Book Review: Diseños geométricos en los mosaicos del Conventus Astigitanus, Sebastián Vargas Vázquez.

Abstract

Geometric compositions together with decorative elements are by far the most common motifs on Roman mosaics, but nevertheless the least documented and studied. Fortunately, this unbalance is changing and the author’s second publication on the subject is not only an important contribution, but a possible paradigm changer in the feld. The book presents an innovative approach and independent reading, which combined with substantial results takes a signifcant step towards greater understanding of the conceiving and the making of geometric compositions on Roman mosaic foors. At the centre of the study are the remarkable construction drawings of the geometric compositions found on mosaics recovered so far in one of the more prosperous areas of Roman Spain, Conventus Astigitanus, the largest of the four Conventus in Baetica. Written in Spanish, the book comprises, apart from a summary in English, an introduction, eight chapters including fgures and colour plates, and a bibliography. The author´s comprehensive introduction presents the scope, the central themes and the setting of this volume as the second part of an ambitious project encompassing geometric mosaics throughout the region of Baetica. The intention is to gradually expand the investigation, the frst step in the project, covering the geometric mosaics in Colonia Augusta Firm Astigi, capital of Conventus Astigitanus, was published in 2014 (S. Vargas Vázquez, Diseños de los mosaicos geométricos a Ècija