Dionysosmosaik, Roman floor artwork in Romano-Germanic Museum, Germany
The Dionysus mosaic is a 70 square meter floor covering made of black and white stone pieces in a Roman villa in Cologne. It displays detailed scenes from the life of the god Dionysus and has been preserved in its original location in the museum's basement.
Workers discovered this Roman floor mosaic from the third century beneath the city during construction of an air raid shelter in 1941. The discovery revealed remains of an entire villa and was carefully excavated before being moved to the museum.
The mosaic depicts stories of Dionysus and his followers through detailed figures and symbolic objects, offering insight into what Romans valued in their homes and religious beliefs. The scenes reflect the artistic skill and mythological knowledge that decorated wealthy households of the period.
The mosaic sits in a basement behind glass and can be viewed through large windows from the Roncalli Square. Access is through the museum, where visitors see the artwork under controlled lighting conditions.
The museum was built to replicate the exact path of ancient Roman streets from about 1800 years ago. The mosaic therefore sits precisely where it was originally laid.
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