Opus tessellatum

The Opus tessellatum (Latin opus " work" ) is a technique that can be manufactured in the mosaics of tesserae.

The Opus tessellatum is usually used for backgrounds, which consist of horizontal or vertical lines arranged - but the stones are arranged either in horizontal or vertical lines, but not in a regular lattice arrangement - not simultaneously aligned horizontally and vertically; that would be the mosaic technique Opus regulatum.

However, not only the background but also the motifs are placed in Opus tessellatum mosaic technique. For mosaics with Ornamentalcharakter the technique of opus is tessellatum typical.

Opus tessellatum was with the ancient Greeks and Romans, in early Christianity and the Byzantine Empire, the most commonly used mosaic technique. They were a development of the pebble mosaic technique in which unprocessed stones were still being used. Later, some tesserae were in addition to the pebble mosaics used to bring brighter colors in the design. Finally, since the end of the 2nd century, then went at the latest to make BC to about mosaics only with tesserae in the eastern Mediterranean. Were initially the only tesserae of marble, so there was in the 2nd century AD, including those from intensely stained glass. With the rise of the Roman Empire was the Opus tessellatum technique in the 1st century BC, especially in the Italian mainland, partially displaced by the more complex and more expensive Opus vermiculatum technique. From the 1st century AD mosaics were then increasingly used in Opus tessellatum technology with figural motifs for complete floor mosaics. In the period of early Christianity Opus was tessellatum the predominant mosaic technique.

Other mosaic techniques

Other techniques for the production of mosaics are:

  • Opus vermiculatum - elongated stones ( vermis = Latin for worm vermiculatum = vermiform ), mainly used in figure compositions; smaller stones;
  • Opus sectile
  • Opus signinum - no mosaic technique, but a construction technique to floor design

Synonymous terms for solidified floors are

  • Pavimentum tessellatum: simpler, mostly two-colored mosaic floors, mainly with geometric ornaments
  • Pavimentum vermiculatum
  • Pavimentum sectile
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