Tunisian mosaics "Wild Duck", end of 2nd century

Also from El Jem and dating from the same period, this mosaic illustrates a wild duck feeding among aquatic plants. The choice of this subject reflects the interest of Roman mosaicists in nature scenes and the “small world” of animals. The variety of colors of the tesserae recreates the plumage of the bird with striking realism, illustrating the biodiversity that characterized the region's wetlands in ancient times.