Mosaic of the God Oceanus in Petra 550

This Byzantine mosaic depicts Oceanus, a Titan god embodying the great river encircling the world. Note the crab-claw horns, symbols of aquatic power, framing his serene countenance, and the fish swimming below. Such iconography doesn’t appear in isolation; images and symbols migrate across time and cultures. Recall, if you will, similar figures from antiquity in the ancient Near East. The depiction of Oceanus evolved, reflecting the changing worldviews of successive cultures, from a Babylonian water god to a symbol of the cosmic order for the Greeks and, finally, an ornamental representation under the Byzantines. His gaze evokes a primeval state, tapping into our collective memory of the sea as both the source of life and an untamable force. Such images remind us of the powerful currents that sweep through history, carrying symbols and meaning across eras. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.