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How did Byzantine craftsmen contribute to the mosaics of the Great Mosque at Damascus?
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mosaic
Mosaic floor fragment from a synagogue or church, cut stone with mortar from Israel, late 5th–6th century ce; in the Jewish Museum, New York City.
The mosaics of the Great Mosque at Damascus, constructed around 715 CE, were created by specialized craftsmen summoned from Byzantium.1
These artisans brought with them the sophisticated technical and stylistic traditions characteristic of Byzantine mosaic art. Their contribution involved the application of refined techniques developed to enhance the brilliance of the work, such as the strategic use of gold tesserae and the precise tilting of cubes to manipulate light reflections. By employing these specialized methods, the Byzantine craftsmen were able to execute the mosque's expansive decorative program, which famously featured a fanciful landscape often interpreted as a representation of the Quranic paradise.123