The iconography of the myth of Pelope and Hippodamia in Roman Musivaria. New contributions from mosaic of Noheda

Abstract

Until recently, it was considered that although the myth of Pelope, Oenomaus and Hippodamia was widely accepted in antiquity it did not have many representations. Apart from the scene adorning the pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, the examples of this iconography were limited to several vascular elements of art and some sarcophagi. However, there were few scenes allusive to this mythical episode in the mosaics being the most significant the mosaic conserved in the Museum of Damascus. However, the discovery of the only specimen in Noheda known so far, thanks to the full development of all episodes of this myth, has documented the iconography of each episode and the different characters who are involved, facilitating the reinterpretation of other known mosaics and the identification of a possible new copy.