The ‘Felix’ mosaic from Serdica
The ‘Felix’ mosaic from Serdica

Summary/Abstract: In 2011 during archaeological excavations in the central area of Sofia was discovered a well preserved mosaic. It covers the floor of a spacious room (probably a representative hall) of one of the large houses. The mosaic consists of six panels with different geometrical schemes. In the central part of the floor is placed the pseudo-emblema, which presents a running wheel surrounded by a stylized laurel wreath with alternating green and purple leaves. Around the wreath in the four corners of the panel there are four cantharoi with wine stems, leaves and grapes growing from their rims. The techniques used in the mosaic decoration are opus tessellatum and opus vermiculatum (only in the pseudo-emblema). On two of the crescent-like segments of the running wheel is inscribed a word ‘Felix’ with smaltae. According to the archaeological context the mosaic dates to the 80s of the 4th century AD.

• Details
• Contents