Mosaics

Assembled by Twila Block-Kenney

Historical / Cultural Significance

Mosaics are an art form that the people of Israel used to decorate the walls and floors of their homes and places of worship. The mosaics described the people and their lives. Some of the earliest mosaics found date back to the 4th Century BC.

Religion was a main theme in creating mosaics. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam were sources for design. One of the most complete mosaics discovered was in the Beth Alpha Synagogue in Israel. This mosaic was made in 518-527 BC. It was divided into three parts: designs that related to religious services, signs of the Greek Zodiac, and Bible stories.

MOSAIC

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TESSERAE

small cubes of stone

VALUE

the range of color from light to dark

COMMON SYMBOLS

include birds, animals, cherubim, diamonds, crosses, eggs, wheels, clouds, palm trees, stars, circles, dolpins, baskets, fruit, shells, hands, leaves and berries, and branches.

Principles and Elements of Design

An important element of design in making a mosaic was value, which is the range from light to dark. Objects were usually a dark color, the background was a light color. Occassionally light figures were set off a dark background. The design could also be outlined in a dark color.

Technique/Methodology:

Mosaics were made by placing small cubes of stone, called tesserae, into cement mortar. The colors used in mosaics were limited to the limestone that was available. These ranged from white to brown and black. In some areas, marble and brick were used. Sometimes, blue, yellow, and green glass added color.

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Mosaics

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