The design of Roman mosaics in North Africa and their geometric references

This paper deals with the geometric analysis of the Roman mosaics found in the domus of the archaeological areas of Volubilis, in Morocco, and Bulla Regia, in Tunisia. It analyzes the expressions of mosaic art which in the Roman empire, between the 2°nd and 4°th centuries AD, attained a particular geometric decorative refinement. The tessellation of the mosaics of Volubilis and Bulla Regia is just an example of a cultural universe that for centuries has been a testimony to the lifestyles and myths of the Roman Empire and that today, if appropriately exploited, could contribute to enhance the knowledge and the identity of the Mediterranean heritage. The research proposes an interpretation of the mosaics through the disassembly of the pavements into their constituent elements in order to provide a geometric analysis useful for the purposes of classification and acquisition of knowledge. This study leads to an analysis useful for the classification of figures and patterns, and their meanings. The principle followed is, therefore, that of the disassembly and reassembly of areas of mosaic tiling, thus creating a dialogue between the two-dimensional data provided by the floor coverings and the survey data concerning the architectural context.