The Pelta

The Pelta
On another example the middle ending features
a small beam consisting of three tessellae with
touching edges (Fig. 17).
In rare cases an apex consisting of three cubes
assembled in a V-shape can also be found (Fig. 18).
Fig. 17
More frequent is a small cross featuring four cubes.
(Fig. 19). Only on a single mosaic, which probably
dates from early Christian times, were the tessallae
that made up the cross laid out in reticular style (Fig.
20). Otherwise they lie on a line with the parallel
rows of small stones in the background and consist
of four coloured tessellae in a cross-formation
around a single white cube. The apex ornamentation
sometimes features differently coloured stones to the
rest of the pelta.
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
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