Untitled

178
inhabited scroll mosaic design; more probably an
inspiring trend or fashion might have influenced
the artists or patrons to choose the entire design
with its details of familiar themes, elements, and
features. The scenes in general possibly show
rural and genre activities during the seasons of the
year, as well as at the time of agricultural festivals,
which sometimes involved visits by figures leading
chapter seven
exotic animals. The decorative programme of the
carpets, especially the inhabited scrolls, though
drawing upon Classical-Hellenistic tradition, was
created from assorted details and elements that
were assembled to imply a coherent picture, an
image of the natural secular world; individual
tastes and situations generated the great variety
of motifs and designs.