DESCRIPTION:

The central panel of the second mosaic floor of the "Hellenistic House" depicts a relatively rare subject in mosaic compositions: the Three Horae (Hours), who according to mythology were the daughters of Zeus and Themis, and sisters of the Three Fates and the Nymphs. They had various duties, including the opening and closing of the gates of Olympus with clouds, regulating the seasons of the year, and promoting the fertility of the earth. The Horae were benevolent, kind, and beneficent deities who protected the well-being of humankind. For this reason, in the arts, they are usually depicted as three happy, young women dancing and holding each other's hands, often with a flower or a branch in hand. In this representation, however, the Horae, in contrast to their usual dancing posture, are depicted as static and embracing, without the usual joyful movement. Nevertheless, the flowers and branches held by each one of them are not omitted, maintaining their connection to nature and the seasons. The mosaic is dated to the 3rd century AD.