Byzantine Mosaic Analyze

Mosaic is the art of arranging colored small pieces of glass, stone or marble to create a decorative composition or a picture. Between the 4th century and 1453 (when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople), the medium was a fundamental part of the decoration of important buildings in Constantinople (Cimok 1998, jacket).

Byzantine mosaics were generally created for the decoration of churches. Most of the churches were basilica or central church plans (Lassus 1967, 130). The mosaics in Constantinople, especially Hagia Sophia, were created to celebrate the anointing of new emperors and empresses. The mosaics were generally on domes, galleries and narthexes (Lassus, 130).

Byzantine art was different from other period's art. The main aim of Byzantine art was the representation of Christianity (Rice 1973, chapter 4, p.3). Decorative layouts had only a limited number of subjects, especially in the middle Byzantine period (Demus, 238).

The history of Byzantine art can