Alexander Mosaic back in Pompeii

[marcus]

Well, it's only a copy, but they've finally got round to the idea of putting a copy of the mosaic back in situ ... how weird would it be to see it on the floor? :-)http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=2 ... ng.araball the bestMarcus

[azara]

Dear Marcus,
Since I cite Paolo MorenoGÇÖs books quite often, this time I rely on on Amyntoros authority. On June 15 Amyntoros wrote in this forum:
"There's Apelles: The Alexander Mosaic by Paolo Moreno, published by Skira Editore, Milan, 2001. It's a 9-1/2 by 11-1/2 book with over twenty full-page (sometimes double-page) colour close-ups of the mosaic, along with many smaller black and white photographs of other ancient works of art inspired by Apelles, or thought to be copies of his work. Excellent supporting text as well.Personally, I can't recommend this book enough, but it isn't cheap - $55 new from Amazon, and around $33 used. I rarely pay that much for a book, but I've never regretted this purchase. " MorenoGÇÖs book, besides being a feast for the eyes, proposes some new interpretations. In his opinion the mosaic wasnGÇÖt made in Pompeii, but was transported there from an unidentified Hellenistic city, cut in two pieces along the central vertical axis. In this circumstance it suffered serious damage, especially in the right half, and was botched up somehow. Moreover, in the original location of the mosaic AlexanderGÇÖs eye had been stolen, because it was made with precious or semi-precious stones, and it was restored with stones different from those present in the rest of the mosaic; in the process the area of the eye had to be enlarged, and that is the reason for that enormous and anatomically incorrect eye (which I actually like!). YouGÇÖll remember the pebble mosaic from Pella of GÇ£the lion huntGÇ¥: in it, too, Alexander and the other man, whoever he is, are eyeless. As for the copy being placed in situ, well, I hope modern Pompeians will arrange things so that it is appreciated and respected. All the best Alessandra

[Gary]

Good spotting, thanks Marcus!The article says "the copy is faithful". Is that faithful to the mosaic we see today, with bits missing, or faithful to the original, complete and undamaged? I guess we'll see soon enough.Gary

[marcus]

Ah, well, don't know about that, Gary. I'm not sure which I'd prefer, to be honest - it sounds as if a trip to Naples and Pompeii is in order at some point!ATBMarcus