Satyr Pebble Mosaic Floor Discovered in Greece – History

A pebble mosaic floor with a scene of two satyrs in the center was found in Eretria, southeastern Greece. The floor was part of a house from the Late Classical period and dates to the mid-4th century BC.

Eretria was founded during the Greek Dark Ages and is even mentioned in Homer’s Iliad as one of the cities that sent warships to fight Troy. Due to its trading success, it became a regional power in the 8th century BC, controlling the Aegean islands, central Greece, and establishing colonies on the northern Aegean coast, mainland Italy, and Sicily. The city’s prosperity was reflected in the opulence of the private homes that began to appear in Eretria in the 4th century BC. These homes were designed in the classical style, with a central colonnaded courtyard surrounded by the family’s private rooms and public areas for receiving guests on formal occasions and celebrations.

The remains of the recently discovered house were discovered during the installation of new water pipes in the ancient city centre, where other important ancient remains have been found, including the Temple of Apollo Daphniphoros, the Panathenaic Amphora Area and the Mosaic House. The latter also dates from the 4th century BC (c. 360-350 BC) and, as its name suggests, has a mosaic floor in a similar pebbled style.

The excavation revealed a room measuring less than 12 square feet, with surviving south and east walls. The floor was covered with natural white pebbles. In the center of the room is a round medallion with a background of black pebbles. On the black background are two naked satyrs with goat tails, pointed ears and horns. One is a beardless young man playing a pair of flutes; the other is older, bearded and agile, probably dancing to the music. Details of their faces and bodies are highlighted with red and yellow as well as white and black pebbles, while the hair of both satyrs is rendered with yellow pebbles.

A raised floor, about an inch high, was found on the north and east sides of the room. This feature, also found in other houses of the same period in Eretria, is a platform for reclining chairs, suggesting that the room was a banqueting venue. This fits in with the theme of the satyr performance in the middle of the floor, as these rooms were used for celebrations, gatherings, and entertainment.

The abandoned house was used as a cemetery in the early AD (5th-6th century AD), when the floor and structure of the house were destroyed. Five tombs were found there, one simple earthen pit tomb and another with a ceramic roof. The tombs were dug into the embankment of the house, destroying the mosaic floor. Another five tombs were found outside the room on the other side of the south wall (four of them were also ceramic roof tombs and one was an earthen pit tomb).

The floor has been temporarily covered to protect it while water pipes are rerouted so as not to interfere with the discovery.