c is a
copy of a picture on the same subject known to have been painted by a
female Egyptian artist named Helena, and brought to Rome by Vespasian.

Painted floors were first used by the Greeks, who made and colored
them with much care, until they were driven out by the mosaic floors
called _lithostrota_. The most famous workman in this kind was Sosus,
who wrought at Pergamus the pavement which is called _asarotus oikos_,
the unswept hall, made of quarrels or square tesserae of different
colors, in such a way as to resemble the crumbs and scraps that fell
from the table, and such-like things as usually are swept away, as if
they were still left by negligence upon the pavement. There also is
admirably represented a dove drinking, in such a way that the shadow
of her head is cast on the water. Other doves are seen sitting on the
rim of the vessel preening themselves and basking in the sun. The
first paved floors which came into use were those called barbarica and
subtegulanea, which were beaten down with rammers, as may be known by
the name pavimentum, from pavire, to ram. The pavements called
scalpturata were first introduced into Italy in the Temple of Jupiter
Capitolinus, after the beginning of the third Punic war. But ere the
Cimbric wars began, such pavements were in common use at Rome, and men
took great delight and pleasure therein.

For galleries and terraces open to the sky, they were devised by the
Greeks, who, enjoying a warm climate, used to cover their houses with
them; but where the rain waters freeze, pavements of this sort are not
to be trusted. To make a terrace of this sort, it is necessary to lay
two courses of boards, one athwart the other, the ends of which ought
to be nailed, that they should not twist nor warp; which done take two
parts of new rubbish, and one of tiles stamped to powder; then with
other three parts of old rubbish mix two parts of lime, and herewith
lay a bed of a foot thickness, taking care to ram it hard together.
Over this must be laid a bed of mortar, six fingers thick, and upon
this middle couch, large paving-tiles, at least two fingers deep. This
sort of pavement is to be made to rise to the center in the proportion
of one inch and a-half to ten feet. Being thus laid, it is to be
planed and polished diligently with some hard stone; but, above all,
regard is to be had that the boarded floor be made of oak. As for such
as do start or warp any way, they be thought naught. Moreove