02-19-2007, 06:08 PM
02-19-2007, 06:15 PM
Wild Animals of Roman Africa, as seen in the mosaics in the Sousse Museum, Tunisia:
Bear
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... x/Bear.jpg
Lion
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... x/Lion.jpg
Cheetah (or Leopard?)
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... heetah.jpg
Tiger
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... /Tiger.jpg
Bear
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... x/Bear.jpg
Lion
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... x/Lion.jpg
Cheetah (or Leopard?)
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... heetah.jpg
Tiger
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/ ... /Tiger.jpg
02-19-2007, 09:38 PM
The feline in question looks to me more like a leopard esp. when comparing it to the felines depicted on the Magerius mosaic from Smirat which shows a venatio. Of course we are talking about art and this could always be stylized but I'm pretty sure since the dots of the fur are shown pretty accurately as more being rings than dots it is a leopard, because cheetahs are dotted. Also cheetahs are very slender while leopards are more sturdy built. So I would say it's a leopard shown on that mosaic.
02-20-2007, 04:27 AM
Medusa,
I think you are probably right! I stood for a long while in front of this mosaic trying to figure this out. :?
Thanks
I think you are probably right! I stood for a long while in front of this mosaic trying to figure this out. :?
Thanks