1818

Bust of Juba II, artifact from Volubilis Rabat Archaeological museum

The houses found at Volubilis range from richly decorated mansions to simple two-room mud-brick structures used by the city's poorer inhabitants. The city's considerable wealth is attested by the elaborate design of the houses of the wealthy, some of which have large mosaics still in situ. They have been named by archaeologists after their principal mosaics (or other finds) House of the Knight takes its name from a bronze statue of a rider found here in 1918 that is now on display in the archaeological museum in Rabat ©Trevor

©TrevorHouse of the Knight

House of the Knight

House of the Knight

House of the Knight

House of the Knight, Mosaic of Bacchus coming across the sleeping Ariadne (who later bore him six children)

House of the Knight

House of the Knight

House of the KnightRoman mosaic of Bacchus

and Ariadne naked and asleep on the beach at Naxos(detail)

The House of the Ephebe was named after a bronze statue found there (now in Rabat Archaeological museum)© jacqueline poggion ©yves Tennevin

Atrium with lobed fountain in the House of the Labors of Hercules

House of the Labors of Hercules

House of the Labours of Hercules, atrium

House of the Labors of Hercules where the mosaic is almost a comic caricature, recounting the Twelve Labours of Hercules – many of which are reputed to have occurred in Morocco

House of the Labours of Hercules, detail

House of the Labours of Hercules, detail

House of the Labours of Hercules, detail

House of the Labours of Hercules, detail

Musician with double flute from four seasons mosaic (detail)House of Dionysus

House of Dionysus

House of Dionysus Mosaic of the Four Seasons and four muses (fragment)

Some of Volubilis' finest mosaics are in the House of Venus, once home to King Juba II and now conveniently marked by a distinctive lone cypress treeAppropriately, the two best mosaics have semi-romantic themes. The first is   Diana Bathing and depicts the virgin goddess being glimpsed in her bath by the hunter Acteon

Mosaic of Diana and Actaeon, House of the Procession of Venus

Mosaic of Diana and her nymph surprised by Actaeon while bathing, from the House of Venus

Mosaic of the Abduction of Hylas by the Nymphs, an erotic composition showing Hylas being lured away from his duty by two beautiful nymphs

Mosaic of the Abduction of Hylas by the Nymphs, an erotic composition showing Hercules’ lover Hylas being lured away from his duty by two beautiful nymphs

In classical mythology, Hylas was a youth who served as Heracles' companion and lover

Nymph on horseback with fish tail, mosaic in House of Venus

Sound: Saïd Chraïbi - Maquamat 2016

Text: InternetPictures: Internet Sanda Foişoreanu Sanda NegruțiuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuhttps://plus.google.com/+SandaMichaela

The Dog of Volubilis was found in 1916, dating back to Hadrian in the early 2nd century