Mosaic Fragment

This object is On Display

Object Number:	MS4012
Current Location:	Rome Gallery Currently On Display
Culture:	Roman
Provenience:	Tunisia Zeugitana Carthage
Date Made:	200-250 AD
Early Date:	200
Late Date:	250
Section:	Mediterranean
Materials:	Stone
Technique:	Tessera
Iconography:	Theseus Boat Latin Inscription
Height:	32 cm
Length:	205.5 cm
Width:	134.5 cm
Thickness:	32 cm
Credit Line:	Gift of Mrs. Dillwyn Parrish in memory of the late Dillwyn Parrish, 1904

Description

Opus vermiculatum. Boat scene with repeated inscription -Vinclusus- [may refer to owner of the house or an abbreviation for "Vinctor Lusus": winner of the game]. Depicts Theseus escaping King Minos' labyrinth on Crete. Colors: rusty red, mustard yellow, putty gray, black and white. Tesserae: in inset (boat-scene): 0.04 to 0.07cm, in background: 0.09 to 0.15cm. Floret square (including border): 0.20 to 0.205m. Letter height: 0.10 to 0.105m. Guilloche band W: 0.135 to 0.14m. Inset H: 0.545 to 0.56m (including black border). Edges are now hidden in a wooden box-like border which might accommodate 1 to 2cm beyond what is seen.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

Classical World - Roman World (15 Mar 2003)	View Objects in Exhibition
The Classical World: Italy ( Apr 1958 - 1969)	View Objects in Exhibition
Italian Gallery (28 Mar 1951 - 1958)	View Objects in Exhibition
Roman Sculpture Gallery (1975 - 2000)	View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Book] Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2014. History of the World in 1,000 Objects.. London. Dorling Kindersley Limited. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 86	View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Article] White, Donald J. 2003. "Setting the Record Straight. The Contorted History of the Museum's Theseus Mosaic". Expedition: The Magazine of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. 45. no. 2. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pp. 38-41	View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Catalogue, Exhibition] Turfa, Jean M., and Romano, Irene B., and Brownlee, Ann B., and White, Donald J. 2002. Guide to the Etruscan and Roman Worlds at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.. Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 69, no. 102	View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Book] Tracy, Stephen, and Bodel, John. 1997. Greek and Latin Inscriptions in the USA: A Checklist.. Rome. American Academy in Rome. pg. 211-212 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 212	View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Article] Edwards, George R. 1958. "Italy and Rome". The University Museum Bulletin. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. 22. no. 2. pg. 3-11 Actual Citation	View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Book] Foucher, Louis. 1958. Inventaire des Mosaiques.. Actual Citation	View Objects related to this Actual Citation
[Article] Luce, Stephen B. 1916. "Five Roman Mosaics". The Museum Journal. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. 7. no. 1. pg. 18-26 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pp. 18-22, fig. 12	View Objects related to this Actual Citation