The Mosaic Decoration of Peristylia in Roman Villae and Domus of Western Lusitania (Portugal). The Interrelationship between Domestic Space Planning and the Chosen Peristyle Flooring

Within the RoGeMoPorTur project, a specifc approach was adopted to analyse the importance of the peristyle not only as a central element of communication and link between the diferent architectural components of the villa, but also as an expression of a vision very specifc to its owner as a member of a Roman or Romanised elite: The peristyle, as the entrance to the villa from outside, was at the same time the frst recipient of its cultural message and socio-economic power.
This study aims at a typologisation of the spatial dialogue chosen by the landowner for the introduction to that message through the pavement decoration of the peristyle