The Pelta

Filler motifs
Peltae can also be found in the triangular corners of diamond compositions.
On a mosaic (probably from Kos) in the Palace of the Grand Master of the
Knights of Rhodes, four black peltae with heart-shaped endings frame a
diamond containing a polychrome shield. The peltae face each other in a rigid
symmetrical pattern. They attain a particular gravity through the absence of
other decorative motifs and the dominance of the white background.
The composition on a mosaic from Patras makes a less static impression. The
courtyard mosaic is divided into nine sections with various geometric patterns.
Directly bordering the north east corner is a square field containing a diagonally
positioned rectangle. Peltae with an apex in the form of a volute decorate the
corners. They have black borders and are filled with a light colour (probably
red).
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