Athena Review Image Archive ™
Autun: House of Greek Authors, Mosaic of Anacreon (2nd c.AD)
Autun: Mosaic of Anacreon (Musee Rolin; Athena Review Image Archive)
The
House of the Greek Authors on rue de la Grille in Autun had a series of
floor mosaics dating from the late 2nd century AD. Among them were portraits of three Greek writers: the
poet Anacreon (582-485 BC); the philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC); and
Metrodorus, a 2nd century AD follower of Epicurus.
This fragmentary mosaic (inv. 1563) shows the 6th century BC Greek poet Anacreon, holding a lyre. Fragments of two poems in the mosaic include:
1) "Bring water, bring wine, boy! Bring me crowns of flowers! Bring them so I can wrestle with Eros!" (fr.38)
2) "Let those who want to fight, fight. As for me, let me drink some honeyed wine to the health of my friends, boy! (fr.49)."
Mosaic elements include polychrome ceramic tesserae, white and red limestone, and black schist.
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