{"id":10921,"date":"2024-02-07T12:07:50","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T19:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/?p=10921"},"modified":"2024-03-16T13:51:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-16T20:51:17","slug":"asturica-augusta-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roamintheempire.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/07\/asturica-augusta-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Asturica Augusta, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The bear and bird mosaic of the Domus del Mosaico del Oso y los P\u00e1jaros.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continued From Asturica Augusta, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I<\/a><\/p>\n

Continuing out through the northeast exit of the Jard\u00edn de La Sinagoga, and then north on Calle Padres Redentoristas, is the Domus del Mosaico del Oso y los P\u00e1jaros, the Domus of the Mosaic of the Bear and Birds. Located at Calle Padres Redentoristas 19, the site is open access at any time with no admission. The wealthy residence was originally constructed in the 1st<\/sup> century CE, but underwent major renovations in the 2nd<\/sup> century CE. It seems to have been inhabited until the 4th<\/sup> century CE. Only about one third of the house is exposed in this archaeological area, with the rest being overlaid by the adjacent Iglesia de San Francisco. A walkway runs over the center of the excavated area, and the southern portion is also open to Calle Padres Redentoristas, while the rest is covered with glass panels through which the remains can be viewed.<\/p>\n

The house gets its name from a mosaic in the northern part of the site, an area identified as a reception hall or oecus<\/em>. The mosaic depicts, as the name suggests, a bear and birds in some of the panels. It dates to a renovation in the late 2nd<\/sup> or early 3rd<\/sup> century CE. The center panel, no longer surviving, likely would have depicted Orpheus. Unfortunately, this is not part of the site through which the walkway passes or from which there are particularly good views from the outside. It is also partially covered by an overhang of the sidewalk around the exterior. It\u2019s a bit disappointing that the eponymous mosaic is kind of hidden from view.<\/p>\n

\"Baths<\/a>
Baths area of the Domus del Mosaico del Oso y los P\u00e1jaros.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adjacent (to the west) of the mosaic is an opus spicatum<\/em> floor in an area that probably functioned as some sort of office area. Running along the side of the site facing the street, to the south of the walkway that spans the site, are the remains of part of the small private bathing complex within the domus. The area closest to the walkway preserves part of the tepidarium<\/em>, which has a few arched reconstructions of the hypocaust system that would have been present. Beyond that, to the south, is a small corner of what would have been the frigidarium<\/em>. There are a couple of informational signs in both English and Spanish located at the walkway across the site.<\/p>\n