MOSAICS IN ROMAN BRITAIN:

THE DURNOVARIAN SCHOOL

Jennifer DeMartino

OUTLINE

I. Main figural motifs of Durnovarian School

    1. Bellerophon slaying Chimaera
    2. Neptune and dolphins
    3. Hunting scenes

II. Main features of Durnovarian School

    1. Radial pattern
    2. Crested serpents
    3. Fruit, usually pomegranates
    4. Distinctive multicolored leaves

III. Development of mosaic firm in Durnovaria

IV. Hinton St. Mary, Dorset

    1. Panel A
    1. Christ figure with Chi-Rho monogram
    2. Four corners: Wind representations

B. Panel B

    1. Bellerophon slaying Chimaera
    2. Hunting scenes

V. Frampton Villa, Dorset

A. Room A

    1. Panel A

a. Depictions of Roman gods

b. Four corners: Wind representations

2. Panel B

a. Frieze of dolphins and sea creatures

B. Room B

1. Panel A

a. Apse with urn

b. Chi-Rho

c. Frieze with Neptune and dolphins
    1. pincers sprouting from his head
    2. dolphins swimming out of his beard

d. possibly Bellerophon and Chimaera

e. Scenes of Venus and Adonis(?)

2. Panel B

    1. Bacchus with leopard
    2. hunting scenes

VI. Durngate Street, Dorchester

    1. Large urns

1. crested snakes rising out of urns

2. leaves spreading from base of urn

VII. Withington Villa, Gloucestershire

A. Durnovarian firm laid part of the mosaic, originally a Corinian work

B. Neptune panel

    1. pincers sprouting from his head
    2. dolphins swimming out of his beard
    3. surrounded by dolphins, sea creatures, and sea plants

VIII. Christian theme in the pavements at Hinton St. Mary and Frampton

A. Contrast with Roman mythological scenes on same mosaics

B. Evidence for substantial Christian population in Dorchester