I focused my research project on three Antioch mosaics found in unusual places: the Cilicia mosaic and Interlacing Circles mosaic from the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the House of the Buffet Supper Central mosaic from La Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva (Villanova University) (figures 1, 2, and 3). These mosaics are, or were last seen in, Norman, Oklahoma and Havana, Cuba, respectively. I completed field research by visiting Sam Noble to view the two mosaics and talk with the curator, Dr. Claire Nicholas. For the Villanova mosaic, I translated a passage from a yearbook to confirm that a photograph depicts the Antioch mosaic fragments at the university in 1957.

In a review of C. R. Morey’s 1938 art book entitled The Mosaics of Antioch, the authoring critic argues that “There are a few finds, in the history of archeology, which have instantly captured the attention of the average layman and have become thoroughly publicized and even à la mode” (“New Art Books”, p. 139-40). This comment elicits a few questions. Why did the Antioch mosaics fascinate the “layman” and “instantly capture” public attention? Importantly, what exactly was “thorough” publicity saying to drive this unique engagement?

Students viewing the fragment of a mosaic floor depicting Narcissus and Echo from a balcony overlooking a stairwell in the Baltimore Museum of Art