Lion Attacking an Onager (detail), A.D. 150–200, Hadrumetum, (now Tunisia), stone and glass. The J. Paul Getty Museum
Roman Mosaics across the Empire
GETTY VILLA
Museum, Floor 2
Roman decor was unique for the elaborate mosaic floors that transformed entire rooms into spectacular settings of vibrant color, figural imagery, and geometric design. Scenes from mythology, daily life, the natural world, and spectacles in the arena enlivened interior spaces and reflected the cultural ambitions of wealthy patrons. Drawn primarily from the Getty Museum's collection, this exhibition presents the artistry of mosaics as well as the contexts of their discovery across Rome's expanding empire—from its center in Italy to provinces in North Africa, southern Gaul, and ancient Syria.
