Research Article

Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain)

Number: 11 November 30, 2018
  • M. Pilar San Nıcolás Pedraz
TR EN

Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain)

Abstract

This paper is a comprehensive study of the Roman mosaic named “the Loves” found in Cástulo (Jaén, Spain) in 2012, which is conserved in situ.

The pavement shows a known variation of the so called compass design, much appreciated in the mosaic art of Baetica. Here it consists of two central circles instead of one, around which six half circles, four quarter circles and six squares with concave sides are placed. The repertoire of scenes consists of allegoric representations. Placed inside the four circles in the corners of the mosaic, are the busts of the Seasons with their characteristic attributes as symbols of the passing of time and the fertility of the year. This is a motif widely spread among Roman mosaics and especially in Baetica. The six squares with concave sides show representations of mammals, both herbivores and carnivores. While the half circles show putties in different poses, all with the peculiarity that their necks are invisible according to a fashion in the mosaic production of Baetica in the second century AD.

One of the central circles of the mosaic shows the Judgement of Paris, which is represented in two planes. The other circle shows the myth of Selene and Endymion. Here the goddess appears at the side of her carriage drawn by two horses; an iconography which constitutes an exception in this series of representations.

The technique of the pavement is of high quality, particularly concerning the mythological scenes; the use of colour to create background and mark the different planes is eminent.


Keywords

References

  1. Alföldi 1979 A. Alföldi, Aion in Mérida und Aphrodisias, Mainz.
  2. Babelon 1943 J. Babelon, Le voile d´ Europe, RA XX, 125- 130.
  3. Balil 1989 A. Balil, “Algunos mosaicos de tema mitológico”, BSAA LV, 132-144.
  4. Baratte 1978 F. Baratte, Catalogue des mosaïques romaines et paléochrétiennes du Musée du Louvre, Paris.
  5. Blanco Freijeiro 1978 A. Blanco Freijeiro, Mosaicos romanos de Mérida, CMRE I, Madrid.
  6. Blázquez Martínez 1981 J. M. Blázquez Martínez, Mosaicos romanos de Córdoba, Jaén y Málaga, CMRE III, Madrid.
  7. Blázquez Martínez 1982 J. M. Blázquez Martínez, Mosaicos romanos de Sevilla, Granada, Cádiz y Murcia, CMRE IV, Madrid.
  8. Blázquez Martínez 1985 J. M. Blázquez Martínez, “Mosaicos romanos del Campo de Villavidel (León) y de Casariche (Sevilla)”, AEspA 58, 107-124.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Archaeology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

M. Pilar San Nıcolás Pedraz This is me
0000-0002-8958-1707

Publication Date

November 30, 2018

Submission Date

November 23, 2017

Acceptance Date

July 12, 2018

Published in Issue

Year 2018 Number: 11

APA
San Nıcolás Pedraz, M. P. (2018). Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain). Journal of Mosaic Research, 11, 193-205. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.440597
AMA
1.San Nıcolás Pedraz MP. Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain). JMR. 2018;(11):193-205. doi:10.26658/jmr.440597
Chicago
San Nıcolás Pedraz, M. Pilar. 2018. “Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain)”. Journal of Mosaic Research, nos. 11: 193-205. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.440597.
EndNote
San Nıcolás Pedraz MP (November 1, 2018) Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain). Journal of Mosaic Research 11 193–205.
IEEE
[1]M. P. San Nıcolás Pedraz, “Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain)”, JMR, no. 11, pp. 193–205, Nov. 2018, doi: 10.26658/jmr.440597.
ISNAD
San Nıcolás Pedraz, M. Pilar. “Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain)”. Journal of Mosaic Research. 11 (November 1, 2018): 193-205. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.440597.
JAMA
1.San Nıcolás Pedraz MP. Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain). JMR. 2018;:193–205.
MLA
San Nıcolás Pedraz, M. Pilar. “Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain)”. Journal of Mosaic Research, no. 11, Nov. 2018, pp. 193-05, doi:10.26658/jmr.440597.
Vancouver
1.M. Pilar San Nıcolás Pedraz. Technical and Artistic Aspects of the Roman Mosaic of Castulo (Jaén, Spain). JMR. 2018 Nov. 1;(11):193-205. doi:10.26658/jmr.440597

Cited By

21079                 16193




22516          16207



                                                   16208                          16209



22362