• Home
• 1. 1. The Roman villa: source texts and archaeological evidence
     1. What is a villa?
     2. Antiquarians and archaeologists
     3. The villa in Roman Gaul
  2. 2. Loupian, a villa in Gallia Narbonensis
     1. A Roman estate on the plains of Languedoc
     2. Farming along the Mediterranean
     3. Farms in the 1st century BCE
     4. Wine-growing villas in the Early Roman Empire
     5. The residence in Late Antiquity
     6. An archaeological site for the public
     7. 3D reconstructions of Loupian
     8. Virtual visit
        1. Mosaic A – Octagon Mosaic
        2. Mosaic A’ – Autumn and Winter
        3. Mosaic B – The Ivy Mosaic
        4. Mosaic C – The Two-Carpet Mosaic
        5. Mosaic D – Bird Mosaic
        6. Mosaic E – The Archway Mosaic
        7. Mosaic E’ - Acanthus Seed Mosaic
        8. Mosaic I – Swastika Mosaic
        9. Mosaic J – Cross of U-Shapes Mosaic
        10. Mosaic L – Star Mosaic
        11. Mosaic M – Thistle Mosaic
        12. Mosaic N – Spring
        13. Mosaic O – Vine Branch Mosaic
  3. 3. The villa in the provinces of Gaul
• Annexes
  1. Resources
  2. Timeline
• Site map
• Credits
• Accessibility policy
• Versions
  1. English version
  2. Flash version

Mosaic N – Spring

The seasons of the year provide the major theme here – a figurative trend that connects Loupian with Apamea in Syria. The mosaic consists of six large circles delineated by gradated bands and guilloche. The best-preserved medallion depicts Spring, a male figure crowned with flowers. In another medallion we can see Winter, whose head is covered in a green veil composed of tesserae in pâte de verre. Elsewhere, a curved-sided octagon frames a a remarkable “still life": a gadroon-sided urn overflowing with fruit and green leaves. The number of colours employed – 13 throughout the mosaic – and in a wide variety of materials (marble, limestone, terracotta and glass paste) is remarkable.

Mosaic N – Spring

Spring medallion.
© Raymond Rogliano, sarl Mosaïque

Mosaic N – Spring

Solid lines and shaded bands.
© Raymond Rogliano, sarl Mosaïque

Mosaic N – Spring

Gadroon-sided urn overflowing with fruit and green leaves.
© Raymond Rogliano, sarl Mosaïque

Mosaic N – Spring

Winter medallion; the head covering is made of tesserae in pâte de verre.
© Raymond Rogliano, sarl Mosaïque