Floor mosaic with the Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs
Culture: Roman
Culture: Roman
Dimensions:
63 3/4 x 77 3/8 x 1 1/2 in. (161.9 x 196.5 x 3.8 cm)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 99.8.2
Provenance: sold, Christie's, New York, June 4, 1999, lot 165, to San Antonio Museum of Art
Label Text
The mythical Lapiths lived in Thessaly, a region in northern Greece. The leader of the Lapiths, Pirithous, invited the half-human, half-horse Centaurs to his wedding to a woman named Hippodamia. The Centaurs drank too much wine, became unruly, and tried to carry off several Lapith women, including the bride. This mosaic depicts the fight that broke out when the Lapiths attempted to restore order and rescue the women. (Jessica Powers, 2008)
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
