{The Littlecote Orpheus Mosaic}[22nd February 1989]

[Redbook6:104-105A)][19890222:1537c]{The Littlecote Orpheus Mosaic}[22nd February 1989]

19890222.1537

The notes opposite* were taken from yesterday’s [BBC2 TV series] ‘Chronicle’. Very little of the programme was actually about the details of the Mosaic, and I missed most of that while I was hunting for pen and paper; the notes are mostly from memory, and are probably inaccurate and certainly incomplete. But I was particularly interested in the dog which seemed to be on its hind legs beside Orpheus, and reminded me strongly of Tarot 0, The Fool. Littlecote is of particular interest in [1], for its location on the rectangular circuit and for its curious ghost story, linking it with Hans Casthorp’s dream in [Thomas] Mann’s ‘[The] Magic Mountain’** involving the destruction of a female child.

*[See below]

**[[Redbook2:249-251][19821009:2330e]{A Dream of Mann}[9^th October 1982]ff; & esp

[Redbook2:252-256][19821010:1330]{The Magic Mountain}[10^th October 1982]ff]

[Text extracted from ms inserted rough diagram which is reproduced below:]

19890221.

(+19890222)

Littlecote Orpheus Mosaic

‘Chronicle’ BBC2 3pm				33 villa sites round Marlborough (not unusual compared to other centres)
(“1st Quadrant”)	Goat		Bull
	Aphrodite goddess of rebirth		Persephone (Cloak)
		Orpheus	?
		Dog
	Deer		Panther
	Leda (Swan)		Demeter
Elaborate entrance facade via courtyard → Entry via Baths
Mid 4th C[entury]
		(Border motif)

Temple built on site of original Roman London – Bath road

[Some of the images may be misplaced. See photos (not from the ms) reproduced below:]

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