Gerasa, Trans-Jordan
The Terpsichore mosaic’s origins can be traced back to the 2nd century CE and to Gerasa, Trans-Jordan. As for the mosaic's style, the fragments suggest its muted palette and use of garlands indicate that Hadrianic or early Antonine periods. This particular mosaic fragment was once part of an elaborate mosaic floor under the house of a Turkish mudir (local governor). This house was located in the village of Jerash on the Chrysorhoas river’s east bank. In 1907, the floor was broken apart once Professor Carl Watzinger saw the mosaic in situ. Soon after this sighting, a section of the mosaic was acquired by the Division of Antiques of the Berlin Museum. The floor was lifted and transported to the Pergamum Museum in Berlin. Throughout the lifting operation, excavators realized that part of the mosaic floor was left untouched under the adjoining premises. From this point onward the mosaic floor was divided with half relocated in Berlin, while the other half remained in Gerasa. Its from the half remaining in Gerasa where Wheaton’s mosaic comes from.
Text Sources:
Joyce, Hetty. “A Mosaic from Gerasa in Orange, Texas and Berlin.” Mitteilungen des Deutchen Archäologischen Instituts, Römische Abteilung 87, no.2 (1980): 307-325.
Kraeling, Carl H. Gerasa City of the Decapolis. New Haven: American Schools of Oriental Research, 1938.
Piccirillo, Michele. The Mosaics of Jordan. Amman: American Center of Oriental Research, 1993.
Image Soruces:
Jerash, Jordanie, Guillaume Baviere (2011-02-12). Jordan. https://www.flickr.com/photos/84554176@N00/5656741218/in/photolist-4nXL5b-axXoWf-4nTDXg-4nXLaq-axUAWT-4nXHfs-9BSh61-4nTFqZ-a1Kajn-axXknQ-axXgqN-4nXLpC-4R6Zzw-4nXHYW-axXsYE-9CktpC-4nXHVq-4nXJtS-4nTFj2-4nTDRR-a1xiAj-73NRmA-4nXJCJ-4nTEKB-4nXJG3-axXqY1-4nXKfb-4nTEgT-4nTFQn-4nXK9j-a1gXfC-a1egpK-a1FnaF-a1ukSH-axUF8x-4nXLs3-axUKun-4nTGhp-4nTFF8-axUHse-4nTFx6-4nTEst-4nTGnB-4nXJ7E-4nXJpS-4nXKJ3-4nXJjE-4nXKMN-9BSgHo-axUxZr, accessed March 22, 2014, accessed March 16, 2014.