Paphos Mosaics 1 – Representation of the Seasons

Paphos Mosaic – Representing The Seasons

This is the first in a series of posts on the Paphos Mosaics.

This mosaic dates from the first half of the third century AD and personifies the seasons. It is divided into 9 sections with the seasons represented in each of the four corners, between each pair of these there are depictions of hunting scenes. The central figure as of yet remains unidentified. The seasons are all male and vary in age:

Spring; top left corner is a young man who wears a crown of flowers and holds a shepherd’s crook.

Summer; top right corner is an adult male wearing a crown of ears of corn and has a sickle in preparation for harvest.

Autumn;  bottom right hand corner is represented by a middle aged man who wears a crown of leaves and wheat.

Winter; bottom left hand corner is represented by an old man. On his head is an amphora with water pouring from it.

Some restoration work has been undertaken in order to preserve the piece. Thankfully, there is only a few areas of irreparable damage and as such it is possible to obtain an overall sense of what it once looked like. This mosaic is exceptionally beautiful (my photo really does not do it justice).