Delos House of the Dolphins

A house of the Hellenistic period: Is the one known as the House of the Dolphins. The entrance leads into the peristyle, with the mosaic pavement, which gives the house its name, and adjoining this are a large room and several smaller apartments.

A large rosette of vegetal motifs adorns the center of the floor, surrounded by decorative concentric circles. In one of these the signature of the artist can still be read, possibly one Asclepiades from Arados in Syria: 'Askle(piades) the Aradian made it'. It is very rare to have the name of the craftsman, since mosaicists usually remained anonymous. Notable is the zone of decoration in the form of heads of griffins, birds and lions. Depicted in the four corners of the floor are pairs of dolphins ridden by Εrotes with the attributes of Hermes (caduceus), Poseidon (trident), Dionysos (thyrsos); the attribute of the fourth eros is not discernible. Τhe overall composition and the range of colors are quite wonderful.
(Photos by Michael Tziotis)

Delos Mosaic Corner Ornament	Delos Mosaic Corner Ornament Unlike the previous one!
Pair of dolphins 1	Pair of dolphins 2
Pair of dolphins 1 (Detail)	Pair of dolphins 2 (Detail)
Internal Decorative Circle (Detail)	Internal Grifffins Decorative Circle (Detail) A griffin was a mythological monster, a blend of both eagle and lion characteristics. Many such griffins are to be seen in the decoration of the National Library Building in Athens (Please see our relevant Album)
Pair of Dolphins 3	Pair of Dolphins 3 and 'Wave' Interior Decorative Circles, plus the 'meander' circle
Meander Decorative Circle	Internal Decorative Circle