kate223332
Academy of Plato
National Archaeological Museum of Naples
Academy of Plato / Seven philosophers
cm 86 x 85
Villa of T.Siminius Stephanus (Pompeii)
mosaic
Material used basalt limestone
110 BC (110 BC, before 80 BC)
The mosaic in the I Pompeian style portrays the meeting of seven philosophers. Each of them is wearing the characteristic robe of Greek orators and philosophers of the classical period, except one who is also wearing a chiton. The third from the left might be Plato, the first from the left might be Heraclides Pontico, the second Lysias, the second-last on the right Senocrates, while the last on the right might be Aristotle in the act of going away holding a roll in the left hand.
In the background it is possible to recognize the acropolis of Athens with the Parthenon. Around the seven figures are depicted, from left to right, a portal with two columns and an epistyle surmounted by four covered vases (symbols of Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music or the four Seasons of the year or the positions of the Sun), a tree and a votive column with a sundial, typical of a completely mythological landscape, without any specific geographic reference. The theme clearly refers to the literary and philosophical interests of the owner of the villa and probably derives from a late-Hellenistic model.
Academy of Plato
National Archaeological Museum of Naples
Academy of Plato / Seven philosophers
cm 86 x 85
Villa of T.Siminius Stephanus (Pompeii)
mosaic
Material used basalt limestone
110 BC (110 BC, before 80 BC)
The mosaic in the I Pompeian style portrays the meeting of seven philosophers. Each of them is wearing the characteristic robe of Greek orators and philosophers of the classical period, except one who is also wearing a chiton. The third from the left might be Plato, the first from the left might be Heraclides Pontico, the second Lysias, the second-last on the right Senocrates, while the last on the right might be Aristotle in the act of going away holding a roll in the left hand.
In the background it is possible to recognize the acropolis of Athens with the Parthenon. Around the seven figures are depicted, from left to right, a portal with two columns and an epistyle surmounted by four covered vases (symbols of Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music or the four Seasons of the year or the positions of the Sun), a tree and a votive column with a sundial, typical of a completely mythological landscape, without any specific geographic reference. The theme clearly refers to the literary and philosophical interests of the owner of the villa and probably derives from a late-Hellenistic model.