The first one is taken by Anthony Moose (Wikimedia Commons), the second one by me. The mosaic represents two masks leaning on a socle projecting out from two walls that meet an angle, seen in perspective. Two flutes lean on one wall. The female mask depicts a woman with large eyes and wide-open mouth. A ribbon knotted into a bow at the center of her brow, appears in her curly hair with long ringlets. The physiognomic features of the man are exaggerated and ridiculed. On his head ivy and berries, associated with the cult of Dionysus, which was linked to the birth of the Greek theater .  The masks belonged to two ...
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Amphitheater of Pompeii

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In 2002, 2004 and 2007, I visited Pompeii and its splendid amphitheater. These pictures show the amphitheater after a rainy night in 2004. It is the oldest Roman amphitheater in existence, dating 70 BC. An inscription records that it was erected by the duumvirs Quinctius Valgus and Marcus Porcius, "at their expense". It was built against the southeastern corner of the city walls, which buttressed the shell-like structure of the cavea. These terraces were divided into three sectors: ima cavea (the front row around the arena) for the magistrates and leading citizens, media cavea, further up, and summa cavea, at the top, for the other spectators. The tall parapet surrounding the arena was decorated with paintings of gladiatorial combats, hunting scenes, victory celebrations and so on. It could host approximately 20,000 spectators. Leaving the ampitheater, you have got a splendid view on Pompei gardens and the Vesuvius. During one show in 59 AD the supporters of the rival...
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Polydus, champion charioteer for the reds

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Last week, I visited Landesmuseum Trier for the third time, which probably sounds boring but its collection is of great quality. The museum was renovated a few years ago, so a good excuse to visit it again. In my previous blog post I already wrote that the circus of Colonia Augusta Treverorum dates back to the earliest period of the cities history. The race track may have been created immediately after the city was founded. Quite some interesting finds, referring to the circus are in Landesmuseum Trier on display, including this mosaic of Polydus, a popular charioteer for the red faction (factio russata), and his lead horse Compressor. He is taking a victory lap. My picture is the centerpiece of a mosaic floor from a villa in front of the Imperial Baths in Trier. The representations on Roman mosaics of the victorious charioteer of the circus may be compared with similar representations in other forms of Roman art, both major and minor. Certa...
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