House of Mosaics

The "House of mosaics" is located at the junction of Dioskourou and Palaiologou street, and hosts the famous Roman mosaic floors that were discovered during excavations of the 19th century.
The mosaic floors are named "Rapture of Europe" (discovered in 1872) and "Orpheus as an animal charmer" (discovered in 1897) and they belong to the end of the 3rd - beginning of the 4th century A.D. At that time, there were two local mosaic production workshops in Sparta that produced great works of art. These two surviving mosaics stand out for their synthesis, their rich colors and wonderful depictions. The themes of the mosaics are influenced by music, poetry and the love affairs of the gods.
real-sparta
 

The representation of the rapture of Europe (2.06m. x 2.00 m.) is the central theme of the first mosaic floor. Europe is portrayed as a naked young woman sitting on the back of a bull, which in fact is Zeus. After the introduction of the Euro as a common European currency, Greece chose the theme of this mosaic to be represented on the € 2 coin based on the drawing by George Stamatopoulos. The second mosaic (1.40m x 1.13 m) depicts Orpheus with his lyre enchanting animals, birds and reptiles. Both representations can be found on other mosaic floors in Sparta, but without the same quality. These two mosaics demonstrate the ingenuity and imagination of the Spartan mosaic artists.
 

Visit houseofmosaics.gr

Address: Dioskouron and Palaiologou str., Sparta

Tel. (+30) 27310 25363

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday 8.30am-3.30pm.

Free admission.

 
 
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