In the outdoor exhibition space that doubles as the roof of the Archaeological Museum of Naxos, a mosaic floor has been exhibited for several decades. It was discovered in the excavation of a house in the Aplomatas area of Chora, in 1961, by the archaeologist N.M. Kontoleon. Made in the opus tessellatum style, measuring 5.5 m wide x 5.0 m long (with a total area of 27.5 sq.m), it dates to around the 4th century AD.
The central theme depicts a half-naked female figure (Nereid or Nymph) riding a sea monster that, however, looks more like a bull. Fish, peacocks and deer complete the representation. At the borders of the mosaic there is a continuous pattern of ivy leaves, guilloche, meanders and other decorative motifs.
The mosaic is composed throughout of tesserae of limestone (marble), glass and ceramic, whose sizes range from 0.003 m to 0.015 m. The colours of the stone tesserae are white, black, grey and ochre, of the ceramic ones red and ochre, whilst those of glass are light blue, light and dark green, yellow, orange and red.
The ravages of time have left their marks on the mosaic. Over the years and due to its exposure to environmental conditions, fungi, algae and bryophytes have developed on the mosaic’s surface and its aesthetic deterioration has been great.
In the summer of 2015, the mosaic was cleaned: a biocide solution in water was applied by the Conservators of Antiquities of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades with the help of surgical instruments (scalpels), small tools (points) and the use of a hard floor-scrubbing brush (vegetal matter and plastic). Any tesserae detached due to the deterioration of their substrate were also fixed back in place. Minor additions of new mortar were applied where the original had been lost.
Thanks to the concern shown by the Archaeologist in charge of the island of Naxos, Mrs. Irini Legaki (who strove for the conservation to be done), and the actions of the Head of the Conservation Department of the Ephorate, Mr. Ioannis Staikopoulos, the mosaic is today once again in a good state of conservation, available to visitors of the Archaeological Museum of Naxos to enjoy.
Bibliography: N. M. Kontoleon, PAE 1961, 196-200, fig. 3, p. 191, house III, plate 153,
Goumas, Report of the work carried out on the conservation of two mosaic floors on the island of Naxos, 2015.
