Saturday, June 25, 2005
Picture This!
I thought I would test the "Blogger" picture thing, so I have uploaded this lovely picture from one of my favorite places in Alexandria. It is an ancient Roman villa that has been found in the midst of the city. Like many of the "finds" in Alexandria, it had been buried under the modern city for centuries before it was discovered. Called the "Villa of the Birds", it houses various rooms, the floors of which are covered with vibrantly colored mosaic tile "rugs". This one is my favorite, as it is the "bird" mosaic of the title. I would love to be able to have it replicated in my home someday when I'm rich. (Along with the "remake" of the Sphinx in my backyard...) I can't imagine the work that went into making these "carpets", but we seem to have lost the workmanship over the years. It's fascinating to me, the colors, and the tiny little pieces of tile that after more than two thousand years are still beautiful. Each little square is a different bird, with a different personality, and really shows the Egypto-Roman confluence of the time period. For those who may be planning a visit to Egypt any time soon, I highly suggest the short drive up to Alexandria which lies on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, and holds many a marvelous treasure. You won't regret it.
