A 2,400-year-old mosaic discovered in Greece features the images of two naked men with tails dancing to music.
The mosaic depicts two hybrid souls between humans and animals representing Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility. (Photo: Greek Ministry of Education).
Construction workers in Greece have recently uncovered a beautiful mosaic depicting two hybrid souls between naked humans and animals.
According to a statement from the Greek Ministry of Culture, this floor was once part of a building in Eretria, a town on the island of Euboea, home to an ancient Greek settlement. Researchers date this house to the late Classical period, around the mid-fourth century BC.
The mosaic, in excellent condition, measures 1.13 meters wide and is made of colorful pebbles arranged in a pattern to depict two male forest deities with tails, horns, and pointed ears. The younger figure plays a double flute, while the older, bearded man dances to the music. This colorful pattern adds realism and vitality to the characters.
In Greek mythology, Satyrs are “wild creatures closely associated with Dionysus”, the god of fertility, wine, and pleasure. In addition to the mosaic, researchers also unearthed a plaster floor running along three sides of the room. This room likely served as a men’s quarters and a place for gatherings or parties, similar to what is depicted in the mosaic.
