Dr Pat Witts

On the other hand, the shorter, thicker, protrusion with curves on the edges is consistent with crustaceans. More examples in other provinces than in RB. Curious to know what the museum says in its caption? I must revisit before too long! 2/2

Yes, I'm aware that the antler idea has been coming up at the museum for years! If they were antlers, I'd expect one main, thinner, protrusion with branches coming off. I don't know of any parallels for antlers drawn like this. 1/2

Not immediately ringing any bells with me, but hope you both surface something from your memories.

I think the British mosaicists did rather well, all things considered ...

Glad you enjoyed it. I think an indigenous god is unlikely because, if you had a mosaic, you were showing off how Roman you were. And the things sticking up aren't, in my view, horns but crustacean claws. It's an unusual mosaic, though.

That's an accurate answer applicable to all of us. 😁

The Art of Mosaic Knitting If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to knit with two colors, mosaic knitting might be a great colorwork technique to try first.  Haven’t heard of

knitfarious.com/art-of-mosai...

Oh 😍!

What an interesting puzzle ... Maybe the thin stripes are random decoration. Or maybe they are marking something. Rows of weaving, maybe? (I see weaving is among the suggestions so far )

Also 'pietra dura', which I probably should have used rather than the plural. Long day ...

'Mosaic-adjacent' is perfect! We mosaic purists greatly admire pietre dure.

It's a great favourite of many of us. I'd love to go back again.

@coriniummuseum.bsky.social
@dorsetmuseum.bsky.social
@stalbansmuseums.bsky.social
@simonelliott20.bsky.social - There is Carausius content! And, in consequence, you have crept into some of my footnotes ...
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Journal of Mosaic Research » Makale » Neptune and Oceanus in Romano-British Mosaics: A Special Case?

A bonus post for this #MosaicMonday. Ever puzzled over why Neptune has crab claws and Oceanus has a trident in some RB mosaics? My thoughts have just been published in the latest Journal of Mosaic Research. Open access, so feel free to enjoy! 1/2

dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jmr/i...

A Roman mosaic showing an elephant in black tesserae on a plain white background. The animal stands facing left with an impressively long trunk. At the top of the photo is an inscription in Latin, in black lettering on a white background.

An oblique photograph of a black and white Roman mosaic. In the right foreground is an elephant seen upside down; the elephant's trunk is to our left. The image is set within plain black and white borders with a strip of simple guilloche. To the rear, the borders narrow slightly between two brick piers, with further animals depicted in this area. To the rear are the remains of brick walls and a grassy bank, with trees in the distance on the left.

For this #MosaicMonday, a couple of examples of elephants in the Piazzale delle Corporazioni in Ostia. One in close-up but another included in a wider view to show the context for those who aren't familiar (yet?) with the wonders of Ostia.
📷2022
#AncientBlueSky 🏺

This sort of thing happens quite a lot! People build all sorts of theories around 'mistakes' but it's just very human when something is hand-made (and they might not have been as bothered as we are). Anyway, well spotted, @romanpalace.bsky.social!

At bottom right, I think the bull is meant to be attacking a bear. But a rather unusual depiction!

You haven't credited the artist. Did they wish to stay anonymous?!

Oh, that's lovely. Much quieter than the garden centre where I was getting my fix of 'nature' yesterday - along with everyone else brought out by the sunshine!

Note the tiny, rather awkward right arms and the way the cloak covers the body rather than featuring as just an end hanging (implausibly but usually) over a shoulder. Intriguing figures ...

😍

If this elephant could talk, he'd say how boar-ing it was to be confused with a pig! (There was a boar in this mosaic too.) 🐘🐗

The more brochs the better!

🥰🥰🥰

Well said!

Great - thank you.

Early for #MosaicMonday.

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Sounds wonderful! Will this be online? Can't seem to find this in the link.

Oh dear!