Newsweek
By Jess Thomson
August 1, 2023
Avast mosaic dating back to ancient Rome has been uncovered in Spain, showing the mythical monster Medusa in beautiful detail.
The 323-square-foot mosaic is dotted with fish and peacock motifs, with the depiction of Medusa thought to have been designed to protect locals.
“In a large square in which floral and animal motifs (birds and fish) are interspersed together with masks, the appearance of the image of the Medusa is typical in the mosaic pavements of the [period] as a prophylactic sign or protection of the inhabitants of the domus,” José Vargas, an archeology monitor at the Barraeca II Professional School, said in a statement.