Archaeologists unlock secrets of ‘remarkable’ Rutland mosaic
The secret story behind an “extraordinary” Roman mosaic unearthed in Rutland has been revealed by archaeologists.
Described as “one of the most important mosaics discovered in the United Kingdom”, the Ketton mosaic was first unearthed during excavation in a farmer’s field in 2020. Experts initially believed that it depicted famous scenes from Homer’s famous epic Iliad, but a new study has shed a different light on the tiles.
Although the tiles depict the famous story of the Trojan War, the scenes actually come from a “long-lost” version of the tale first popularized by Greek playwright Aeschylus, according to new research by archaeologists at the University of Leicester.
Three dramatic panels depict the duel between the Greek hero Achilles and the Trojan prince Hector, the dragging of Hector’s corpse, and his eventual ransom by King Priam, where Hector’s corpse is weighed for gold.
Although this version of the legendary story has been lost to history, it was one of many versions familiar to Romans, experts said.
The panels formed an opulent backdrop to the dining room at the north end of the main villa building. Experts believe it dates back to the 3rd or 4th century AD.
The lead author of this new study, Dr. Jane Masséglia said the study also showed how Romans in Britain were inspired by design choices from across the Mediterranean.
“Not only are there scenes in the Ketton Mosaic depicting Aeschylus’ version of the story, but the top panel is actually based on the design of a Greek pottery from the time of Aeschylus, 800 years before the mosaic was laid,” he explained. “When I noticed the use of standard patterns on one panel, I saw that other parts of the mosaic were based on designs we can see on much older silverware, coins and pottery from Greece, Turkey and Gaul.
“Romano-British craftsmen were not isolated from the rest of the ancient world, but were part of this wider trade network that passed catalogs of patterns down through the generations. At Ketton, we have Romano-British craftsmanship but a Mediterranean design heritage.”
Jim Irvine, who discovered the Ketton mosaic on his family farm in 2020, said the new research reveals “a level of cultural integration in the Roman world that we are just beginning to appreciate.”
“This is a fascinating and important development that suggests Roman Britain may have been much more cosmopolitan than we often imagine.”
