House of Achilles Mosaic

Inside this house, which dates back to the 4th century, there are floor mosaics with motifs of pagan tradition. The location at the entrance to the city was taken as evidence that the building served as an apanteterion - i.e. as a reception area for official visitors. The central image of the floor mosaic shows the meeting of Achilles and Odysseus in the house of Lycomedes. Achilles was sent there disguised as a woman by his mother, who wanted to prevent her son from dying in the Trojan War.

However, since Troy could not be defeated without Achilles, Odysseus used a ruse and presented himself to the king with gifts of weapons. Suddenly blowing the war horn, Achilles breaks himself by taking up arms. The mosaic represents this moment.

Source: Park information and Baedecker