A giant poolside mosaic featuring intricate geometric
patterns has been unearthed in southern Turkey, revealing the far-reaching
influence of the Roman Empire at its peak.
The mosaic, which once decorated the floor of a bath
complex, abuts a 25-foot (7-meter)-long pool, which would have been open to the
air, said Michael Hoff, a University of Nebraska, Lincoln art historian and
director of the mosaic excavation. The find likely dates to the third or fourth
century, Hoff said. The mosaic itself is an astonishing 1,600 square feet (149
square meters) — the size of a modest family home.