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Abstract
Finely crafted mosaics called emblemata composed of stone and vitreous tesserae decorated the floors of wealthy private residences in the Greco-Roman world and were often the focal point of mosaic compositions. A little-known circular mosaic from the early Roman Imperial period at the Baltimore Walters Art Museum is an important example of this type. Discovered on the Egyptian art market around 1902, this mosaic was likely displayed in a room where convivia (banquets) and other domestic activities took place and depicts a unique representation of the myth of Ganymede. This thesis reconstructs the extended floor decoration and display context, expands on iconographic interpretations, and examines material composition to model the possible ancient viewing experience. This project also maps previously unrecognized modern restorations and the extent of vitreous materials used on the mosaic. Material analysis conducted by the Walters mosaic reveals that the emblema was more brightly polychromed than previously thought.