Find Spot: Villa of Lucius Verus on the Via Cassia near to Rome

Date of Illustration: Second/third century CE

Description: A black/white mosaic, from the Villa of Lucius Verus on the Via Cassia near to Rome shows tuba which is much longer than earlier instruments and those depicted in military contexts and has a noticeably-flared bell. Mosaics of this type became fashionable from the first century CE onwards. The salpinktes is shown near a herm and basin (a sort of bowl on a plinth). In this the scene, a victorious athlete stands to the left of the tubicen and carries a short palm in his left hand. He holds his right hand up to the crown he wears. Standing next to him can be seen the defeated athlete who sits on the ground and holds his hand up to his head adopting the typical pose of the loser of the contest who is in despair.

It is suggested by the author, Dunbabin,this mosaic most likely refers to a specific agon/games as has a table which holds busts of the Capitoline.

Clad in the conventional dress of a Roman tubicen is seen, the player has cloak pinned on his right shoulder over his tunic. On his feet are typical-looking boots.

The instrument which the player is holding scaling at around 2.4 metres, giving the instrument a tonality of 8-foot C. This a considerably-longer and deeper instrument than those shown in earlier Greek or contemporary Roman iconography.

Citations: Dunbabin 2015: especially p.197 ff., Figures 4, 5 & 8

Image: