It's got some competition (e.g. the Colchester Vase) but it does have cute factor plus morbid interest so...

Hm maybe. Big cat, big mouse.

What a fabulous piece!

There's a friendly hand on the shoulder of no. 4 to make her feel welcome.

@equipmentroman.bsky.social may have a view

Ok, thanks. Maybe dated by comparison with other finds in the same material then. Anyway, she's fab.

Has luminescence dating been used on the stone?

So funding and conservation advice would seem to be what they need. Maybe a nearby Roman Palace could reach out to them on the latter? 😀

The entry into the register will be the Brading Roman Villa site with a note specifically highlighting the hypocaust.
Being on the register allows us to access additional support and resources from Historic England including
potential funds and conservation advice."

Their lastest return at the Charity Commission says, "We have been in consultation with the Historic England Heritage at Risk officer and the assistant inspector for Scheduled Monuments and have taken the step to be placed on the Heritage at Risk Register. ...

They've got to save-up to find Trump's $10 billion!

And as for what they're doing, well maybe dancing?? They all seem to have bent knees and two have wide-spaced feet. But maybe the mosaicist was aiming at something more complex that didn't come off!

As for a link between the individual goddesses and the animals behind them, afraid I'm stumped! 🙁

I think Nemesis was raped by Zeus in the guise of a swan (?) so the one she carries could identify her. In addition to being seasonal, the animals all seem like they're sacred to Bacchus, including the deer if she's viewed as a fawn (fawn-skins as bacchic clothing).

I'll need to get back to you on the animal parallels - it being almost 11pm at time of writing - but they hold out the prospect of confirming the meaning of the female figures, which is tantalising...

My take (based it has to be said on a v. superficial understanding of Orphism) is that the women repr. the cycle of life: Venus/birth; Nemesis/incarnation in the life you deserve; Demeter/fertility; Perspehone/death (but with the promise of rebirth - at least, until you can escape the cycle).