New Reading of the Mosaic in Noheda (Cuenca, Spain)

Abstract

In the Roman villa of Noheda (Villar de Domingo García, Cuenca), the most distinguished of the structures excavated, is the so-called tri-apsidal (triconch) room, belonging to the residential part of a 4th and 5th century villa, with its 290.64 m2 dimensions and its extraordinary figured mosaics. Many of the mythological themes represented are connected with loving partners: Pelops and Hippodameia, the story of Paris and Helen, the Triumph of Bacchus in the company of Ariadne. The scenes related are also represented to the mime “the jealous husband”, and Venus is evoked trough mythological characters associated with her which appears next to the fishing scenes. The interpretative analysis of the ensemble mosaics found in Noheda is based on the mythological and allegorical scenes depicting certain characters. For instance the Erotes or the typical dextrarum iunctio gesture by lovers, Dionysus and Ariadne’s hierogamia as the divine couple manifest the allegory of the exaltation of love, of the union of divine and human. Together with decorative elements, such as garlands and gardens, related with Venus, goddess of love, leads to an alone interpretation in allegorical lines as the subliminal messages are revolving around the triumph of love. So far, the mosaic in the triclinium of Noheda can be proclaimed as a great exponent of love; of lawful and unlawful relationships, of happy endings with couples’ weddings or punishment inflicted on adulterous characters. It all of it presided over by the spirit of Venus as inspirer of love.

Keywords

• reading
• messages
• mythological characters
• allegorical scenes
• loving partners
• dextrarum iunctio
• hierogamia
• garlands
• erotes
• gardens