✅ These wonderful mosaics were found in 1779 in the Imperial Palace by Cardinal Marefoschi, who excavated in the properties of Count Centini in search of treasures, as was customary at that time.

✅ They are today in the Vatican Museums, in the Cabinet of the Masks, which is rarely open to the public. Four panels of very fine mosaic have been placed in the floor, surrounded by a modern white mosaic with ivy leaves and stars. But the megnificent outer cornice is also ancient, with leaves and ribbons on a dark red background.

✅ Two mosaic panels have the symbols of Apollo and two have the symbols of Dionysus. In the first one we see a scenic mask and the symbols of Apollo: a griffin, the lyre and the quiver with arrows. in the second there are four scenic masks and again the lyre of Apollo.

✅ The third panel has the symbols of Dionysus: the leopard biting a musical instrument, a kantharos and a mask crowned with grape leaves. The last mosaic has an idyllic landscape with five goats, a pond and a small shrine in front of which Dionysus is seated.
 
✅ The mosaic tesserae are very small, 2 millimeters, like those of the famous Mosaic of the Doves that we described in another post as one of  the most beautiful mosaics of the world. These precious mosaic panels (called "vermiculatum") were produced by specialized workshops, probably in Asia Minor.

‼️ Mosaics that look like paintings