A stunning Roman mosaic has been uncovered in a newly excavated elite domus in the ancient city of Italica, Spain. The artwork uniquely depicts a 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn, with the two planets shown as radiant celestial deities surrounded by personifications of the winds and seasons.
Archaeologists believe the mosaic was commissioned to commemorate a specific astronomical event observed in the 2nd century CE. The precision of the planetary positions relative to the zodiac provides a unique data point for historians of science and illustrates the high level of astronomical literacy among the Roman elite.