House of Hylas

The House of Hylas is a Roman townhouse uncovered within the archaeological site of Italica, next to the modern town of Santiponce, a short distance from Seville. The building takes its name from a mosaic found inside it, one of the best-known figurative mosaics to survive from this Roman city.

Where is the House of Hylas located?

The house stands inside the ancient city of Italica, founded on the outskirts of present-day Santiponce. It covers roughly half of one ancient city block, and part of the structure — including where its main entrance once stood — has never been excavated or firmly identified.

Why is the house named after Hylas?

The name comes from a mosaic whose central figurative panel told the myth of Hylas, a young companion of Hercules during the voyage of the Argonauts. According to the legend, Hylas was sent to fetch water and was drawn into a spring by nymphs captivated by his beauty, while Hercules searched for him in vain. Specialists date this mosaic to the early second century AD.

What happened to the original mosaic panel?

At some point the central image of Hylas was cut out of the floor and moved to the Archaeological Museum of Seville, where it remains on display today. Only the geometric border that once framed the scene is still in place inside the house, now missing its original centerpiece.

What other mosaics survive in the house?

The house preserves more than one decorated floor. A dining room set at a lower level and linked to the main courtyard has a mosaic showing the four seasons. The largest dining room in the house, covering about 108 square metres, is paved with a mosaic of tigers and opens onto two internal courtyards.

The two courtyards

The eastern courtyard still holds traces of mosaic flooring and is bordered by decorated rooms, including a hall of around 74 square metres arranged like a dining room. The western courtyard is less well preserved; it centres on a rectangular pool, with two mosaic-floored rooms along its southern side.

How was the house laid out?

At the centre of the residence stood a peristyle courtyard built in the Rhodian style, meaning one of its four porticoes stood taller than the other three, with a fountain set in the middle of the open space. This arrangement, typical of high-status Hellenistic-Roman houses, separated the more formal reception rooms from private living quarters while linking them through covered walkways.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the original Hylas mosaic still inside the house? No. The central panel showing Hylas being drawn into the spring was removed long ago and is now kept at the Archaeological Museum of Seville. Only the surrounding geometric mosaic remains in the house itself.

How old is the house and its mosaics? The Hylas mosaic is dated to the early second century AD, a period when Italica was expanding significantly.

Has the house been fully excavated? No. It occupies about half of an ancient city block, and sections of it — including the location of the entrance — have not been excavated or clearly identified.

What other mosaic scenes can be seen in the house? Beyond the Hylas myth, the house contains mosaics depicting the four seasons and a scene with tigers, along with geometric decoration in both of its courtyards.