Notice the tiny “tesserae” — four-sided tiles — that make up this mosaic. The subject? Two crazy maenads surprising a naked satyr who’s sleeping off his liquor. Although it looks pretty violent, it’s supposedly a humorous scene from a satyrical play where the ladies playfully attempt to cut off the poor guy’s hair and beard. The mosaic originally covered the home’s entry vestibule and was intended to impress visitors with the owner’s wealth and style.
