The Magerius mosaic revisited

A detailed re-examination and analysis of the Magerius mosaic from Smirat, now in the Sousse Museum, produces some new ideas. The naming of the leopards implies that they were not, strictly speaking, wild animals but had been raised in captivity. It is doubtful that the inscription is entirely truthful about the speculative nature of the show mounted by the Telegenii or about the spontaneity of Magerius's payment. The show depicted is unlikely to have taken place in the major centres of Hadrumetum (Sousse) or Thysdrus (El Djem), since the original asking price of 8,000 sesterces is relatively modest: the most likely venue is Leptiminus. The author goes on to analyse the religious aspects of the mosaic, demonstrating why Bacchus and Diana are appropriate to the representations. The professional troupes of hunters may have been involved not just in organising shows but also in the capture of the wild animals exhibited. It is possible to conjecture a programme of events proceeding clockwise round the pavement, and the show in question may have taken place at the Liberalia in March.