| The archaeological record and literary sources indicate that the interiors of churches in the early Byzantine Empire were richly adored from floor to ceiling. In this study, it is asserted that all of the surfaces which received decoration were integral components of the overall decorative program including the floor. The floor has generally been accorded an inferior position within the decorative scheme by scholars. This has led to the perception that the embellishment of the floor was unimportant and, unlike the wall and ceiling decoration, which could be laden with symbolism, was purely decorative. A sufficient number of mosaic pavements have been discovered in the churches of Byzantine Palestine to assess these assumptions. A regional examination of the mosaics in the province has been undertaken in order to determine local trends as well as place the pavements within a wider context. The methodology adopted for the analysis and interpretation of the mosaics is best described as integrative. This method considers the formal qualities, iconography, and potential symbolic meaning of the floor mosaics as well as their relationship to the architecture and the liturgy. In order to fully understand these aspects of the pavements, the religious, political, social, and economic conditions in which they were produced must be taken into account. As a result of this approach and the application of this methodology, conclusions have been reached concerning regional iconographic and stylistic trends, the configuration of mosaic programs, the polyvalency of the interpretation of the imagery, workshop structure and practices, and patronage. |
