Saturday, October 21, 2006

Hexagram Room


A 3rd century Roman room full of hexagrams in Villa Romana del Casale in the town of Piazza Armerina in the province of Enna, Sicily. Researchers couldn't identify the owner of this villa. This is THE BEST ancient hexagram artifact I've seen so far. In each hexagram there's a circular emblem, containing allegories of the four seasons or images of fish and birds.

The mosaics are made of rare marble pieces which are called Opus sectile.
Picture is courtesy of "liberalmind1012" who published it on Flickr and wrote to me:
I didn't even see the stars until you pointed them out--thanks!

Coptic Church

A six-pointed star on the upper right side of this decoration which is in the Coptic "Hanging Church" in Old Cairo, Egypt . It is called el-Muallaqa in Arabic, and is dedicated to St. Mary.
Picture is courtesy of "phool 4 XC" who published it on Flickr.
This is the first time I stumble upon a Coptic six-pointed star.
From:

The Mystery Of The Menorah And The Star Richard A. Freund University of Hartford in

Nationalism, Zionism and ethnic mobilization of the Jews in 1900 and beyond ed. Michael Berkowitz, 2004 ISBN 9004131841 ‏:

Coptic Christianity also picked up the symbol and used it on stamps with a cross in the center, a rosette in the center, and with a series of triangles in and around the points of the hexagram

Villa Romana del Casale

A very well preserved white lily inside a black hexagon inside a white six-pointed star from late 3rd century in the northern part of the villa Romana del Casale, in the town of Piazza Armerina in the province of Enna, Sicily. 
African artists who were renowned for their expertise in polychrome mosaics probably made these mosaics. This villa has nearly 50 rooms and the mosaics in it cover an area of 3500 square meters. 
Picture is courtesy of "reziemba" from Flickr.