6 THE ROMAN VILLA AT HEMSWORTH. 



authenticated, are very rare. In brief, the attribution of this 

 head must be considered a still open question. 



The Venus pavement, too, is one of great interest. I quote 

 again from the same note in the Dorset County Chronicle : 



" The next noteworthy floor is of peculiar shape, on plan like a 

 slightly-stilted semi-circle, or an apsidal end, i6ft. long and i2ft. 

 yin. broad. The central panel, of the same shape as the whole 

 floor, is occupied by an artistic representation of Venus rising 

 from the waves, and screened at the back by an enormous, 

 beautifully-fluted and delicately-coloured shell, the rays radiating 

 from the point where the goddess's feet meet. Unfortunately 

 the head and body were found to have been destroyed, obviously 

 by deliberate intent, as the remainder of this floor is nearly 

 perfect ; but the legs remain from the hips downwards. The 

 decorated borders enclosing this panel are varied and beautiful. 

 Besides the cable ornament of two and three strands the guilloche 

 appears, and other elaborate geometrical designs delicately 

 foliated. But the broad and main outer band is the most 

 remarkable, for it is occupied by five dolphins delineated with 

 marvellous life and spirit, and with small fish and scallop shells 

 in between. The colours in this pavement are more various 

 than in the first-mentioned, for, in addition to those colours, 

 there appear yellows and browns. Pale blue tessera worked into 

 the lower parts of the dolphins' bodies give an effective impres- 

 sion of the gleam of the creatures emerging from the water." 



It may be added that the procession of dolphins was continued 

 along the chord of the semi-circle, which has been destroyed. 

 Fragments of tesselation mark the position of a square or oblong 

 floor, of which the Venus semi-circle formed the apse. One 

 room at least of this form has commonly been found in these 

 Roman houses, sometimes with indications that piers with folding 

 doors or curtains screened off the apse, which may have served 

 as the sacrariiun of the house. 



To the best of my knowledge this is the only Venus pavement 

 recorded in England. The dolphin border is not uncommon ; 

 it occurs, for instance, at Fifehead Neville, where it surrounds a 



