Τα ψηφιδωτά της νησίδας του Ιπποδρόμου στους Φιλίππους
Part of : Εγνατία ; No.12, 2008, pages 87-123
Issue:
Pages:
87-123
Parallel Title:
The mosaics of the «circus mosaic insula» in Philippi
Section Title:
Αρχαιολογία
Author:
Abstract:
The paper studies the mosaics of the so-called «circus mosaic insula» in Philippi, which was excavated by the University of Thessaloniki. The first phase of the building dates in the 3rd century A.D. The majority of the pavements in this phase were covered with mosaics. Most of the mosaics had geometric patterns and only in the northern portico of the atrium there is a circus race scene. This theme is common in the western empire, while from Greece there is only another example, in the villa of Herodes Atticus. On the Philippi mosaic the «eu- ripus» with different objects and buildings is represented in the middle and around it were eight chariots (quadrigae), of which only four at the northern side are saved. Apart from the chariots there are also equestrian and unmounted figures. These figures are found on many circus representations on mosaics or other form of art. Finally, inscriptions denote the names of the charioteers or of the horses, but only two names can be read.The majority of the geometric pavements of the insula are polychrome but there are also mosaics in the black-and-white technique. The patterns we encounter are the following: the intersecting circles, the tangent octagons and squares, the chessboard pattern, the swastika meander, the «shield», the all-over pattern of eight-pointed stars. Moreover, there is a composition of intersecting bands, a composition of exagons and finally, the pavement in one of the rooms is covered with an opus sectile with a composition of intersecting bands, in the black-and-white technique.Some of the patterns, as the intersecting circles, the «shield», or the swastika-meander are very common during the imperial period throughout the empire but others are rare in Greece in the period to which the building belongs. The circus race scene is the earlier of the two mosaics with this subject in Greece. The composition of hexagons is unique; the composition of intersecting bands is rare in Greece while the composition of octagons and the eight-pointed stars pattern are of the earliest in Greece. The opus sectile finally, belongs to the imperial period and is the earliest found so far in the city of Philippi.The mosaics of the «circus mosaic insula» date to the 3rd century A.D. because of the finds, the technique but also of the subject of the circus race. This particular subject is common in the West but rare in the East. Moreover, some of the geometric patterns are more common in the western empire. It is thus obvious that a relation between the mosaics of Philippi and the western pavements exists. This could be due to the presence in the city of artisans from Italy, or generally the West, who settled as colonists in the city. Philippi was, after all, a roman colony; therefore the western influence was stronger than in other Greek cities.
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Notes:
Περιέχει εικόνες και σχέδια
