By artist unknown
Gafsa (Tunisia)
This mosaic from Gafsa, in modern Tunisia, illustrates many of the events in a Greek style athletic festival. The first and third levels of the mosaic depict events connected with the pentathlon. On the third level, center right, there is a boxing match, and at the far right a pancratian bout. The event at the center left on the bottom level is also a pancratic challenge (note that the contestants are not wearing gloves). The bags on the table with the Roman numerals XXV on them are bags of prize money, and the runners on the far right are engaged in a race with armor and torches. What is so interesting about this mosaic is the find spot, the ancient city of Capsa in North Africa, which makes it one of the best examples we have of interest in Greek style athletics in the Roman west.
