Alexander Mosaic from Pompeii

[Arthes]

Greetings Uwe,

Hi Christina,

I couldn't help thinking of this, when looking at the drawing of the Persian with the upright arm.....called 'wounded Amazon 'http://harpy.uccs.edu/greek/SCULPT/amazon2.jpg
Incidentally on the Etruscan urn, have you noticed that only the Persian has his head and face on, and the same with the horses?
That looks like possible vandalism...
Incidentally, the Alexander Sarcophagus, I just noticed...has the same scene with the Persian......

very good points!!! So the gesture with the raised right arm might be a symbol for the wounded condition of the illustrated Persian and/or Amazon? Also, the Persian is always shown with his left leg climbing over his broken horse.
It seems that the incident when Oxyathres sacrificed himself for the rescue of his brother Darius was so famous even in details and admired in the whole ancient world that it was repeatedly illustrated. He was captured and eventually healed and it is reported that he lived later at Alexander's court and that the murderer of his brother, Bessus, became handed over to him for condemnation:
[url:pefnnhbl]http://www.iranica.com/articles/sup/Oxyathres.html[/url]
And although I knew the 'Alexander Sarcophagus' I oversaw that this very scene was even repeated there. Thank You for that reference.
In my eyes all this is a further indication that the Pompeii mosaic is dedicated to the battle of Issus (and not Gaugamela), what do You think?
Greets - Uwe

There is a general opinion that the mosaic does represent Issus, although the source story of Oxyathres was written down a few hundred years after his lifetime.
I wonder if the tree could be a clue....? If it is a species that only grows in one of the areas, or simply an idealised one that the artist could see?
It looks dead or at least cut back and has no leaves..What time of year were the two battles?
regards
Cristina