The Oceanos and Tethys Mosaic was unearthed in 1999 during rescue excavations conducted by the Gaziantep Museum approximately 15 meters above the Euphrates River, at the Kelekağzı Üstü area.【1】 This mosaic was found at the bottom of a shallow pool in the peristyle of a Roman residence known as Oceanos Villa. It is currently exhibited at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum located in Gaziantep. The mosaic features a composition centered on the mythological sea god Oceanos and his wife Tethys. Oceanos is depicted as an elderly man with a long beard, and he wears a lobster claw on his head to emphasize his identity as a sea god.【2】 Tethys is defined by the wings emerging from the sides of her head and by the mythological sea creature Ketos (dragon) entwining her neck.
Oceanos and Tethys Mosaic (Photograph: Kültür Portalı)
Similar to the Zeugma coins in which the Euphrates River is depicted as a dragon, this Ketos figure is also used as a symbol of the river. In the upper right corner of the mosaic, there is a young male figure fishing on a rock. This figure is thought to belong to Pan, the protective deity of shepherds. Various marine creatures and figures of Eros can be seen around the mosaic. The placement of the border figures, the Erotes and Pan, facing outward, indicates that the images in the mosaic were arranged to be admired while circulating around the pool.
In Roman mosaic art, deities associated with water were generally depicted in areas close to water such as baths, fountains, and villas. This mosaic depicting Oceanos and Tethys has been evaluated not only as a decorative element but also as an artistic expression of the belief in water culture. From a technical perspective, the detailed workmanship of the figures, the shading techniques used, and the application of perspective reflect the advanced level of Roman mosaic art.
Oceanos and Tethys Mosaic (Photograph: T.C. Ministry of Industry and Technology Development Gallery)
According to mythological narratives, Oceanos and Tethys are divine beings descended from the Titans. In ancient Greek cosmology, Oceanos was considered a vast body of water that surrounded the world.【3】 In Roman mythology, Oceanos was generally regarded as a peaceful figure who maintained the order of the universe. Tethys, on the other hand, was associated with fertility and the nourishing power of water.【4】
