We've rotated the mosaic picture by 90% and changed the perspective so it looks like were were floating above it. I can assure you, we weren't.

Famous, though Achilles was, for his unprotected heel, this mosaic depicts his first bath. This is the accompanying blurb:

The first bath of Achilles

5th Century AD

This is probably the main hall of the house of the Roman proconsul that served as the reception room. The central mosaic panel consists of four smaller panels with figural representations, of which only one has survived to a large extent. Of the other thee panels, only some parts are preserved but it is believed that they depicted episodes from the life and accomplishments of Achilles.

The scene that has survived depicts the first bath of newborn Achilles. The hero lies in the arms of his mother Thetis who is shown in the centre lying on a bed. This part of the scene has been greatly damaged. Achilles is also shown sitting on the knees of his nurse, Anatrophe (Upbringing). Who is preparing to dip the infant in a cylindrical basin. Behind Anatrophe, is a personification of Ambrosia holding a jug of water. At the other end of the bed, King Peleus is sitting on his throne, holding a rod. Standing behind the throne are the free Fates: Clotho with her characteristic spindle and distaff, Lachesis with her diptych, and Atropos, holding a open parchment.

The panel is surrounded by a zone of repeated lozenges and a band of lyre-shaped chain tresses. Between the geometric frame and the scene there is a frieze with hunting scenes where Cupids hunt wild beasts.

Of course, the legend of Achilles states that he was made invulnerable by being dipped into the river Styx. He was held by his heel, which remained normal, as it didn't touch the waters. So his heel was his one weak spot.

Had he been held like he is in this mosaic, we would all be referring to somebody's "Achilles' Buttock". Food for thought.

Incidentally, from now on, if text is in italic, then it means that we are repeating text we read off the sign that was next to the exhibit.

As I said earlier, after rainfall, be on the lookout for nice reflections if you are taking photographs. And wear boots.

I can't find any information about these columns, or more specifically, why these are the only columns. Though thinking about it, there is a castle on another part of the park, called "Forty Column Fortress". It was made in medieval times, and perhaps they did a bit of recycling?

Imagine what the view to the hills must have looked like nearly 2000 years ago. How many settlements lay scattered amongst the fields and valleys? And what of pre-Roman civilisation? Were Roman Scholars ever poking their noses around the Neolithic and Chalcolithic remains, or had they been buried by earthquakes?

Not all mosaics are visible. Some get covered in sand to protect them. What is odd is that they still have the information signs up, so whether it is a temporary or semi-permanent solution I don't know. Anyway, at one point, this showed the Mosaic of Poseidon and Amphitrite.

The scene depicts Poseidon, god of the sea, seated on a sea monster crossing the sea, accompanied by his wife Amphitrite. Poseidon bears a halo on his head, and in his left hand the god is holding a trident while embraving his wife. The scene is completed with two Cupids flying above the divine couple.