A remarkable mosaic floor depicting two human-animal hybrid spirits has been uncovered at the site of an ancient Greek city.
The mosaic was identified in the modern town of Eretria on the island of Evia, Greece, during water pipeline works. The area is home to the ruins of an archaic settlement that was an important Greek city in the mid-first millennium B.C.
Amid the pipeline works, part of a house from the 4th century B.C. was revealed—one which preserves the mosaic floor made from pebbles, the Greek Ministry of Culture announced in a statement.
The building in question is located at the core of the ancient city. It features a four-sided room with an almost square plan, within which the mosaic floor lies. The mosaic consists of natural pebbles, small in size, with a central artwork depicting two male figures with animallike features, such as tails, horns and pointed ears.
These figures are representations of satyrs, nature spirits that appear in ancient Greek mythology. Satyrs are often depicted as combining male human traits with those of horse- or goat-like animals.
They were considered to be wild creatures and were closely associated with Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of fertility, wine, vegetation, pleasure, ecstasy and ritual madness.
Satyrs were often depicted engaging in debauchery, characterized as being lovers of drinking, feasting, music, dancing and women.
The mosaic found in Eretria shows one of the satyrs, who looks young, playing a double flute, while the other, bearded and presumably older, appears to be dancing and enjoying the music.
Pebbles of various colors—including white, black, red and yellow—were used to render the features of the faces or details of the bodies. Perhaps the feature that stands out is the use of yellow pebbles for the hair of the satyrs.
The room's characteristics indicate that it was a space for gatherings, banquets and other celebrations.
Archaeologists believe that the house and the pebble mosaic floor probably date to around the mid-4th century B.C., a time when luxurious private houses appeared in ancient Eretria. These residences tended to follow a well-known architectural style, consisting of a central courtyard around which the private areas, reserved for the family, and public areas, designed to host official occasions and banquets, were situated.
The ministry said the mosaic floor was in an "excellent" state of conservation and highlighted the "uniqueness" of the central design.
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