Location in the architectural complex:
Intercolumniations
Mosaic floor
Illustrative material:
Materials, palette:
Tessarea, glass, malachite for the plants.
shades of green, cipally black, gray, red, yellow, white, orange and brown.
Density:
114 to 240 tiles per four-inch square
Composition:
Two mosaic scenes and an inscription. The first scene features a man leading a camel laden with an amphora and baskets, above him a Greek inscription "Orbikon".The second shows two richly dressed women, adorned with earrings, bracelets, and diadems. One of the women is scattering coins with her right hand above her, we read: "The lady Syltous". Perhaps this refers to a female donor of the church. The other woman appears older, her facial expression sterner, she is holding a bowl containing a fowl. Above her we read "Kalliora", meaning the "good hour". The human figures are executed in a style that is reminiscent the mosaics of St. Vitale in Ravena, Italy. Specifically, they resemble the two attendants of Empress Theodora. While the personification in female form of the concepts of the good hour and charity resemble Antioch mosaics.
The western intercolumniation holds the following inscription (1.4 x 0.7 m): "The superb work was done at the time of father Theodoros...This mosaics work was done on the tenth of the month of Panemos, in the year 638, the eleventh year of indiction".
Comments:
The mosaic date corresponds to July 4th, 578 C.E., two years after the rest of the church was completed.
Inscriptions