MOSAIC  
Baños de la Reina
(Calpe, Alicante)

Stone tesserae
l: 264 cm; w: 288 cm
Roman
2nd Century AD
 

Mosaic with a design formed by black tesserae on a white background depicting a vine growing out of a pot (krater). Between the branches small winged spirits wander carrying baskets in their hands and collecting grapes. There is a small bird perched on one of the branches. The decorative figures do not have a defined outline, but are formed by the internal tessarae.

The mosaic was found in excavations by M. Pellicer in 1965. In the 18th century, J. Cavanilles recorded a similar mosaic, also in Calpe, except that his mosaic was symmetrical and that there was a mouse in the upper part of the decoration. It is likely that the two mosaics were facing each other forming part of the same floor, around a circular structure with a drain.
C.S.: 3774
PELLICER, M., 1966.
ABAD CASAL, L., 2002.
CAVANILLES, A.J., 1797