92. Pagan Tomb Mosaic

Creator	Keefe, Susan
Location	Sousse
Date Accessioned	2016-11-17T15:04:55Z
Date Available	2016-11-17T15:04:55Z
Date Issued	July 13, 2000
xmlui.metadata.dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/11258/31606
Description	Archaeological Museum (inside Medina). It is rather small, but contains some Christian tomb mosaics. The chalice with vines coming out of it and other designs on Christian tombs are also normal pagan tomb decoration. DMS at the top of pagan tombstones = Diis Manibus Sacri[?]. Pagans also include years, months, and days the person lived (though Dr. Keefe notes she has not seen hours). Pictured very large pagan mosaic is from the Sousse Catacombs of Hermes (s. III). It shows four ways of fishing, by line, by net, by traps (jugs like lobster traps), and by harpoon. The anchor in the boat looks exactly like the Christian anchor symbol. (The rau [Greek R that looks exactly like a P] for "rex" in the chi/rau Christian chrismon is the eye of the anchor.)
Subject	Archaeology
Subject	Mosaic
Subject	Pagan
Subject	Anchor
Title	92. Pagan Tomb Mosaic