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Mosaic
Mosaics are designs and images created using small pieces (tesserae) of stone or other materials which have been used to decorate floors, walls, ceilings, and precious objects since before written records began. Like pottery, mosaics have...
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Byzantine Gooseherd Mosaic
The gooseherd: A boy and a girl herding two geese are depicted in this mosaic. Great Palace Mosaic Museum, Istanbul, Turkey. Period: Early Byzantine, circa 6th. century CE. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul, Turkey). Great Palace Mosaic...
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Bear Hunting a Lamb, Byzantine Mosaic
Bear hunting a lamb, Byzantine Mosaic. Period: Early Byzantine, circa 6th. century C.E. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul, Turkey). Great Palace Mosaic Museum, Istanbul, Turkey. The Great Palace Mosaic Museum was inaugurated in 1987...
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Tigriss-Griffin Byzantine Mosaic
The tigriss-griffin: This tigriss (female) Griffin has two horns and wings and a wild look on its face. Crimson drops of blood come out of its mouth. Period: Early Byzantine, circa 6th. century C.E. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul...
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A Monkey Bird-Catcher, Byzantine Mosaic
The Monkey as a Bird-Catcher: The monkey under a date tree is holding a long stick in his hands and trying to catch birds. He has a wooden cage on his back with a bird on it. Monkeys are known to have been used in some chores. Period: Early...
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Equites Gladiator Mosaic
Mosaic depicting the fight between two equites gladiators named Simmachius and Maternus, 3rd century CE. (National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid) Below, in the arena, the equites Symmachus and Maternus are fighting, cheered on by...
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Mosaic of Amazon Warrior Fighting Greek Rider
An ancient Roman mosaic from the 4th century CE depicting an Amazon warrior in mounted combat against a Greek rider. The Greek is seizing the Phrygian cap of the Amazon. Cropped detail of a mosaic from Daphne, a suburb of Antioch on the Orontes...
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Mosaic of the Labours of Hercules in Volubilis
This mosaic depicts the twelve labours the demigod Hercules had to perform as penance for killing his wife and children. It decorated the triclinium (dining room) of the so-called House of the Labours of Hercules in Volubilis (modern-day...
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The Virgin and Child Mosaic, Hagia Sophia
The Virgin and Child mosaic, 9th century CE, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey. The mosaic is located in the apse semi-dome of Hagia Sophia. In the mosaic Mary is enthroned and she puts her right hand on the shoulder of the Child Christ who...
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Achilles Revealed Mosaic from Zeugma
The Achilles Revealed mosaic from Zeugma (southeastern Turkey) depicts Achilles (disguised as a girl) being discovered by Odysseus on Skyros island. The mosaic decorated the bottom of a pool with a waterspout in the impluvium of the House...