276 



in deciding the object which the figure here described is intended 

 to depict. It is either an urn or, as is more probable a patera 

 containing a conical loaf, of that kind known to be used at 

 Grecian feasts under the name of Uvpay-ovq (Pyramys). 



On the south side of the transverse wall was a second pave- 

 ment (I), of an entirely different pattern from the one just 

 described ; it was composed of a central and two lateral portions, 

 which apparently ran the whole length of the room, 22 feet 

 6 inches, meeting a transverse portion, which joined the dividing 

 wall; this band was composed of alternating blue and white 

 pyramids with their apices in opposite directions, and bounded 

 by a narrow blue and white line, being occasionally interrupted 

 by a tessera of the central design, which is composed of a series 

 of overlapping shells, like figures composed of an external blue 

 line, the internal colours being red, drab and white. The 

 lateral portion enclosing this central mosaic, was composed of 

 a white line of three, a blue of one, and a red of five tesserse ; 

 without this is a series of drab squares, measuring 14 by 

 12 inches of two tesserae, the corners white, and enclosing a 

 white space. The whole of this pavement was so much dilapi- 

 dated, that whether the two sides were similar, and whether the 

 general character and arrangement of the upper part was carried 

 throughout, could not be accurately ascertained. Rooms having 

 similar apsoidal recesses are described by Dr. Bruce as having 

 been found in connection with the baths at Cilurnum, Hunnum 

 and Lanchester on the Koman wall. The same thing occurs at 

 Durobrivse and Lymne, and at Isurium a basilica, with an 

 alcove, has been exposed ; in fact such an adjunct has been 

 found almost universally in Roman houses in Britain. No 

 hypocaust could be found below this pavement at Dalton 

 Parlours, and the tesserse were fixed in a concrete of mortar and 

 powdered brick. 



The several colours of the tessera, which were, blue, red, 

 drab, white, yellow, pink or light red, and brown, were 

 produced by a variety of material, and were principally- 

 natural substances. White was produced by cubes of chalk, 

 whilst lias and a sandstone, probably of the coal measures, gave 



