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243-Year-Old Roman Sea Creature Mosaic on Display
31 Aug
Summary
- A fragment from a 2nd Century Roman mosaic was discovered in 1783.
- The mosaic originally depicted sea creatures and mythological figures.
- A surviving section is now on loan to the Coronium Museum.
Staff at the Coronium Museum in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, are expressing their delight over the loan of a significant artifact. The item is a fragment from a 2nd Century Roman mosaic, originally unearthed in 1783.
The mosaic was discovered beneath the foundations of Gloucester House, located on Dyer Street. Its original depiction was rich with imagery of the sea, including various fish, an eel, and a crab. It also featured mythological elements, such as swimming cupids and a sea-leopard.
Reburied in the 19th Century, the mosaic suffered damage due to subsequent construction activities. Specialists carefully lifted a surviving section, which has since been cared for by the Lamplough family of Gloucester House. This precious fragment is now accessible to the public at the Coronium Museum.
