Mosaic of Silvanus from Ostia
TNMM 491 ↔ CIMRM 252
Polychrome mosaic (H. 1.58 Br. 0.92 D. 0.30) found in a niche in the pronaos: ’trovato nel ripiano superiore che mette al vestibolo della scala’ (Visconti). Before the niche a little lamp was found. Lateran-museum, Room XV No. 914.
Against a blue background the representation of Silvanus in a white tunica with red borders and dark-yellow cloak. Around his brown curly hair a blue nimbus. Brown foot-wear. In his I.h. a branch; in the r.h. a falx with yellow handle. Beside him sits a brown dog, which is looking at him. On the I. side a burning altar. The landscape is indicated by three trees with green branches. The mosaic dates, according to C. C. van Essen in MedNHIR (R. 3) VIII, 1954, 77f from the time of Caracalla.
References
Visconti, o.c. 174 and PI. LM, 3; Benndorf-SchOne, 384 No. 551; MMM II 241 and fig. 73; Helbig, Fuhrer II, 51 No. 1235 (1006); RRP 104,5; Nogara, Mosaici antichi, 32fwith Tav. LXVII; Becatti, Mitrei Ostia, 56f and Tav. X; Anderson No. 24397 (see fig. 75).
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
