1. The Nilotic Mosaic

3. The Basics Late 1 st cent BC Roman fascination with Egypt Conquered 30 BC Hellenistic Alexandria influence Place – House of Faun, threshold of exedra on north side of first peristyle Size – Occupied whole length of threshold – just under 70 cm across Band interrupted by two columns

4. Content Flora and fauna of Nile River Three pairs of animals confront each other Ducks in background Flora includes reeds and Indian Lotus flowers

5. Content Snake (cobra) regarded favourably in Egypt. Thought to embody or accompany spirits of the dead Crocodile virtually a symbol of Egypt and appears in coins struck by Augustus in 28 BC Hippopotamus often associated with Nile and conventionally shown immersed in water The Ibis sacred to goddess Isis and held in great esteem by Egyptians. There was a strong following of Isis in Pompeii and Herculaneum

6. Style Realistic depiction of depth and space Highlighting Shading Shadowing Three quarter view Overlapping Linear perspective – fauna in background are smaller that those in front, but not realistically Foreshortening

7. Composition