Mosaique "à la méduse"

The mosaic called "Medusa" rectangular shape, preserved on a surface of 57m ² (in a room estimated at 65m ² originally), comes from the domus of the College Lumiere. It was discovered during the excavations prior to the remodeling of the Collège Louis Lumière, directed by Claudine Munier (Inrap) in 2004.it is a mosaic with multiple decorations whose ornamental organization is particularly complex: a series of geometric boxes that form borders and successive extensions frame a central medallion according to a completely original model. At the heart of the central panel (emblema) appears a prophylactic theme very common on the pavements of mosaics: a head of Medusa (gorgoneion) placed in the center of a shield-egid. In the two spandrels are a sea monster (ketos) pursuing a dolphin and a double winged caduceus, all around the emblema alternate geometric patterns separated by braids.