In the centre of the floor is a splendid mosaic, found at the Villa of
Cicero. A bust of Minerva forms the centre, around which are twelve
planets and various phases of the moon. The outer circle (modern) is
composed of masks and figures. The principal statues are 559 and 597,
Augustus; 564, Lucius Verus; 565, Hercules; 574, Venus of Cnidos; 566,
_left_, red porphyry Sarcophagus, which contained the remains of
Constantia, the daughter of Constantine the Great; 589, _opposite_,
generally attributed to Helena, the mother of the Christian emperor.
(See page 327.) Before the door is a fine mosaic representing a faun
watering a flower. At the foot of the stairs, by two sphinxes, is a
beautiful basket of flowers in mosaic. _We now enter_