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Byzantine
Knot Necklace |
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In Ravenna Italy, there is the most magnificent floor from the Byzantine period. It is called Il Domus dei Tappetti di Pietra (The House of the Stone Carpets). I fell in love with this wonderful place and it has inspired the work that follows. To the right is a picture of a small section of the floor. Inspired by the Il Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra, these pieces are the first in a series of wearable and non-wearable beadwork inspired by this magnificent floor.
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History of the
Floor |
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This archeological complex was discovered during
the building of an underground parking lot in 1993. The discovery
was quite remarkable on many levels – literally. The levels
found were: Building from the 17th or 18th century; a canal dating
back to the Middle Ages filled with ceramics and food residue;
a medieval house; a Byzantine palace; a necropolis; remains of
a roman villa from the 4th or 5th century.
The Decision to concentrate on the Byzantine floor was made because it was found to be the only layer that could be thoroughly excavated. Also, the mosaics show a remarkable variety in motifs, colors and geometric and pictorial patterns. The floor belonged to a private building in fact it is the only private complex from the Byzantine period known in Ravenna. This helps to round out the entire picture of Ravenna which is home to so many world-renowned monuments. The palace contains 14 indoor rooms and 2 courtyards and was probably built in three stages. It was built beginning in the 5th century AD and completed in the late 6th – early 7th century AD.
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Updated May 28, 2010 |
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Website designed by: Marilyn Langdon |
