@article{article_1814177, title={Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida}, journal={Journal of Mosaic Research}, pages={197–209}, year={2025}, DOI={10.26658/jmr.1814177}, author={Honikel, Anna-Laura}, keywords={Kozmolojik mozaik, Mérida, paideia, retorik tropeler, Quintilianus}, abstract={In the Roman Imperial period, paideia and, relatedly, language were used as important tools by the social elite to prove and consolidate their status in a society characterised by social mobility. It is therefore not surprising that this phenomenon also manifested itself in decorative home furnishings, as the education acquired could be showcased during receptions and banquets to guests of similar social status. The owners of the villae and domus were able to stage themselves and their specific education in a variety of ways. A special example for this is the cosmological mosaic in Mérida, which is unique in many respects. Some of the 32 preserved personifications depicting the structure of the cosmos are characterized by a tense relationship between iconography and name inscriptions. These cases show that the cultural practice of embellished and riddled speaking, popular from the High Imperial period onwards, was applied to a visual medium. This enabled the patron to display his rhetoric abilities and high level of education to his invited guests.}, number={18}, publisher={Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi}