I Spy: Roman Wall Painting

Look closely at this fresco fragment from a villa in Boscoreale, near ancient Pompeii. It once decorated the wall of an alcove that opened onto a peristyle, a courtyard lined with columns. Before you read on, take thirty seconds and just look. What is the very first thing your eye goes to?

Now, I Spy...

I spy a bull's head. Can you find it? Look at what's draped around it. Those are garlands, and they're loaded with fruit, grape leaves, wheat, and pinecones. Can you spot the pinecones hiding among the leaves?

I spy a snake. It's slithering out of a basket that hangs from the bull's mouth. Follow the garland down until you find the basket. Does the snake look like it's moving fast or slow to you?

I spy a bearded face. This is a mask of a satyr, a mythical companion of the god Dionysos, hanging right in the center of the garland. What kind of expression does he have? Happy? Sneaky? Something else?

I spy something musical. On the right side of the garland hangs a small bronze cymbal. Satyrs were often shown playing instruments like this one, or drinking, since they kept company with the god of wine. Can you find it?

What do you notice that we didn't mention?