
A massive pool-side mosaic displaying elaborate geometrical designs has been discovered in the southern part of Turkey, exposing the far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire at its peak.
The mosaic, which at one time decorated the flooring of a bath complex, abuts a 25-foot (7-meter)-long pool area, which would have been open to the air, said Michael Hoff, a University of Nebraska, Lincoln art historian and manager of the mosaic excavation. The discovery most likely dates to the third or fourth century, Hoff said. The mosaic by itself is an unbelievable 1,600 square feet (149 square meters) the size of a moderate family house.


