![]() Murray Handbook for Travellers in Algeria and Tunis - 1895 It represents Neptune in his chariot surrounded by fifty-six medallions of gods and goddesses, each set in a beautiful garland of foliage. On the floor is the great Mosaic from Susa, 160 metres square, one of the finest which exists It was formerly in the Grand Salle des FĂȘtes of the Palace Museum of Bardo: the Great Mosaic from Sousse in the new wing of the Museum. The landlord who placed the mosaic in his reception or dining room had in depth knowledge of the poem and he suggested his guests a theme for a conversation of his liking. The mosaic instead says that Virgil needed the help of two different Muses depending on the subject he was dealing with. ![]() In the quoted verses the poet asks a Muse for help, and almost all commentators indicate he refers to Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry. It cannot be regarded as a real portrait of the poet because it is dated at least IInd century AD and Virgil died in 19 BC, but it is not a merely conventional one, as in some mosaics which portray a group of poets, e.g. ![]() This floor mosaic was found by mere chance in a military camp outside Sousse in 1896 and it soon became one of the masterpieces of the recently founded Alaoui (Bardo) Museum in Tunis. Museum of Bardo: (left) Virgil between Clio, the Muse of History and Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy (right) upside down detail showing Aeneid I:8 "Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso" (Muse, recall to me the reasons by which divine will having been offended) ![]() You may wish to see an introductory page to this section or a page on Sousse, the ancient Hadrumetum first. ![]()
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