Computer generated reconstruction suggesting how the Orpheus Mosaic might have looked, Corinium Museum (Cirencester)

            This fourth-century AD mosaic was found at Barton Farm just outside the centre of Cirencester. Buckman and Newmarch, whose important book about Roman art in Cirencester was published in 1850, gave the discovery date as 1825 but recent research in contemporary newspapers shows that it was in fact found and excavated the previous year.

Orpheus is shown in the central medallion playing his lyre of cithara (a stringed instrument similar to but larger than a lyre). His skills as a musician was such that wild beasts were drawn to him and soothed by his music. He was a popular subject for mosaics, as the musical theme was appropriate for rooms used for entertainment, while the link with animals enabled an attractive and sometimes exotic array of creatures to be portrayed. Orpheus wears his distinctive and sometimes exotic array of creatures to be portrayed. Orpheus wears his distinctive Phrygian cap (a type of conical cap with its top turned forward). The white crosses on the cap perhaps represent stars. Orpheus was often accompanied by a fox, and his fox can be seen here next to the lyre/cithara.

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Cirencester (show map)

Taken on: June 11, 2011

Tags:

Corinium Dobunnorum

Cirencester

Britannia

Gloucestershire

Roman fort

Romain Britain

Dobunni

Fosse Way

Akeman Street

Ermin Street

Amphitheatre

Mosaic

Roman « less

Sets appears in: • Corinium Museum • Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester)

Camera: Olympus SP800UZ, f/3.8, 1/8 sec, 11.2mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Olympus SP800UZ
Aperture:	f/3.8
Exposure Time:	0.125 sec (1/8)
Focal Length:	11.2mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Creative (Slow speed)
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	picnik.com
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