“Like lentils rolling in flour!” – how the excavator of the famous pebble mosaics at Pella described their dire state of conservation upon their discovery in the late 1950’s. A vivid image, and an indication of the challenging restoration and consolidation in store for them.
Pella was the traditional capital of ancient Macedonia, and the birthplace of Alexander the Great. The lavish pebble mosaics decorated the fancier house of the 4th century city, and are incredible feats of artistry. The most famous examples include Dionysos riding his leopard, a lion hunt, a stag hunt and the abduction of Helen.
The muted naturally occurring colors of the pebbles are combined to great effect, complete with foreshortening, shading, and shadowing. In the earlier examples strips of lead are used to further mark out anatomical details.
