Caseggiato di Bacco e Arianna

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Mosaic with Bacchus and Ariadne
Gorgon head mosaic

The Caseggiato di Bacco e Arianna (III, XVII, 5) (House of Bacchus and Ariadne) is located in Ostia . It is the remains of a representative antique private house. It is particularly notable for its well-preserved mosaics.

The house was probably built under Hadrian in the first half of the 2nd century AD. The entrance to the house led directly into the atrium with a water basin in the middle. Originally there was a door here that led to the Serapis temple next door, but was walled up in the 4th century. This may indicate that Serapis' priests lived in the house. To the north of the atrium is a portico with brick pillars. The floor is decorated with a geometric mosaic. Four rooms lead off the portico. The largest of them is decorated with a mosaic showing Bacchus and Ariadne in the middle. Next to it there are Eros and Pan as well as an old Silenus. The scenes are found within floral motifs. The mosaic is dated to the time of Hadrian. In the neighboring room there is another mosaic with a gorgon head in the middle and birds and vine tendrils arranged around it. This room was probably the dining room of the house.

At the end of the third or fourth century, a fountain was installed in the atrium.

The house has not yet been completely excavated.

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Coordinates: 41 ° 45 ′ 12.8 ″  N , 12 ° 17 ′ 1.8 ″  E