Mosaic Floor Drinking Doves

View of a detail of the central portion of the Domus mosaic.  A "rolling wave" design frames the two doves sitting on a "bath."  This "drinking doves" pattern was very common in mosaic floors.  The design derives from a paitning by Sosos who was from Pergamon.

Pliny the Elder commented:

"Beautiful are the drinking doves whose head cast a reflection on the water of the cantharus."