page_title: Xenia motif
hierarchical_section_title: Xenia motif
caption_attribution_description: English: Composition of intersecting circeles and vegetal serpentines defining curved squares adorned with small medallions each bearing a xenia pattern (welcome gifts for guests): fish, game birds, poultry and fruit. First half third century Sousse Archeological Museum of Sousse Nederlands: Compositie met snijdende cirkels en serpentines, die afgeronde vierkanten definiëren, die met medaillons zijn afgezet. Hierin zien we xenia patronen (welkomstgeschenken voor gasten): vis, gevogelte, fruit. Eerste helft derde eeuw Sousse Archeologisch Museum van Sousse
context_page_description: The xenia motif in Roman mosaic is a still life motif consisting of a grouping of various items, mostly edible, representing a generous offering from a wealthy host to his guests. The items are often spread across different compartments in floor mosaic schemes. No doubt there were once paintings, but these have been lost.
  Typical elements of a xenia motif include game hanging from hooks, fish, baskets of fruit, and the like. Vitruvius lists specifically "poultry, eggs, vegetables, and other country produce".
  Xenia motifs are typically found in reception rooms.
  The word xenia is Greek, and means 'hospitality'; in Latin, it came to mean presents for guests, and later presents in general. It also came to include a class of epigrammatic inscription attached to the presents, xenia epigrams.
context_section_description: The xenia motif in Roman mosaic is a still life motif consisting of a grouping of various items, mostly edible, representing a generous offering (a xenia) from a wealthy host to his guests. The items are often spread across different compartments in floor mosaic schemes. No doubt there were once paintings, but these have been lost.
  Typical elements of a xenia motif include game hanging from hooks, fish, baskets of fruit (often overturned), and the like. Vitruvius lists specifically "poultry, eggs, vegetables, and other country produce".
  Xenia motifs are typically found in reception rooms.
  The word xenia is Greek, and means 'hospitality'; in Latin, it came to mean presents for guests, and later presents in general. It also came to include a class of epigrammatic inscription attached to the presents, xenia epigrams.
caption: Xenia items in compartments, Sousse Museum
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