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Origin and history

The mosaic of Grand, dated from the time of Emperor Caracalla (III century), covers 232 m2 and constitutes the largest of the ancient Lorrain space. Discovered in 1883 by Félix Voulot, curator of the Vosges department museum, it was cleared under two metres of land in the village of Grand (Vosges). Its central emblema, partially preserved, would evoke a scene of the Phasm of Menandre. The mosaic and the civil basilica that housed it were classified as historical monuments in 1884, before being acquired by the General Council of the Vosges in 1956.

The mosaic, executed in situ with local tesselles (calcars of the Vosges, red of the Ardennes), reveals a refined technique: pure lime mortar, terrazzo based on piled tile, and geometric or animal motifs (tigre, panther, bear, wild boar). In contrast to the repetitive decoration entrusted to workers, L'emblema, produced by a master craftsman, is the same. Scientific analyses (2004) confirmed the local origin of the materials and a gradual laying of the mortar, allowing corrections. The current building, built in 1883-1884 to protect the mosaic, respects ancient substructures.

The site also includes a civil basilica built at the end of the first century, redesigned in the third century to integrate mosaic. The excavations revealed Roman walls delimiting a rectangular room (14×14 m) with an apse, decorated with marbles (Greece, North Africa), painted stuccos and marquetries. Two bands separate the rectangular space from the abside, one of which has white rinsels on a black background. Conservation posed challenges: protection against moisture (reported as early as 1922), restoration in 1959 with a cement support, and filling gaps.

The iconography of the mosaic, especially the animals at the angles, evokes the venationes (animal combats) of the amphitheatres, like that of Grand. The central scene, interpreted as a work by Menandre, shows two masked characters, one of whom wears a curved stick. This decor, unique in belgian Gaul, bears witness to Mediterranean influences (Italian motives, imported marbles) and a local craftsmanship of high quality. The site, a departmental property, remains a rare example of mosaic in situ with its preserved architectural context.

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