Mosaics covered the floors and sometimes the walls of almost

1.

Mosaics covered the floors and sometimes the walls of almost any
Roman building, public or private, and they are still being excavated in
all parts of the former Roman Empire.

2.

Mosaics are made of
tesserae, small cubes
of stone, ceramic or
glass. Initially black
and white, tesserae
served for creating
endless types of
ornaments
and
figures.

3.

• This is a mosaic dog
from one of Pompeii
house. It was depicted
at the entrance and is
signed “Canis anem”,
which means “Angry
dog”. It was made in
the 1st century B.C.
and is still guarding
the house today.

4.

Resistant to water and moisture, mosaics made an excellent kind
of decoration for bath-houses and swimming pools. Many of
them portray sea creatures and deities.

5.

• With time coloured mosacis gaind greater popularity among the
Romans. They could depict ornaments, daily objects, symbolic
figures or highly lifelike pictures.

6.

7.

But even the most elaborate mosaics still had a utilitarian purpose,
adorning floors and fountains. This fine depiction of Neptune and his
wife is the wall of an inner yard in a rich house of Herculanum.

8.

9.

From Syria to England, Roman mosaics are found almost every
year showing mastery and productivity of ancient artisans.