Tessera, mosaic pavement
Production date
1st Century-4th Century CE
Country
Palestine
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Object detail
Description
Six mosaic tessera, square with irregular edges, some with mortar attached.
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY Palestinian mosaic
Production date
1st Century-4th Century CE
Production place
Measurements
Part 1 L10mm x W11mm x D12mm
Part 2 L10mm x W15mm x D16mm
Part 3 L8mm x W11mm x D11mm
Part 4 L8mm x W12mm x D12mm
Part 5 L15mm x W14mm x D16mm
Part 6 L12mm x W11mm x D21mm
Part 2 L10mm x W15mm x D16mm
Part 3 L8mm x W11mm x D11mm
Part 4 L8mm x W12mm x D12mm
Part 5 L15mm x W14mm x D16mm
Part 6 L12mm x W11mm x D21mm
Media/Materials description
Stone
History and use
Floor mosaics made of tesserae (small cubes of stone, pottery or glass) provided a personalised decorative element to buildings. They were pressed into soft cement to create patterns and images. This was a popular decorative feature in Roman buildings and houses, with depicted subjects including scenes from classical stories, gods in combat and geometric patterns. Mosaics could be made in frames in workshops and affixed in place at a later time, or created by artisans on the spot.
Associated person
Registration number
H2380