There has been a recent discovery of a mosaic in the Kasta Hill tomb at Amphipoles, dating to the late 4th century BCE, which stands as a relic of old spiritual beliefs and ritual, and how that possibly affected daily society. The mosaic soberly tells the story of the abduction of Persephone by Hades, also featuring the God Hermes, whose feet can go anywhere, even the land of the dead. The mosaic also reflects the cultural and religious values of ancient Greece at the time, offering  insights into the funerary practices and societal priorities of an era full of religious and social intrigue.Like we've seen in the painting from the lecture, “Persephone abducted by Hades”, detail of a tomb fresco from the Macedonian royal tombs depicts another scene of Hades abducting Persephone, as she strains backward for her mother. (Aigai, ca. 350- 200 BC, Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai, Vergina, Greece). In the painting the artist captures Persephone’s physical struggle and the dark nature of her descent into the underworld. Her posture and facial expression reflects her feelings of fear in the situation, which aligns with the mythological narrative where she is forcibly taken by Hades against her will and is tricked into eating the pomegranate seeds.The mosaic found in Amphiboles when compared shows the same theme as the aforementioned painting from greece. Persephone being unwillingly taken away, Hades being a dark and stern figure within the painting, and the mosaic includes Hermes, who is known as the the guide of souls, which further emphasizes the forced nature of Persephone’s part in the story. Especially as Hermes’ role is to escort the dead, including those who are unwillingly taken from the realm of the living.The portrayal of Persephone's “ascension” to queen of the underworld goes against today's modern, more romantic belief, but these paintings describe something less than romantic. The portrayals highlight the emotional and psychological impact of her abduction, a theme central to the myth. And within the myth itself, the theme of life going towards death, and death often taking freely and wantonly, perfectly demonstrates how the Greeks would have viewed the natural cycle. The mosaic provides a broader narrative context, showing her transition from the mortal world to the underworld under the guidance of Hermes and the authority of Hades. The myth itself is originally a way for Greeks to view, describe, and understand death. So the original version contains all the components of death: its unwillingness, its spontaneity, its trickery, how everything alive naturally meets death one day, and that death is powerful and inevitable. Both the fresco and the mosaic provide valuable insights into how ancient Greek artists and audiences understood and represented the themes of power, control, and the emotional cost of divine interventions in human affairs.

Bibliography:“Persephone Abducted by Hades.” Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai, Vergina, Greece, ca. 350-200 BCE.“Striking Mosaic Found in Greek Tomb Dates from 4th Century B.C.” NPR, NPR, 12 Oct. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/10/12/355635742/striking-mosaic-found-in-greek-tomb-dates-from-4th-century-b-c.“Huge Greek Tomb Mosaic Depicts Abduction of Persephone.” BBC News, BBC, 12 Oct. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29589427.