DESCRIPTION:

The largest reception room of the "House of Orpheus" contains two mosaic panels with two different scenes. The first, smaller panel is placed in front of the entrance to the room and depicts Hercules and the Nemean Lion. This is the first of the twelve labours that the mythical hero had to perform. The mythical monster lived in the area of Nemea and spread terror. Hercules after trying, without success, to kill the lion with arrows and his club finally throttled the beast with his bare hands. The composition here is unusual since in representations with the same theme usually Hercules and the lion are shown engaged in the fight.

In the centre of the floor a larger panel depicts an Amazon holding the reins of her horse. The Amazons were a people of women who lived in a country of their own in Asia Minor. The Phrygian cap of the Amazon in the mosaic representation testifies to her origin. They were ready for war and brave and lived without the help of men. When they mated and gave birth they kept only the girls and killed or expelled the boys from their territory. Like the composition with Hercules, this composition is of particular interest since the Amazons are usually depicted fighting on horseback.