Xenia motif
Encyclopedia
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.
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 epigram
matic inscription attached to the presents, xenia epigram
s.
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
is a still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
motif consisting of a grouping of various items, mostly edible, representing a generous offering (a xenia) from a wealthy host to his guests.
Typical elements of a xenia motif include game hanging from hooks, fish, baskets of fruit (often overturned), and the like. Vitruvius
Vitruvius
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura ....
lists specifically "poultry, eggs, vegetables, and other country produce".
Xenia motifs are typically found in reception rooms.
The word xenia
Xenia (Greek)
Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality, or generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home. It is often translated as "guest-friendship" because the rituals of hospitality created and expressed a reciprocal relationship between guest and host.The Greek god Zeus sometimes referred...
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 epigram
Epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
matic inscription attached to the presents, xenia epigram
Xenia epigram
A xenia epigram is an epigram attached to a gift, sometimes as represented in a xenia mosaic. Originally found in Latin literature, it was revived in the nineteenth century.An example:-With a Mosaic "Forget me not":...
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