Birds and Fruits
2004 © Maxim Tabachnik
Roman Fresco of Crates and HipparchiaHeliosSeated Figure with TorchAntinous as Silvanus (detail)Pastoral Scene with a SatyrBirds and FruitsNymphs Abducting HylasMosaic of VictoriaShell and Mosaic Decoration from a NymphaeumAntinous as Silvanus (detail)CupidMosaic of Dionysus

Birds and Fruits

275
This 4th c. mosaic vividly portrays birds and fruits with intricate detail and saturated color. Hens, a goose, and ripe produce evoke the villa’s surrounding estates, symbolizing abundance, good fortune, and the pleasures of domestic life. Such scenes were popular in elite Roman homes, celebrating the prosperity and harmony that a well-run household was expected to display.