Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
ADJUNCT MODULE C: WORLD ART
Preferred Title:
Mosaic from the House of Bacchus, Complutum
Alternate Title:
Mosaic from Casa de Baco
Image View:
Detail, Bacchus embraces male follower, while maenad is ready to strike him
Creator:
unknown (Roman (ancient) or Iberian mosaicist)
Location:
repository: Regional Archaeological Museum of Madrid (Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain)
Location Note:
Plaza de las Bernardas
GPS:
40.482828-3.369144
Date:
4th century (creation)
Cultural Context:
Roman (ancient); Spanish
Style Period:
Imperial (Roman)
Work Type 1:
mosaic (visual work)
Classification:
Decorative Arts, Utilitarian Objects and Interior Design
Material:
colored stone tesserae
Technique:
mosaic (process)
Subjects:
agriculture; deities; mythology (Classical); Dionysus (Greek deity); Roman Empire; Bacchus; panthers; Silenus; maenad; Roman Empire in Spain; wine; vineyards
Description:
The first incursions made by Roman troops in what is today the region of Madrid (then known as Carpetania) date back to the early second century BCE. After completing their conquest in the 1st century BCE, they built Complutum (today Alcalá de Henares); this was surrounded by agricultural villas. This is the only Roman town in the Madrid district. The fact that the Romans definitely introduced the cultivation of vines for making wine (a symbol of wealth, distinction and civilisation) in the Iberian Peninsula is proven by the mosaic from the former House of Bacchus (4th century), now kept in the Regional Archaeological Museum. (Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Main_Page)
Collection:
Archivision Adjunct Module C: World Art
Identifier:
7A3-R-S-RAM-BM-A03
Rights:
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.

Mosaic from the House of Bacchus, Complutum