See How a Wealthy Roman Immortalized His Dog, Cat

Visitors stepping into a lavish Roman villa on Turkey's Aegean coast 1,800 years ago were apparently greeted by Ocean the dog and Emerald the cat—immortalized in stone. Archaeologists say a newly uncovered floor mosaic at the ancient city of Adramytteion appears to double as both a status symbol and pet tribute, with two named animals prominently placed at the entrance to the main reception hall, per the Independent. The colorful work, about 16 feet by 12 feet, dates to the late second or third century AD and will be detailed in the Journal of Mosaic Research.

The mosaic is made up of 15 panels arranged in three rows, mixing birds, fish, wild animals, and figures like Medusa and Pegasus in a bright palette of marble and glass. Only two creatures are labeled: a pale cat perched on a blue-green cushion above the Greek word for "emerald," and a leaping dog marked "Ocean." Their placement suggests they were meant to catch a visitor's eye immediately. Researchers suspect the dog's name nods to Adramytteion's location on the Aegean Sea, while the cat's may hint at ties to Roman Egypt, known for its emerald mines, per Live Science.