Roman mosaic in Britain reveals a 2,000 year old Trojan War secret
Researchers studying what has been called one of the most important mosaics ever found in the UK say it
Researchers studying what has been called one of the most important mosaics ever found in the UK say it portrays a rarely told version of the Trojan War that had largely faded from history.
A new investigation by the University of Leicester explains why the well known Ketton mosaic in Rutland — considered one of the most remarkable Roman era discoveries in Britain in the past century — does not illustrate scenes from Homer’s Iliad, as scholars first believed. Instead, the artwork reflects a different telling of the Trojan War that was made famous by the Greek playwright Aeschylus. That dramatic version has not survived in full and is considered lost.
The findings also show that the mosaic incorporates decorative motifs that had been circulating around the Mediterranean for centuries. This suggests that artists working in Roman Britain were closely connected to broader artistic traditions across the classical world.
Discovery During Lockdown
The Ketton mosaic came to light in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, when local resident Jim Irvine spotted it on his family farm. The discovery led to a major excavation by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), funded by Historic England. The mosaic and the surrounding Roman villa have since been granted Scheduled Monument status because of their national significance. Historic England and ULAS carried out joint excavations in 2021 and 2022 and are now preparing the full publication of their findings.
The mosaic features three dramatic moments involving the Greek warrior Achilles and the Trojan prince Hector: their fierce duel, Achilles dragging Hector’s body, and the later scene in which King Priam ransoms his son’s body, which is shown being weighed in gold.
The Trojan War, most famously described in Homer’s epic poem the Iliad, tells of a legendary ten year conflict between Greek forces and the city of Troy, ruled by King Priam. According to myth, the war began after Helen of Sparta was taken to Troy.
Aeschylus and a Forgotten Greek Tragedy
Detailed analysis now indicates that the Ketton mosaic does not follow Homer’s narrative. Instead, it closely matches Phrygians, a lesser known tragedy written by the Athenian playwright Aeschylus. While Romans were familiar with multiple versions of the Trojan War story, choosing this more unusual interpretation would have set the villa’s owner apart and signaled cultural sophistication.
The study also highlights how the mosaic blends long established artistic designs from across the Mediterranean.
Dr. Jane Masséglia, lead author of the study and Associate Professor in Ancient History at the University of Leicester, said: “In the Ketton Mosaic, not only have we got scenes telling the Aeschylus version of the story, but the top panel is actually based on a design used on a Greek pot that dates from the time of Aeschylus, 800 years before the mosaic was laid. Once I’d noticed the use of standard patterns in one panel, I found other parts of the mosaic were based on designs that we can see in much older silverware, coins and pottery, from Greece, Turkey, and Gaul.
“Romano-British craftspeople weren’t isolated from the rest of the ancient world, but were part of this wider network of trades passing their pattern catalogues down the generations. At Ketton, we’ve got Roman British craftsmanship but a Mediterranean heritage of design.”
Roman Britain and the Wider Ancient World
Jim Irvine, who first uncovered the mosaic in 2020, said: “Jane’s detailed research into the Rutland mosaic imagery reveals a level of cultural integration across the Roman world that we’re only just beginning to appreciate. It’s a fascinating and important development that suggests Roman Britain may have been far more cosmopolitan than we often imagine. The new paper is a suspenseful and thrilling narrative in its own right which deserves recognition.”
Rachel Cubitt, Post-Excavation Coordinator at Historic England, added: “Working in collaboration with the University of Leicester brings an added dimension to investigations at the Ketton villa site. This fascinating new research offers a more nuanced picture of the interests and influences of those who may have lived there, and of people living across Roman Britain at this time.”
Hella Eckhardt, Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Reading, who was not involved in the study, said: “This is an exciting piece of research, untangling the ways in which the stories of the Greek heroes Achilles and Hector were transmitted not just through texts but through a repertoire of images created by artists working in all sorts of materials, from pottery and silverware to paintings and mosaics.”
