Mosaic of the Frigidarium

This intricate black-and-white mosaic (2nd c. AD) adorned the frigidarium floor of the Baths of the Seven Sages. Rich in vegetal motifs and encircled by animals, including a panther and a bull, it evoked Dionysian associations. Its elegance and symmetry reflect the refined aesthetic of Ostia’s upper-middle-class bathing culture.