Das Schicksal der Psyche nach zwei hellenistischen Mosaikemblemen in Pompeji

Abstract

In 2018 House V 2, 22 was excavated in Pompeii, and in Cubiculum diurnum 6 and Ala 13 two very unusual Hellenistic mosaic emblems were discovered. Massimo Osanna, the director of the excavations, published them in 2019. His interpretation linking these to the deeds of Orion and his relocation to the firmament is disputed here. Rather, the image can be understood with the help of Plato’s texts as Psyche bound to the body and threatened by earthly passions (Cubiculum diurnum emblem) and as the ascension of the soul purified by Eros (Ala emblem).