Captivated by the Deer Mosaic: A Tale of Artistic Obsession

By Roxana Corradino 

Let me take you on a little journey to Rome, a city I explored this summer with my nine-year-old son, Matteo. Rome is a place of countless wonders, and this visit was to celebrate a special birthday, turning our 10-day stay into an adventure in the Eternal City. Despite my previous visits, this time was different. We revisited the iconic Colosseum and the Fountain of Trevi, which were entirely new to Matteo. But what truly captivated us was something unexpected, a hidden gem just a stone's throw from the Colosseum and beyond the gladiator school – the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano. Walking into this place of worship, we were greeted by a somewhat run-down staircase, leading to an inner courtyard where nature had woven its way through the cracks. The basilica, although not large, was a treasure trove of beauty. The medieval church, especially the schola cantorum, was unlike any I'd seen in Europe. Its Cosmatesque floor, adorned with jade greens, purples, and gold mosaics depicting symbols from prophets to the Book of Revelation, left us mesmerized. The image of deer drinking from streams in the mosaic became a highlight for me. But there's more to this basilica than meets the eye. It's like a historical layer cake. On the surface, you see a 12th-century place of worship. Descend a flight of stairs, and you're in the 4th century, surrounded by frescoes. Go deeper, and you're in a time machine (any Dr. Who fans here?). You'll find a temple of Mithras, a Persian god worshiped in Rome, and even further down, a 1st-century Roman home and mint, all alongside an underground river. So, if you ever find yourself in Rome, carve out some time to visit this basilica. You might fall in love with it, just like we did, and find yourself longing to return to the Eternal City. And who knows? It might just spark your own passion for history, art, and the myriad stories they tell.

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