Atrani

Mosaic with fish and a fight between an octopus and a lobster, Pompeii, House of the Faun (VI, 12, 2-5), room l., H. In the Vermiculatum, at the bottom center, we see the background of a seascape enclosed on either side by rocks: it is a scene of a fight between an octopus (an ozena) and a lobster. All around there are other fishes, crustaceans, and marine mollusks. Mythological curiosity: Ozena (Ozaena in Latin) is a legendary octopus described by Pliny the Elder (23/79 AD) and its name means 'smelly octopus' because of its unpleasant smell. Most Ozenas were small and remained on the sea bed. In rare cases, some larger species attacked humans and drowned them.