What is a mosaic? A mosaic is a picture or pattern made up of small and sometimes irregular pieces of stone, glass, ceramic, tile, or paper. They are held in place by plaster or some other type of glue. We often see mosaics in our everyday life and not even notice them. They can be found on a wall, a floor, or even a ceiling. They were very popular in Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and Mesopotamia. Cave Canem in Latin translates to “Beware of Dog” in the doorway of an ancient home of Pompeii. This not only was a warning sign, but also helps archeologists today see clues as to how people lived. See the chain around the dog’s neck? What does this tell you? A very impressive floor mosaic from Pompeii is the Alexander mosaic, also called the Battle of Issus mosaic, though a good portion of it is no longer around. It shows Alexander the Great charging Darius III of Persia. It date back to 120-100 BC. Here is a smaller portion of it up close. This is Alexander the Great. This whole mosai...
