You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'mosaic floors' category.
mosaic stool on The Green, originally uploaded by little shiva.
Mosaic bench, Is it a pillow? on Flickr - by moxythecat
Multi colored mosaic seat by moxythecat
Yellow mosaic Bench on Flickr - by moxythecat
Black and White mosaic seat on Flickr - by moxythecat
Blue mosaic seat on Flickr - by moxythecat
The Green is a little park between Tryon and College down around first or second street in Uptown Charlotte. There are many little bits of public art in this little park including these five little mosaic benches or stools.
Sheila Campbell of the University of Toronto has a PhD in archaeology and art history, with a specialty in ancient and medieval mosaics.
Dr. Campbell solved one of the world’s mosaic mysteries in 1998 reuniting the fragments of the eternal lovers, Parthenope and Metiochos (known as the Romeo and Juliet of the ancient world) with the original mosaic in Turkey.
Dr. Campbell was also involved in the fight to preserve the treasures of Zeugma, Turkey which rival the splendors of Pompeii. She curated the “The New Mosaic: Selections from Friuli, Italy” an exhibition of contemporary mosaics from the School of Spilimbergo at the Royal Ontario Museum - Toronto, Canada in 2003.
Mosaic Art Source Archives - Mosaic Art School of Fruili Spilimbergo
Mosaic Art Source - Mosaic Art Focus February Newsletter
Galla Placidia Mausoleum on Flickr - by James Macdonald
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a highly important Byzantine mausoleum in Ravenna, Italy. It is one of the eight structures in Ravenna that were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1996. As the UNESCO experts reasoned, “it is the earliest and best preserved of all mosaic monuments, and at the same time one of the most artistically perfect”.
mausoleum of Galla Placidia on Flickr - by saintpeg
Mausoleu de Gal·la Placídia, Ravenna on Flickr - by Sebastia Giralt
Built in 425-430 AD, the structure is designed in the shape of a Greek cross, and has a cupola that is entirely in mosaics, representing eight apostles and symbolical figures of doves drinking from a vessel. The other four apostles are represented on the vaults of the transverse arm; over the door is a representation of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, young, beardless, with flowing hair, and surrounded by sheep; opposite, there is a subject that is interpreted as representing Saint Lawrence. Thin, translucent panels of stone admit light into the structure through the windows.
Galla Placidia Mausoleum, Ravenna on Flickr - by breic
galla placidia interior on Flickr - by designucdavis
The building contains three sarcophagi; the largest is said to have been that of Galla Placidia, and that her embalmed body was deposited there in a sitting position, clothed with the imperial mantle; in 1577, however, the contents of the sarcophagus were accidentally burned. The sarcophagus to the right is attributed to Emperor Valentinian III or to Galla Placidia’s brother, Emperor Honorius. The one on the left is attributed to Galla Placidia’s husband, Emperor Constantius III. In fact this building was the oratory of a wider church: the Holy Cross.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colours on Flickr - by James Macdonald
Mosaic Inside on Flickr - by pietroizzo
The inside is relatively small and extremely simple. The mausoleum was intended from the very start to be covered with mosaics, and these are the oldest in Ravenna. The eye is seduced by the brilliance of the colours, which mask the architecture and create an illusionistic effect.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia - Ravenna, Italy - Great Buildings Online
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia on Flickr - by Rosy Hunt
Mosaics Stars Mausoleo di Galla Placidia Ravenna on Flickr - by blu_blue
Mausoleo di Galla Placidia on Flickr - by Arrigo Ceramista
Mosaic detail on Flickr - by vanalledag
Dettagli sottarco Mausoleo Galla Placidia on Flickr - by Arrigo Ceramista
Mosaic tiles on Flickr - by James Macdonald
Mosaic Art Source mosaic definition:
smalti
smalto (pl. smalti) - smalti is characterized by its dazzling range of brilliant opaque colors. Smalti is prepared by adding crystalline material (corpo) and coloured material (anima) to the colourless or coloured fused glass. Smalti is literally available in thousands of colors, is a very stable glass, easy to cut and very durable. m.a.s. mosaic glossary
Mosaic Art Source mosaic definition:
gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)
gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent, at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick. The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina). In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal, the thickness of the leaf, the colour, if any, of the cartellina and of the support. m.a.s.mosaic glossary
Nature & Geometry, originally uploaded by pietroizzo.
Casa Grande, originally uploaded by hbomb1947.
Where is the Hearst Castle?
Hearst Castle was the palatial estate of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. It is located near San Simeon, California, on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Donated by the Hearst Corporation to the state of California in 1957, it is now a State Historical Monument and a National Historic Landmark, open for public tours. Hearst formally named the estate ‘La Cuesta Encantada’ (’The Enchanted Hill’), but he usually just called it ‘the ranch’.
Hearst Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hearst Castle Roman Pool Mosaics on Flickr - by patacancha
The Casa Grande Roman Pool
The pool appears to be styled after an ancient Roman bath such as the Baths of Caracalla in Rome c. 211-17 AD. The mosaic tiled patterns were inspired by mosaics found in the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy. They are also representative of traditional marine monster themes that can be found in ancient Roman baths.
The Roman Pool Hearst Castle on Flickr - by eye_fish
The Roman Pool is decorated from ceiling to floor with 1″ square mosaic tiles. These glass tiles, called smalti, are either colored (mainly blue or orange) or are clear with fused gold inside. The intense colors and shimmering gold of the tiles combine to create a breathtaking effect. The designs created by the tiles were developed by muralist Camille Solon.
Hearst pool bottom mosaic detail on Flickr - by vikram_muthanna
Bottom of the indoor pool mosaic detail on Flickr - by SFAntti
Hearst Castle Pool bottom mosaic detail on Flickr - Rock and Racehorses
Hearst Castle Roman Pool mosaics on Flickr - by Sandra Leidholdt
Mosaic wall & floor detail on Flickr - by Stellae et Luna
Mosaic Design Inspiration
The inspiration for some of these designs came from the 5th Century Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Hearst was affected by the beauty of the mosaics in the mausoleum and incorporated similar styles into his Roman Pool. The walls of the mausoleum are marble but the vaulted arches are composed of blue and gold smalti. The roofs and dome are covered with mosaics of night blue, powdered with stars. The Roman Pool is similar to the mausoleum with its blue and gold color scheme and stylized star patterns. It differs because marble was only used in the statues, not on the walls, and their are no religious murals.
The Roman Pool at Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle wall mosaic detail on Flickr - by Rock and Racehorses
Hearst Castle Mosaic floor detail on Flickr - by Isalcedo
Mosaic Floor Tile Detail. on Flickr - by blisseau
Roman Crab mosaic floor detail on Flickr - by Stellae et Luna
Mosaic Gold tesserae texture detail on Flickr - by klabhead
Mosaic Art Source mosaic definition:
gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)
gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent, at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick. The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina). In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal, the thickness of the leaf, the colour, if any, of the cartellina and of the support. m.a.s.mosaic glossary
brighton beach mosaic on Flickr - by zillah
London-by-the-Sea?
A major tourist attraction is Brighton’s pebble beach, which has a variety of bars, restaurants, night clubs and amusement arcades. Together with the attractions further inland, these contribute to Brighton being sometimes referred to as “London-by-the-sea”; it certainly offers one of the most accessible tourist beaches from London.
Brighton beach has a designated official nudist area (south of the easterly part of Kemptown). This is unusual in that very few naturist beaches in the United Kingdom are located within urban areas.
Brighton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Path, originally uploaded by Dancing Fish.
Brighton Mosaic Eyes on Flickr - by airsine
Bromptons Opticians, Gardner Street, North Laine on Flickr - by Bus Stop
Where is Brighton and Hove?
Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. Brighton is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in the United Kingdom.
Brighton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
mosaic glasses tile on Flickr - by chillicheese
Glasses mosaic in doorway Gardner Street on Flickr - by Bus Stop
Glasses mosaic Bromptons Opticians on Flickr - by Bus Stop
Glasses mosaic doorway Bromptons Opticians on Flickr - by Bus Stop
Basílica de Carranque 2, originally uploaded by stavlokratz.
Where is Carranque?
Carranque is a town in the Toledo province, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is located in the Alta Sagra area of the province bordering the province of Madrid.
Carranque contains a Roman site protected as an archeological park by the Castile-La Mancha government. It is located by river Guadarrama, near a Roman road. It seems to be near the lost city of Titultiam. There are three main buildings, the ruins of a Roman mill and a modern interpretation building. The buildings date from the late 4th century and are thought to be related to the Hispania-born emperor Theodosius I.
carranque mosaico on Flickr - by themy2004
In 1983 a local peasant, Samuel López Iglesias, found a series of mosaics while plowing in the fields known as las Suertes de Abajo. These mosaics belong to the so-named Villa of Maternus. The interpretation facility exhibits objects found during the excavations. Carranque - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Océano on Flickr - by stavlokratz
In the Dining Hall a tilted floor formed a semicircular fountain with a mosaic of the god Oceanus, featuring crab antennas, claws and a wavy beard.
In the Greek and Roman world-view, Oceanus (Greek Ὠκεανός, Okeanos), was the world-ocean, which they believed to be an enormous river encircling the world. Strictly speaking, Okeanos was the ocean-stream at the Equator in which floated the habitable hemisphere (oikoumene).[1] In Greek mythology, this world-ocean was personified as a Titan, a son of Uranus and Gaia. In Hellenistic and Roman mosaics, this Titan was often depicted as having the upper body of a muscular man with a long beard and horns, and the lower torso of a serpent (cf. Typhon). On a fragmentary archaic vessel (British Museum 1971.11-1.1) of ca 580 BCE, among the gods arriving at the wedding of Peleus and the sea-nymph Thetis, is a fish-tailed Oceanus, with a fish in one hand and a serpent in the other, gifts of bounty and prophecy. In Roman mosaics he might carry a steering-oar and cradle a ship. Oceanus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Briseis and Achilles mosaic- Wikipedia
The Ulysses giving Briseis back to Achilles mosaic above was also found in the dining room & depicts the return of the slave Briseis to Achilles as narrated in the Iliad.
What Iliad?
The Iliad (Ancient Greek Ἰλιάς, Ilias) is, together with the Odyssey, one of two ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer, a supposedly blind Ionian poet. The epics are considered by most modern scholars to be the oldest literature in the Greek language (though some believe that the works of the poet Hesiod were composed earlier, a belief that was also held by some classical Greeks).
Aquiles from Ulysses giving Briseis back to Achilles on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
The first word of the Iliad is μῆνιν (mēnin), “rage” or “wrath”. This word announces the major theme of the Iliad: the wrath of Achilles.
Briseida from Ulysses giving Briseis back to Achilles on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
When Agamemnon, the commander of the Greek forces at Troy, dishonors Achilles by taking Briseis, a slave woman given to Achilles as a prize of war, Achilles becomes enraged, and withdraws from the fighting. Without Achilles’ prowess in battle, the Greeks are nearly defeated by the Trojans. Achilles re-enters the fighting when his dearest friend Patroclus is killed by the Trojan prince Hector. Achilles slaughters many Trojans, and kills Hector. In his rage he then refuses to return Hector’s body and instead defiles it. Priam, the father of Hector, ransoms his son’s body, and the Iliad ends with the funeral of Hector.
Of the many themes in the Iliad, perhaps the most important is the idea of moral choice. Achilles believes he has two options: he can either live a long, unremarkable life at home or else he can die young and gloriously as a mercenary warrior. Military adventuring (that is, pillage and plunder) was a way of life in pre-Homeric times, and the many ruins of thick-walled cities and fortresses in the region give silent testimony to the fear that must have characterized life in the ancient world.
For some men, military adventuring is a more attractive choice than staying home on the farm. Death in battle leads to honor and glory—timae and kleos—which were important values of the day — more important than even right and wrong. One of the remarkable things about the Iliad is the way that Achilles, especially in Book 9, both embraces concepts of honor and glory and also rejects them. It should be noted that, despite the fact that he is the antagonist in the story, Hector probably best displays the qualities of an ancient Mediterranean hero. Many Greek myths exist in multiple versions, so Homer had some freedom to choose among them to suit his story. Iliad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
mosaico on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
mosaico on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Píramo y Tisbe at Villa of Maternus - Carranque, Spain on Flickr - by stavlokratz
This mosaic is found in the sleeping room of the 4th century Roman Villa of Maternus - Carranque, Spain
Mosaic Art Source Archives - more mosaics from the Villa Maternus - Carranque, Spain
The love story of Pyramus and Thisbe, not really apart of Roman mythology, is actually a sentimental romance. It is recounted by Hyginus (Fabulae 242) but is better told by Ovid(Metamorphoses 4). Pyramus and Thisbe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thisbe and Pyramus with Typo paphos, cyprus on Flickr - by Ken and Nyetta
This mosaic at Paphos, Cyprus is particularly interesting because it depicts a rare (and enormous) “typo.” This is supposed to be a mosaic of the story of Thisbe and Pyramos — the story written down by Ovid from which Shakespeare adapted Romeo and Juliet and the story that appears as a sub-plot in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
In the legend, Thisbe and Pyramos are youths in Babylon whose parents dislike each other but who fall in love by talking through a crack in the wall between their homes. This mosaic is supposed to depict their fateful meeting that results in their double-suicide.
The problem with this mosaic is that rather than showing the Pyramos who committed suicide when he thought Thisbe had been eaten by a great cat (a leopard in this mosaic), the artist put in the river god Pyramos with his seaweed hair and horn of plenty. The mosaic artist probably did not know the story and was just working from a book of standard themes — and chose the wrong Pyramos to draw!
For a bit of fun check this out - Pyramus and Thisbe performed by The Beatles
Worchester College Oxford - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Worcester College
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Its predecessor was an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century, even though the current college was founded only in the eighteenth century.
Worcester College, Oxford - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saints from the mosaic floor of Worcester College’s chapel c.1791
St Augustine on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
St Augustine (or Austin) is here shown writing one of his famous texts, possibly the ‘Confessions’.
St Jerome on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
St Jerome translated the Bible in Latin. His work is called the Vulgate. He is shown here in cardinal’s robes and in the work of translation, or perhaps writing one of his Scripture commentaries.
St Ambrose on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
St. Ambrose was believed to have composed the ‘Te Deum laudamus’, an earlyChristian hymn of praise, hence he is shown here in the act of writingit.
St Gregory the Great on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
St. Gregory - This Pope was responsible for the codification of plainsong, hence the name ‘Gregorian chant’. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove sits on his shoulder, dictating the sacred song to him.
Christ the Divine Sower, originally uploaded by Lawrence OP.
Mosaic floor from Worcester College’s chapel. This comes from the footpace in front of the Altar. The floor is entirely covered in mosaic with charming depictions of the saints.
Glimpse of Petra Treasury on Flickr - by charlietyack
Where is Petra?
Petra is a spectacular ancient Nabataean city in western Jordan. With massive façades that have been carved entirely out of the existing red sandstone, Petra’s magnificent temples and tombs are like no other religious buildings in the world, and the surrounding rugged landscape dotted with historical sites are a hiker’s paradise.
Petra has been a city of great religious significance both in ancient times and today. First, it has a number of connections with the Old Testament: the nearby Ain Mousa (Spring of Moses) is believed to be where Moses struck a rock with his staff to extract water and Aaron is said to have died in the Petra area and been buried on what is today the sacred site atop Jabal Haroun (Mount Aaron). Later, the city built by the Nabataeans was packed with tombs, temples, sanctuaries and altars to their gods. And in its last years, Petra was the home of several Byzantine churches.
Petra, Jordan - Sacred Destinations Travel Guide
Petra church mosaic floor on Flickr - by fee6ee
Amidst Petra’s ancient temples is a Byzantine church dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Still being excavated, Petra Church contains some extraordinary mosaics.
Detail of the Petra church mosaics on Flickr - by fee6ee
The Petra Church seems to have first been built over Nabataean and Roman remains around 450 AD. It may have been a major 5th- and 6th-century cathedral, which is intriguing given the other evidence of Petra’s decline after a 363 AD earthquake.
Petra church mosaic detail on Flickr - by anilegna
Petra church mosaic detail on Flickr - by anilegna
mosaic floor detail on Flickr - by anilegna
How old are the mosaics of Petra?
When first constructed around 450, the church had only one apse and an entrance porch. The Mosaic of the Seasons in the southern aisle is from this period. In 500-50 AD, the church was remodeled. Two side apses were installed and the two-story atrium built. The nave was paved and the chancel screens, a pulpit, and wall mosaics were installed, as were the mosaics of the northern aisle and the eastern end of the southern aisle.
petra_church_deer_mosaic on Flickr - by taijibasset
Each of the side aisles of Petra Church is paved with 70 square meters of remarkably preserved mosaics, depicting native as well as exotic or mythological animals, as well as personifications of the Seasons, Ocean, Earth and Wisdom. Also surviving are significant remains of the nave’s paving in marble and stone in geometric designs.
Mosaic Interpretation on Flickr - Photo Sharing!, by www.h4ppy.com.
La Pompeya del Este, Jerash, Jordan on Flickr - by kissss
Where is Jerash?
Located some 48 km (30 miles) north of the capital Amman, Jerash is known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa, also referred to as Antioch on the Golden River. It is sometimes misleadingly referred to as the “Pompeii of the Middle East”, referring to its size, extent of excavation and level of preservation (though Jerash was never buried by a volcano).
Jerash became an urban center during the 3rd century BC and a member of the federation of Greek cities known as the Decapolis (”ten cities” in Greek). Jerash prospered during the 1st century BC as a result of its position on the incense and spice trade route from the Arabian Peninsula to Syria and the Mediterranean region. Jerash was a favorite city of the Roman emporer, Hadrian, and reached its zenith in AD 130, flourishing economically and socially. The city began to decline in the 3rd century, later becoming a Christian city under the rule of the Byzantine empire. The Muslims took over in AD 635, but the final blow to the city was dealt by Baldwin II of Jerusalem in AD 1112 during the Crusades.
Modern Jerash sprawls to the east of the ruins, sharing the same city wall but little else. Thankfully, the ruins have been carefully preserved and spared from encroachment.
Jerash travel guide - Wikitravel
Liz photographs the mosaics in Jerash on Flickr - by charlietyack
How old are the Mosaics of Jerash?
From AD 350, a large Christian community lived in Jerash, and between AD 400-600, more than thirteen churches were built, many with superb mosaic floors. A cathedral was built in the fourth century A.D. An ancient synagogue with detailed mosaics, including the story of Noah, was found beneath a church.
Jerash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerash Mosaic Ruins on Flickr - Liz Bartlett
Mosaic in Jerash on Flickr - by charlietyack
Ayasofya / Sainte Sophie / Haghia Sophia on Flickr - by pictalogue
What is the Hagia Sophia?
Hagia Sophia, (the Church of) Holy Wisdom, now known as the Ayasofya Museum, is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted to a mosque in 1453 by the Turks, and converted into a museum in 1935. It is located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is traditionally considered one of the great buildings in history. Its conquest by the Ottomans at the fall of Constantinople is considered one of the great tragedies of Christianity by the Greek Orthodox faithful.
The name comes from the Greek name Ἁγία Σοφία, a contraction of Ναός τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας, meaning “Church of the Holy Wisdom of God”. It is also known as Sancta Sophia in Latin and Ayasofya in Turkish. Although it is sometimes called “Saint Sophia” in English, it is not named after a saint named Sophia — the Greek word sofia means “wisdom.”
Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
curving, swirling Hagia Sophia Architecture - shapeshift
Hagia Sophia is covered by a central dome with a diameter of 31 meters (102 feet) and 56 meters high, slightly smaller than the Pantheon’s. The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colorful interior with light.
The dome is carried on pendentives — four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. At Hagia Sophia the weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners. Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches.
At the western (entrance) and eastern (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended by half domes carried on smaller semidomed exedras. Thus a hierarchy of dome-headed elements builds up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence unexampled in antiquity. All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry and gold mosaics, encrusted upon the brick. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and domes.
Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sunlight dapples the Hagia Sofia on Flickr - by Al ajanabi
Nothing remains of the first church that was built on the same site during the 4th century. Following the destruction of the first church, a second was built by Constantius II, the son of Constantine I, but was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt under the personal supervision of Emperor Justinian I and rededicated on December 27, 537. After the great earthquake in 989, which ruined the dome of St Sophia, the Byzantine government sent for the Armenian architect Tirdat, creator of the great churches of Ani and Agine, to repair the dome.[1] Justinian chose Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, a physicist and a mathematician, as architects; Anthemius, however, died within the first year. The construction is described in Procopius’ On Buildings (De Aedificiis). The Byzantine poet Paulus the Silentiary composed an extant poetic ekphrasis, probably for the rededication of 563, which followed the collapse of the main dome.
Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed “Solomon, I have surpassed thee!” (Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών). Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1,000 years up until the completion of the cathedral in Seville.
Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Inside Hagia Sofia on Flickr - Libby and Danny Santella
Ayasofya / Hagia Sofia on Flickr - by sixth land
I think this is an accurate image of the interior of Hagia Sofia. It captures the gloomy darkness of the enormous space. This is an interior view from the gallery, which is really wide (huge) and goes all the way round the building. You reach it by an enormous stone ramp made of large uneven boulders, rather than steps. This astonishing Byzantine building blows my mind. It is genuinely one of the wonders of the world. Following the destruction of the two previous churches on the site, the building that you see now was rebuilt under the personal supervision of emperor Justinian I and rededicated on December 27, 537ad. That makes it 1500 years old! It was the largest cathedral ever built for over 1,000 years and today is still the fourth largest cathedral in the world.
Inside Aya Sofya on Flickr - by krensucht
Why were Hagia Sophia’s mosaics covered?
Because Islam tends away from representational imagery, many mosaics were destroyed and others were covered with plaster.
Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
047 - Hagia Sofia uncovered mosaic on Flickr - by Metatron
plaster & mosaic detail on Flickr - by kenzilicious
049 - Hagia Sofia uncovered mosaic on Flickr - by Metatron
Why aren’t all the mosaics uncovered?
Restoration work in the 20th century was begun in 1932 by the American Byzantine Institute, during which most of the figures were uncovered. Due to its long history as both a church and a mosque, a particular challenge arises in the restoration process.
plaster detail on Flickr - by howtorowacat
The Christian iconographic mosaics are being gradually uncovered. However, in order to do so, important, historic Islamic art would have to be destroyed. Restorers have attempted to maintain a balance between both Christian and Islamic cultures.
Mosaic column detail on Flickr - by SUE&XU
Is there a Mosaic under the Dome’s Calligraphy?
In particular, much controversy rests upon whether the Islamic calligraphy on the dome of the cathedral should be removed, in order to permit the underlying Pantocrator mosaic of Christ as Master of the World, to be exhibited (assuming the mosaic still exists).
Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Is the Pantocrator Mosaic of Christ under there? - by guranf
Mosaic detail on Flickr - by Mistress B
mosaic detail on Flickr - by feuillu
Mosaic detail on Flickr - by Mistress B
Blue Mountain Cafe : North Cross Road (off Lordship Lane) South London, originally uploaded by pomphorhynchus.
Blue Mountain Cafe : North Cross Road (off Lordship Lane) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Mosiac patio outside the front door.
Lordship Lane and North Cross Road in SE5 South London have a fantastic and vibrant mix of small successful shops. The Blue Mountain Cafe - a coffee shop, restaurant and cake shop all in one - started it all. When the area was grotty and undeveloped the BMC was a wonderful and exciting exception.
Elevator Area, originally uploaded by iLoveButter.
The elevator area of the hotel was very grand. The building is an old historic landmark, said to be the first sky scraper. Hotel Burnham, Chicago
Mosaic Floor detail Hotel Burnham, Chicago on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Mosaic Floor detail Hotel Bunham, Chicago on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Volubilis overview on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Those Romans sure got far. Here was a whole city of ruins, complete with sewage systems, impressive floor mosaics (guarded by no more than a simple chain) and what city is complete without a brothel.
Volubilis must have been an awesome bustling city in the first centuries AD. Citizens of Volubilis were exempt of Roman taxes, because they lived so far away. Must have been paradise!
House of Orpheus, Volubilis on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Marble mosaic floor ‘House of Orpheus’, Volubilis.
SANY0806 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
‘House of Orpheus’ marble mosaic floor detail, Volubilis
DSC01819Volubilis on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
‘The Exploits of Hercules’ marble mosaic floor, Volubilis
CIMG0444 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
‘Aphrodite taking a Bath’ marble mosaic floor, Volubilis
CIMG0421 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Bacchus checks out hot babe., originally uploaded by snarl.
a mosaic on the floor of the ‘Knight’s house’ in Volubilis, near Meknes, Morocco. Bacchus finds Ariadne asleep, Theseus having wandered off somewhere. The winged Eros makes a suggestion. Mosaic is about six feet across.
saucy on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Detail of a mosaic on the floor of the ‘Knight’s house’ in Volubilis, near Meknes, Morocco: Bacchus’ standing behind Ariadne’s bare leg. they went on to have six children together.
Hercules with pet Cerberus on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
in the floor of the ‘Labours of Hercules house’ in Volubilis, near Meknes, Morocco. mosaic is about two feet across.
hercules and the Cretan bull on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
in the floor of the ‘Labours of Hercules house’ in Volubilis, near Meknes, Morocco. mosaic is about two feet across, special appearance by dead lion.
4 Photos above taken in the middle of a torrential rain that cleared the ruins of other tourists, and washed all the dust off the mosaics so i could get a decent picture. not long after taking this picture, I shared shelter in an upturned bin with one of the site’s guardians, who walk around with whistles to warm people not to knock stuff over or walk on the walls.
Mosaic at Volubilis on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Roman mosaic on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Detail of a single mosaic on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Volubilis (Arabic: وليلي Oualili) is an archaeological site in Morocco situated near Meknes between Fez and Rabat. The nearest town is Moulay Idriss. Volubilis features the best preserved excavations in this part of northern Africa dating from the Roman Empire. In 1997 the site was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
In antiquity, Volubilis was an important Roman town situated on the westernmost border of Roman conquests. It was built about 40 C.E., probably on the site of a previous Carthaginian settlement from the 3rd century B.C.E. Volubilis takes its name from the Berber name Alili meaning Oleander flower, which is common in the area.
Volubilis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mosaic Art Source - Mosaic Floor Images Archive
Greek Orthodox Church at Madaba on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Madaba is best known for its superb, historically significant Byzantine era mosaics. Madaba’s most famous site is the Mosaic map in the 19th century Greek Orthodox St George’s Church. Unearthed 1864, the mosaic was once a clear map with 157 captions (in Greek) of all major biblical sites from Lebanon to Egypt. The mosaic was constructed AD 560 & once contained more than 2 million pieces, only 1/3 of the whole now survives.
6th century Madaba Map found during construction in 1898 of St George’s church, originally uploaded by anilegna.
Madaba, مادبا, is a capital city of Madaba Governorate of Jordan, which has a population of about 60.000. Madaba is the fifth most populous town in Jordan. It is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta. Madaba is located 30 miles south-west of the capital Amman.
Madaba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
map portrays the physical charteristics of the Eastern Byzantine World… on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
including rivers, valleys, the dead sea & its neighbouring hills & towns… on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
The Madaba Map is the oldest extant map of the Holy Land and is dated to the middle of the 6th century AD. It was discovered late in the 19th century, during an excavation and reconstruction of a mosaic floor in St George’s Church in Madaba, Jordan. The mosaic is a detailed map of Jerusalem as it appeared at the height of the Byzantine period. The map depicts some famous Old City structures such as the Damascus Gate, St. Steven’s Gate, the Golden Gate, the gate leading to Mount Zion, the Citadel (Tower of David), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Cardo Maximus.
Madaba Map - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Madaba’s Jerusalem Mosaic Map on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
1029 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
6th century Madaba Map - dead sea on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Mosaic, originally uploaded by Brent73.
How were the mosaics found in Madaba?
The first mosaics were discovered, purely by chance, during the building of the new permanent dwellings using squared-up stones from the old monuments. The new inhabitants of Madaba, made conscious of the importance of the mosaics by their priests, made sure that they took care of and preserved all the mosaics that came to light.
The mosaic Map of Madaba was discovered in 1896; the findings were published a year later. This discovery drew the city to the attention of scholars worldwide. It also positively influenced the inhabitants who shared the contagious passion of F. Giuseppe Manfredi to whose efforts we owe the discovery of most of the mosaics in the city. Madaba became the “City of Mosaics” in Jordan.
The northern part of the city turned out to be the area containing the greatest concentration of mosaic monuments. During the Byzantine-Umayyad period, this northern area, crossed by a colonnaded Roman road, saw the building of the Church of the Map, the Hippolytus Mansion, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Church of Prophet Elijah with its crypt, the Church of the Holy Martyrs (Al-Khadir), the Burnt Palace and the Church of the Sunna’ family.
The Madaba Mosaic Map is an index map of the region, dating from the sixth century CE, preserved in the floor of the Greek Orthodox Basilica of Saint George. With two million pieces of colored stone, the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns in Palestine and the Nile Delta. The mosaic contains the earliest extant representation of Byzantine Jerusalem, labeled the “Holy City.” The map provides important details as to its 6th century landmarks, with the cardo, or central colonnaded street and the Holy Sepulchre clear visible. This map is one key in developing scholarly knowledge about the physical layout of Jerusalem after its destruction and rebuilding in AD 70.
Other mosaic masterpieces found in the church of the Virgin and the Apostles and the Archaeological Museum, depict a profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology and everyday pursuits of hunting, fishing and farming. Hundred of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba
Madaba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Virtual Trip through the Madaba Map Holy Places a fascinating trip through the Holy Places as they had been represented on the mosaic floor of the ancient church at Madaba (Jordan)
