The Most Dazzling Roman Mosaics Ever Recovered

The Most Dazzling Roman Mosaics Ever Recovered


July 7, 2025 | Jacki Andre

The Most Dazzling Roman Mosaics Ever Recovered


The Most Dazzling Roman Mosaics Ever Recovered

Ancient Romans were masters of the mosaic. They were the first to use tiny colored cubes of stone, ceramic, or glass (tesserae) to create intricate artistic designs, most of which were meant to be walked on. Many of these art pieces have survived and remain breathtakingly beautiful despite centuries of use and neglect.

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Alexander Mosaic

The Alexander Mosaic depicts a battle between the armies of Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. Created in the 2nd century BCE, the large floor mosaic is composed of about 1.5 million tiny tiles. Preserved by a layer of ash from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the mosaic is in good condition and is held at the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

File:Alexander the Great mosaic.jpgUnknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

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Antioch Mosaics

Created in the 3rd century CE, the Antioch mosaics were discovered between 1932 and 1939 in modern-day Turkey. The floor mosaics—there are over 300 of them—include intricate designs of realistic imagery and geometric patterns. About half remain in Turkey, at the Hatay Archaeological Museum; the others reside at museums around the world.

File:So-called Antioch Mosaic.jpgJorge Elías, Wikimedia Commons

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Bellerophon Mosaic

The stunning Bellerophon Mosaic, created in the 2nd century CE, was discovered in Autun, France, in 1803. Depicting a scene from Greek mythology, it is a large, circular floor mosaic that was likely installed at an aristocratic residence. It is currently housed in the Musée Rolin at Autun.

File:Bellérophon Autun.jpgFelix Potuit, Wikimedia Commons

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Boxford Roman Mosaic

In 2017, a large mosaic—over six meters (20 feet) long—was uncovered at an archaeological dig site in Boxford, West Berkshire, England. Although it has some damage, this 4th-century CE mosaic features some of the most famous heroes of Greek mythology, including Hercules, a centaur, Chimera, and Pegasus.

File:Boxford roman mosaic1.jpg12dstring, Wikimedia Commons

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Carthage Circus Mosaic

The Carthage Circus Mosaic, created in the 1st or 2nd century CE, is a unique depiction of both a circus building and the activity within it. The scene is one of a horse and chariot race, with victory in sight for the Les Bleus team. The mosaic is housed in the Bardo National Museum in Tunisia, near the place of its discovery.

File:The Carthage Circus Design.jpgUniversity of Chicago, Wikimedia Commons

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Circus Games Mosaic

The Circus Games Mosaic was discovered in Lyon, France, in 1806, as workers were digging to build a reservoir. The 2nd-century CE mosaic sustained very little damage over the centuries. Bordered with geometric shapes and foliage, the main scene depicts a chariot race. It is on display at the Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon.

File:The restored Circus Games Mosaic depicting a chariot race in quadrigas, 2nd century AD, from Lugdunum, Musée gallo-romain de Fourvière, Lyon (9194390296).jpgCarole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, Wikimedia Commons

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Domus Eirene

The Domus Eirene (“House of Eirene”) was discovered in 1983-1984, while construction was underway in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The structure was built in the 3rd century CE and features lavish mosaic floors. The remains of the house—including the floors—have been restored and can be viewed in situ.

File:Eirene mosaics5.jpgRealsteel007, Wikimedia Commons

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Mosaic De Font De Mussa

Discovered in Benifaió, Spain, the Mosaic de Font de Mussa was created in the 1st or 2nd century CE. The mosaic's center depicts the shepherd Faustulus in front of the cave where Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome, were raised by a she-wolf. Borders with plant and geometric motifs surround the central image.

File:Medalló central del mosic de la vil·la de la Font de Mussa, Benifaió (Museu de Prehistòria de València).JPGJoanbanjo, Wikimedia Commons

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Fordington Mosaic

The Fordington Mosaic was created in the 2nd century CE. It's a stunning, colorful floor mosaic. Although it sustained some damage, it beautifully depicts Oceanus and sea life in bold color. Discovered in 1903 in Fordington, Dorchester, England, it was excavated in 1927 with the help of Thomas Hardy, the great English novelist and poet.

File:Fordington Mosaic detail - Dorchester.jpgPasicles, Wikimedia Commons

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Gladiator Mosaic

The Gladiator Mosaic isn't a single mosaic but a stunning and highly-detailed set of five large and two smaller mosaics. Together, the panels tell one story that centers around a celebratory event featuring gladiators. Dated to the 4th century CE, the panels were discovered in 1834 outside Rome. They were excavated in 1839 and are now installed in the Salone of the Galleria Borghese in Rome.

File:Venatio, fragment, Roman, 300-400 AD, marble and limestone mosaic - Galleria Borghese - Rome, Italy - DSC04949.jpgDaderot, Wikimedia Commons

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Mosaic Of Lillebonne

One of the most impressive floor mosaics discovered in France, the Mosaic of Lillebonne depicts deer in an autumnal forest landscape. It was discovered in 1870 in Lillebonne when a worker was digging to prepare a garden. The piece was created in the 2nd or 4th century CE.

File:Lillebonne mosaïque 19.JPGGerard, Wikimedia Commons

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Judgment Of Paris Mosaic

The Judgment of Paris has been the subject of several works of art, including a breathtaking 2nd-century mosaic discovered in present-day Turkey. The large floor mosaic—one of a set depicting mythological Greek figures—features Paris, a prince of Troy, as he chooses the most beautiful goddess from the group of Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. The artwork is held at the Louvre.

File:Judgement Paris Antioch Louvre Ma3443.jpgJastrow, Wikimedia Commons

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Lod Mosaic

Discovered in Lod, Israel in 1996, when construction workers were widening a street, the Lod mosaic is dated to circa 300 CE. One of the largest and best-preserved mosaics discovered in Israel, the stunning artwork depicts ships, birds, fish, and animals including rhinoceroses and giraffes, which are not common in Roman art. 

File:Lod-Mosaic-796.jpgBukvoed, Wikimedia Commons

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Lopen Roman Mosaic

The Lopen Roman mosaic was discovered in 2001 during the construction of a new access road in Lopen, Somerset, England. The find uncovered an eight-room villa with two floor mosaics. The larger piece features a complicated geometric design as well as elements like leaves, cups, and dolphins. It is now displayed in All Saints Church in Lopen.

Archaeologist Alan Graham working on the dolphin part of the Roman mosaic unearthed at Lopen near Ilminster, Somerset. The artwork, which was discovered accidentally by workmen, has been called one of the most important archaeological finds from the fourth century. *... in the past 50 years. The 1,640-year old mosaic pavement, is said to be rare for Britain, as part of the tiles depict a dolphin rather than the more usual geometric designs found across the South West. Archaeologists are planning to rebury the pavement, made of red, white and blue blocks of Somerset limestone and tiles, to protect it during the winter. Barry Batchelor - PA Images, Getty Images

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Magerius Mosaic

In 1966, a unique mosaic was discovered in a Tunisian village, at the site of a Roman villa that was owned by a man named Magerius. The mosaic depicts men hunting leopards, which was likely part of an amphitheatre spectacle. It's noteworthy because it features a steward holding moneybags on a tray and appears to show how much was paid for the animals used in the spectacles.

File:Sousse museum Smirat.jpgPascal Radigue, Wikimedia Commons

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Megalopsychia Hunt Of Antioch Mosaics

Over 300 Roman floor mosaics were discovered in the Antioch area of modern-day Turkey in the 1930s. Two, known as the Megalopsychia Hunt of Antioch mosaics, are noteworthy for their allegorical references. The border on the larger piece depicts the buildings of ancient Antioch and serves as a sort of archaeological tourist map.

File:The Megalopsychia Hunt of Antioch mosaic, late 5th century AD, found in the village of Yakto near Daphne, Hatay Archaeology Museum, Antakya, Turke - 40837064223.jpgFollowing Hadrian, Wikimedia Commons

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Mosaic Of Dominus Julius

The mosaic of Dominus Julius is dated to the late 4th or early 5th century CE. The artwork is meant to depict the status and wealth of the owner, Dominus Julius. It features his large home in the center, surrounded by images of people engaging in leisurely activities. 

File:Dominus Julius villa mosaic.jpgO.Mustafin, Wikimedia Commons

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Mosaic Of The Horses

The Mosaic of the Horses, discovered in 1960, is a large floor mosaic created in a checkerboard pattern. The mosaic's small square panels depict figures of people and animals—especially horses—interspersed with geometric compositions. It can be viewed at the archaeological park of the Roman villas in Tunisia.

File:Mosaic Floor at Carthage, Tunisia.jpgInstitute for the Study of the Ancient World, Wikimedia Commons

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Museum Of Mosaics in Devnya

Beginning in 1976, excavations were carried out in Devnya, Bulgaria, to uncover a ruined Roman villa, which was built in the late 3rd or early 4th century CE. The Museum of Mosaics was built over the villa to preserve its intricate floor mosaics and other archaeological discoveries at the site. 

File:Devnya-mosaics-museum-gorgon-medusa-1.jpgVassia Atanassova - Spiritia, Wikimedia Commons

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Neptune Triumph And The House Of Sorothus Mosaic

In 1886-1887, soldiers discovered the House of Sorothus while digging a sump in a garden in Tunisia. The site remains only partially excavated; the Neptune Triumph mosaic is one of several mosaics uncovered. Its size and well-preserved state make it noteworthy. It is currently held at the Bardo National Museum in Algiers, Algeria.

File:Neptune Sousse.JPGAd Meskens, Wikimedia Commons

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Nile Mosaic Of Palestrina

The Nile Mosaic of Palestrina was likely created in the 1st century CE. This stunning and highly detailed piece is arched at the top, which identifies it as the flooring in the apse of a grotto. It depicts scenes along the River Nile, from the Blue Nile to the Mediterranean Sea. It is on display in the Palazzo Barberini in Palestrina, Italy.

File:Mosaïque nilotique, Praeneste, Italie.jpgUnknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

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Orpheus Mosaic At Woodchester Roman Villa

A Roman villa in Gloucestershire, England, occupied from the 2nd to 4th centuries CE, is the site of one of the most impressive Roman Orpheus mosaics found to date. Unfortunately, although this mosaic remains in situ, it was covered in 1973 since the village had difficulty managing the tourists flocking to the site. There are no plans to uncover it.

File:LysonsWoodchesterOrpheus-1-.jpgUdimu, Wikimedia Commons

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Orpheus Mosaic At Littlecote Roman Villa

The Orpheus mosaic at Littlecote Roman Villa in Hungerford, England, is considered one of the most stunning Roman mosaics discovered in that country. The villa itself was impressive, with two thermal baths, 60 rooms, and several floor mosaics. The Orpheus mosaic is beautifully designed and laid out as a large rectangle with three semi-circular apses at one end. It can be viewed in situ at Littlecote Park.

File:The Orpheus mosaic at Littlecote Roman Villa - geograph.org.uk - 7817101.jpgRod Allday , Wikimedia Commons

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Plato's Academy Mosaic

The Plato's Academy mosaic is a breathtaking piece of free-standing art. It is relatively small, only 86 cm by 85 cm. It's beautifully designed with vibrant colors, depicting seven men in classical Greek garments gathered under a tree. The central figure may be Plato, surrounded by scholars, but some suggest that it's a reference to the Seven Sages of Greece.

File:MANNapoli 124545 plato's academy mosaic.jpgJebulon, Wikimedia Commons

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Sidi Ghrib

Sidi Ghrib is an archaeological site in Tunisia. It is the location of a luxurious Roman villa that was constructed in the late 4th or early 5th century CE. The villa boasts an abundance of beautiful Roman mosaics and, in particular, in the thermal baths. While many remain in situ, several of the most intricate ones have been removed to museums.

File:Sidi Ghrib.jpgAstiosaurus, Wikimedia Commons

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The Woman Of Sidi Ghrib At Her Toilet Mosaic

Originally installed in the baths of Sidi Ghrib, the Woman of Sidi Ghrib at her Toilet mosaic now resides in the Bardo Museum in Tunisia. The intricate mosaic depicts the mistress of the villa, surrounded by items needed for a bath, as well as two servants offering her a mirror and a basket of jewels.

File:Roman mosaic panel of a noblewoman depicted as Venus and surrounded by two maidservants helping her dress and comb her hair, dated to the 5th century AD, from the ladies changing room of the Sidi Ghrib Baths, National Museum of Bardo.jpegCarole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, Wikimedia Commons

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Rose Garden Mosaic

Discovered at the ancient Roman villa Sidi Ghrib in Tunisia, the rose garden mosaic is a stunning pastel depiction of a woman pouring roses from a basket held over her head. This figure is a common allegory for Spring, but the Sidi Ghrib mosaic is notable for the woman's loosely draped clothing, which exposes her body. Although suitable for the baths (where it was installed), it wasn't usual to display art of this nature at the time.

File:Mosaique MN Carthage femme.jpgPradigue, Wikimedia Commons

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Mosaic Of Tirana

The Mosaic of Tirana is a large floor mosaic that was uncovered in Tirana, Albania. Unfortunately, it's not well preserved, but the surviving sections show vivid red and ecru geometric patterns as well as poultry and fish. Originally part of a 3rd-century CE Roman house, it remains in situ

File:Tirana, Albania 2017-04 Tirana Mosaic 04.jpgPasztilla aka Attila Terbócs, Wikimedia Commons

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Tomb Of The Julii

During the 1940s, Pope Pius XI had the catacombs beneath Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City excavated. This work revealed a tomb known as Mausoleum M, or the Tomb of the Julii. The tomb is noteworthy for its mosaic work, which includes a central mosaic that appears to be an early depiction of Jesus Christ.

File:Christus Sol Invictus.jpegTablar, Wikimedia Commons

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Villa Armira

Owned by aristocrats, the Villa Amira, built in the 1st century CE, features lavish marble fittings, a large bath, and stunning floor mosaics, most of which depict animals, plants, and geographic shapes. The excavated villa is one of the most-visited archaeological sites in Bulgaria.

File:Villa Armira Outside PD 2011 006.JPGBin im Garten, Wikimedia Commons

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Portrait Mosaic At Villa Amira

While Villa Amira in Bulgaria has several stunning floor mosaics, one has special significance. The floor mosaic in the master bedroom features a portrait of the 2nd-century CE owner, flanked by portraits of his son and daughter. Portrait mosaics of "real people" from that era are rare.

File:Villa Armira, the Mosaics 2.jpgKlearchos Kapoutsis from Paleo Faliro, Athens, Greece., Wikimedia Commons

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Villa Romana Del Casale

The Villa Romana del Casale is a 4th-century Roman villa in Sicily designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The villa features one of the largest and most sumptuous collections of mosaics in the world. Over 3,500 square meters of mosaic artwork has survived, largely thanks to a 12th-century landslide that covered and preserved the villa.

File:Villa del Casale (9528003795).jpgJos Dielis, Wikimedia Commons

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Villa Romana Del Tellaro

The Villa Romana del Tellaro was discovered in Sicily in 1971 and underwent extensive excavations until 2008, when it was opened to the public. Large and lavish, the villa likely featured many exquisite mosaics but only four have survived. They are highly detailed, created with tiny tiles. The largest mosaic features scenes depicting hunting and dining. 

File:Villa Romana del Tellaro (Noto), casale.JPGsailko, Wikimedia Commons

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Villa Romana Di Patti

The Villa Romana di Patti is a large, lavish villa from the 4th century CE located in Sicily. Although parts of the villa did not survive, the mosaic floors in the peristyle and tri-apsidal room remain in excellent condition. The colorful mosaics feature flora and ornamental motifs in the peristyle and animals within medallions in the tri-apse.

File:VR Patti 28 10 2018 01.jpgEffems, Wikimedia Commons

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Mosaic Of Virgil

Part of a larger mosaic discovered in Tunisia, the Mosaic of Virgil is the earliest known portrait of Virgil. The poet is shown as seated, wearing a toga and holding a parchment on which an excerpt of the Aeneid is printed. The mosaic is held at the Bardo National Museum in Tunisia.

File:Virgil mosaic in the Bardo National Museum (Tunis) (12241228546).jpgBoyd Dwyer, Wikimedia Commons

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Zliten Mosaic

Discovered in Libya in 1913, the 2nd-century CE Zliten mosaic has a checkerboard-style center. The alternating squares have center medallions depicting images of fish and marine creatures. The squares are surrounded by a highly-detailed border that features gladiator, hunting, and entertainment scenes. 

File:Bestiarii.jpgUnknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

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Gypsy Girl Mosaic

The Gypsy Girl Mosaic, stunning in its realism and use of color, is dated to the 3rd century CE. Only a fragment of the mosaic remains, but it's beautiful, showing the upper part of a young woman's face, including her enigmatic eyes, a gold earring, and chestnut hair covered by a scarf. It's held at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Turkey and is often used as a symbol of the museum or Turkey itself.

File:The Gypsy Girl Mosaic of Zeugma with bg.jpgMade form the original imageof Nevit Dilmen (talk) by Manco Capac, Wikimedia Commons

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Basilica Of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, located in Rome, was built in the 5th century CE. It was adorned with 42 breathtaking mosaic panels, placed high up on the walls of the central nave. Unfortunately, some have been extensively damaged or deliberately removed, and only 27 remain. The color and detail of these panels, which depict biblical scenes, are extraordinary.

File:Roma - 2016-05-23 - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - 2957.jpgPierre-Selim Huard, Wikimedia Commons

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Beware Of Dog Mosaic

Featured in a 2nd-century CE house in Pompeii, the Beware of Dog Mosaic may be history's first "Beware of the Dog" sign. The black-and-white floor mosaic features a large dog in a typical dog "play" pose, with the words "Cave Canem" underneath, which translates to "Beware Dog".

File:Casa del poeta tragico, mosaico del cave canem.jpgSailko, Wikimedia Commons

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The Baths Of Caracalla

The Baths of Caracalla, built in the 3rd century CE, were the second-largest public baths in Rome. The baths were lavish and included a public library as well as opulent artworks such as imposing marble statues and highly-detailed floor mosaics. Some of those mosaics remain in situ, but a particularly impressive one—featuring portraits of athletes—has been moved to the Vatican Museums.

File:Baths of Caracalla, facing Caldarium.jpgEthan Doyle White, Wikimedia Commons

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Hinton St Mary Mosaic

It's believed that the Hinton St Mary mosaic features the oldest depiction of Jesus Christ in the Roman Empire. First discovered at Hinton St Mary, Dorset, England in 1963, historians were shocked when the found a second panel of the mosaic in 2022. The larger first panel features a portrait of a man in its centre, believed to be Christ, while the smaller panel depicts a scene from Roman mythology, Bellerophon slaying the Chimera. Although the full mosaic was recovered, only the center portrait is on display at the British Museum.

File:Mosaic2 - plw.jpgUser:Fransars, Wikimedia Commons

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