The Houses Of Aion And Theseus

Published 27th of February, 2020

More Cover-Ups

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These mosaics were also covered:


The Three Horae Mosaic

This central mosaic floor depicts the Three Hours on a white background surrounded by a catenary tress zone. The Hours, daughters of Zeus and Themis, and sisters of the three Fates, were the patron goddesses of time and the seasons. They were also considered the assistants of Aphrodite. Around the perimeter of the scene is a zone of repeating peltae, forming heart-shaped leaves.

Mosaic of Aphrodite

The mosaic floor in the room west of the Hours depicts the goddess Aphrodite armed with a spear. She is nude, leaning with her hand on a pillar. On her back a garment falls, covering the lower part of her legs. The scene is surrounded by zones repeating spirals … and stepped triangles.

Aion Beckons

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Ok, that's enough of the House of Theseus. As stated earlier, the House of Orpheus doesn't yet have much to reveal. In years to come, who knows what they will uncover. For now though, let's go and visit that building on the right of the picture.

Inside

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When you enter the building you will see two areas. The first contains this patterned mosaic. I like the 3D effect you can see in the cubes towards the top of the pattern, but most of the interest lies with the mosaics in the other area.


The House of Aion

(3rd – 5th cent AD)

Only a small part of the building has been excavated by the Polish Archaeological Mission of the University of Warsaw. The uncovered rooms include the reception hall of the building, decorated with exceptional geometric and figural mosaic floors.

The central panel of the main room is divided into five smaller panels, each depicting a different mythological scene, such as Leda and the Swan, the Epiphany of Dionysos, the beauty contest between Cassiopeia and the Nereids, the punishment of Marsyas. In the centre of the composition is the depiction of the god Aion, the personification of time, whose name was given to the house.

The mural frescoes of the house depicted Apollo and the Muses. Some parts of these have been restored and are currently exhibited in the Pafos Museum.

Cartoon Floor

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The other area contains the main mosaic. It is quite difficult to photograph it properly because of the lighting in the room, or lack of it.


Triclinium Second quarter of the 4th century AD.

The mosaic floor has five panels in three successive zones. Each panel is framed with a colourful tress.

Some Magic Required

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So this is the main mosaic. Using Photoshop we can extract each mosaic and adjust its perspective to give the impression that we are looking at it from above...

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