Roman mosaic tells a forgotten story of the Trojan War

By Madeleine Reynolds

Published March 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT

Ways To Subscribe

Apple

Panel 2 of the Ketton Mosaic shows Achilles dragging the body of Hector behind his chariot, while Hector’s father Priam begs him for mercy.

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.

You may already be familiar with Homer’s Iliad.

And more than 2,000 years later, the ancient Greek epic is taught in classrooms across the country,

But recently discovered Roman mosaic offers another telling of the Trojan War.

Related Content

The Best of Our Knowledge

Feathered friends and elephant whiskers

Lucas Willard

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.Birds of a different feather sometimes stick together. We’ll learn about two raptors of separate species that displayed an unusual friendship.And elephants depend on their trunks to navigate the world. Their whiskers make it all possible.
The Best of Our Knowledge

Black holes, penguins and pumas

Lucas Willard

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.Scientists believe that radiation from an exploding black hole could be detected on Earth in the next decade.And pumas are re-establishing themselves in Argentina’s Patagonia region. And they’ve found a new source of food.
The Best of Our Knowledge

Could arsenic waste be transformed into semiconductors?

Lucas Willard

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.Arsenic is a naturally-occurring toxin with a big reputation.But scientists say arsenic-contaminated waste could have a potential public benefit, including in advanced manufacturing. We’ll explore how an environmental challenge could become an economic opportunity.
The Best of Our Knowledge

Impossible fossils and Lunar New Year

Lucas Willard

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.An analysis of small, prehistoric fossils found in sandstone is giving researchers new clues into the time before the explosion of complex life on Earth.And we’ll visit high school students celebrating Lunar New Year, which is now being recognized in New York state schools.