A 2,000-year-old Roman mosaic in Nin gets its recognition 

ZAGREB, 9 July 2026 – For nearly 2,000 years, a piece of Croatia’s history has stood the test of time. Now, it’s being honoured on a new commemorative stamp, bringing one of the country’s ancient treasures into the spotlight.

Croatian Post has unveiled a new commemorative postage stamp as part of this year’s joint issue by the Postal Union for the Mediterranean (PUMed), celebrating the theme of traditional Mediterranean mosaics.

The Croatian stamp features a mosaic from a Roman urban villa in Nin, the ancient settlement of Enona, dating from the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

The artwork depicts a stylised dog, or possibly a wolf, within an octagonal medallion bordered by a meander pattern.

Each year, members of PUMed release commemorative stamps centred on a shared theme reflecting the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean region. This year’s edition highlights one of the area’s oldest and most enduring artistic traditions.

Mosaics have been part of Mediterranean artistic tradition for almost 3,000 years. Originally created as a more durable alternative to painting, they decorated the floors, walls and public buildings of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

Constructed from stone, ceramic and glass, mosaics have survived remarkably well over the centuries.

(Photo: Croatian Post)

Their durability, combined with the fact that many remained embedded within buildings later buried beneath ruins, has made them one of the best-preserved forms of ancient visual art.

Different regions of the Mediterranean developed distinct mosaic styles. The eastern Mediterranean became known for colourful compositions and mythological scenes, Roman Italy favoured black-and-white geometric designs, while North African provinces produced richly ornamented and highly decorative works.

Some ancient mosaics also covered vast areas. Those at the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina extend across more than 3,500 square metres, while mosaics in the 5th-century Marusinac Basilica near Salona once covered around 660 square metres.

Among Croatia’s best-known examples are the 6th-century mosaics in the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč.

(Photo: Croatian Post)

The Roman mosaic from Nin, chosen for this year’s Croatian PUMed stamp, is another significant example of the country’s rich archaeological and cultural heritage.

The stamp was designed by Zagreb-based designer Dean Roksandić and is accompanied by a special First Day Cover (FDC). It will be available from 13 July at post offices across Croatia and through the Croatia Post online shop.