The mosaic depicts the mythological scene of Iphigeneia recognizing Orestes in the Taurian land (Eurypides, Iphigeneia en Taurois 218–231). Orestes was sent by Apollo to the Taurians to retrieve the Artemis statue from the temple and bring it to Athens. Only in this way could he be freed from the Furies, who were chasing him for his mother's murder. The king of Tauris, Thoas, hated foreigners and Greeks and used to sacrifice them to Artemis. So, they arrested Orestes and his friend Pylades and led them to the priestess of the goddess to to purify them before the sacrifice. The priestess happens to be Iphigeneia, who recognizes her brother, gives him the goddess’ cult statue, and they escape from the Taurians by trickery. Iphigenia is depicted on the right as a priestess. She presents ot Orestes a statuette of Artemis, which she in her hands.