Socio-economic aspects of the Byzantine mosaic pavements of Phoenicia and northern Palestine
The present thesis analyzes the Byzantine mosaic pavements of Phoenicia and Northern Palcatine from a socio-economic perspective, primarily by examining the laying of pavements including technical aspects and bedding, the quality of decoration, the distribution of pavements in time and space, as well as inscriptions which provide names of donors and artists as well as dates. The approach adopted represents a novel alternative and complement to typical interpretations of mosaic floor decoration which overwhelmingly focus on the development and diffusion of style, or provide an exegesis of figurative iconography. Key aspects discussed include the extent to which chronological patterns of mosaic floor laying may be used to gauge economic conditions; the factors which determined the quality and distribution of technique and decoration in different building types; as well as the social mechanisms of patronage. Close scrutiny of the regional mosaic Corpus (which includes the total number of pavements) suggests that mosaic pavements provide a reasonable indication of economic conditions, especially in association with other media (coins, pottery, inscriptions). Together these media paint a historical picture of the
Merrony, Mark W.
Mosaics, Byzantine ; Pavements, Mosaic ; Antiquities ; Palestine ; Phoenicia ; Byzantine Empire
Socio-economic aspects of the Byzantine mosaic pavements of Phoenicia and northern Palestine. The present thesis analyzes the Byzantine mosaic pavements of Phoenicia and Northern Palcatine from a socio-economic perspective, primarily by examining the laying of pavements including technical aspects and bedding, the quality of decoration, the distribution of pavements in time and space, as well as inscriptions which provide names of donors and artists as well as dates. The approach adopted represents a novel alternative and complement to typical interpretations of mosaic floor decoration which overwhelmingly focus on the development and diffusion of style, or provide an exegesis of figurative iconography. Key aspects discussed include the extent to which chronological patterns of mosaic floor laying may be used to gauge economic conditions; the factors which determined the quality and distribution of technique and decoration in different building types; as well as the social mechanisms of patronage. Close scrutiny of the regional mosaic Corpus (which includes the total number of pavements) suggests that mosaic pavements provide a reasonable indication of economic conditions, especially in association with other media (coins, pottery, inscriptions). Together these media paint a historical picture of the
socio_economic aspect byzantine mosaic northern palestine present analyzes byzantine mosaic northern socio_economic perspective primarily examine lay include technical_aspect bed quality decoration distribution time_space well inscription provide name donor artists well date adopt represent novel alternative complement typical interpretation mosaic_floor decoration overwhelmingly focus development diffusion style provide exegesis figurative iconography key_aspect discuss_include extent chronological pattern mosaic_floor may_use gauge economic_condition factor_determine quality distribution technique decoration different building type well social mechanism patronage close_scrutiny regional mosaic corpus include total number suggest mosaic provide reasonable indication economic_condition especially association medium coin pottery inscription together medium paint historical picture