The mosaic from the Archaeological Museum in Faro (Portugal) was created around the 4 century CE and it resembles many known depictions of the suffering Christ.
It was discovered close to the Faro train station and, unfortunately, it was heavily damaged during the excavations. Initially, the mosaic was part of the embellishments of the local municipal office, most
likely the one associated with sea trade – Faro, in ancient times known as Ossonba, was an important port in Algarve even before the Roman conquest.
The presented mosaic presents not fully legible inscription of its four founders: Caius Calpurnius (…) nus, Caius Vibius Quantilianus, Lucius Atius i Marcus Verrius Geminus.
Many people would look for links between the mosaic and the early Christianity. However, it was the other way round: Christianity drew from the Roman culture and the face of Christ on the mosaic resembles the sad eyes of Oceanus.
