es of white, black and red
marble.

[Illustration: MOSAIC DOVES.]

Another and a still more remarkable mosaic was discovered in the House
of the Faun, and is perhaps the most beautiful and magnificent
specimen of the art that has yet been found. This mosaic, which is now
preserved in the museum at Naples, is about eighteen feet long by nine
broad. The subject represents a battle between Greeks and barbarians,
the latter apparently of eastern race; but a variety of conjectures
have been hazarded as to what battle is actually depicted. Some have
seen in it the combat between Patroclus and Sarpedon, and the death of
the latter; others have recognized in it the battles of the Granicus,
of Arbela, of Plataea, of Marathon, etc. But the opinion most commonly
adopted is that of Professor Quaranta, who refers the picture to the
battle of Issus. The Grecian leader, supposed to represent Alexander
the Great, is drawn with great beauty and vigor. Charging, bareheaded,
in the midst of the fight, he has transfixed with his lance one of
the Persian leaders, whose horse, wounded in the shoulder, had already
fallen. The expression of physical agony in the countenance of the
wounded man is admirably depicted. Another horse, which an attendant
had brought for him, has arrived too late. The death of the Persian
general has evidently decided the fortune of the day. In the
background, the Persian spears are still directed against the
advancing Greeks. But at the sight of the fallen general, another
Persian leader in a quadriga, who, from the richness of his dress and
accoutrements, the height of his tiara, and his red chlamys, is
probably Darius himself, stretches forth his right hand in an attitude
of alarm and despair, while the charioteer urges his horses to
precipitate flight. Nothing can exceed the vigor with which both men
and animals are depicted in this unequaled mosaic. If the Grecian hero
really represents Alexander the Great, the mosaic may probably be a
copy of a picture by Appelles, the only artist privileged to paint the
Macedonian conqueror. It is unfortunate that the work has suffered
much damage on the left side, or that which contains the Grecian host.
It was, however, in this mutilated state when discovered, and seems to
have been under a process of reparation. The border represents a
river, apparently the Nile, with a crocodile, hippopotamus, ichneumon,
ibises, etc.; whence some have been led to think that the mosai