Aquileia Basilica [South Hall, first span] – The Struggle Between Tortoise and Rooster.

Semicircular elements subdivide the surface of the floor right sector into decorative areas similar to large crosses with a curvilinear design. "The fight of the rooster with the turtle" is represented inside a rectangular box; this mosaic is an addition, dating back after the Council of Aquileia in 381, inserted to replace an original panel probably depicting the archangel Gabriel announcing Christ's descent into hell.

Scholars have given various interpretations to this rather obsolete iconography. The Christian interpretation recognizes in this image the eternal struggle between Good and Evil.

The name turtle or tortoise derives from the late Greek term "tartarouchos". This word recurs several times in magical texts and in works by Christian authors with the undoubted meaning of "inhabitant of Tartarus". Therefore this word is variously attributed to malefic entities, inhabitants of darkness, infernal beings called into question in association with the divinities of Hades. The rooster, despite its aggressive vivacity, has the task of crowing at sunrise to announce a new day. The new day is the coming of Christ, "light of the world", therefore the rooster is the bearer of the good news and a symbol of Good. Behind the two animals, the artist has placed a column bearing a prize for the winner. a bag of money, on which the symbol ∞ CCC is barely distinguishable: This figure must be read symbolically as referring to the Trinity: ∞ = infinite, CCC = Trinity; therefore, summing up, it means infinite Trinity.

This iconography, truly unusual in Christian art, could derive from the pagan cult of the god Mithra. The message transmitted by these images alludes to the eternal life, the gift that the Christian will receive if he is able to overcome evil by fighting the sin.

 

Source: Comune di Aquileia

 

Last quarter of the 4th century

Aquileia, Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta

 

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