The History of Mosaic (Part 1)
Mosaic as an art form has been around for centuries, and I thought it would be interesting to explore some of its history in a little more detail.
What I didn’t quite realise at the beginning is just how vast that history actually is. There is so much to discover, so this is the first part of what I’ve found, and I’ll continue sharing more along the way.
The Earliest Mosaics
The oldest known mosaic discovered so far is around 3,500 years old, dating back to the Bronze Age. It was found in Turkey in the remains of a temple dedicated to Teshub, the Hittite god of thunder and storms. This mosaic was only unearthed relatively recently, in 2018.
These early mosaics were made using materials that were readily available—stones, shells, ivory, and other natural elements found locally. There was something very grounded and practical about the way they were created.
If you enjoy working in a more natural, tonal way, you might find it helpful to start with a carefully balanced palette of colours, rather than selecting tiles individually. You can explore some of the curated options here:
Early Decorative Mosaics
Moving forward in time, one of the most well-known early mosaics is from the 4th century BC, discovered in Albania. It is known as The Beauty of Durrës.
This piece is made primarily from naturally coloured pebbles. The colours weren’t added by the artist—they were chosen from what was available, which makes the result feel very organic.
The mosaic was uncovered in 1916 and is now displayed in Tirana’s National Museum. It is thought to represent either a Cretan goddess of childbirth or Aura, a handmaiden of Artemis.
This way of working—choosing colours based on tone and how they sit together—is still very relevant today, especially when creating softer, more harmonious designs.
The Shift to Tesserae
Ancient Greek and Roman mosaics marked a significant turning point in the development of mosaic art.
This is when artists began using tesserae—small, cut pieces of stone and glass—which allowed for much greater detail and complexity. Designs became more intricate, and mosaics began to tell clearer visual stories.
The Romans, in particular, used mosaics extensively. They covered floors and walls with detailed scenes of nature, animals, mythology, and everyday life.
If you’re working with glass or cut tiles, having a range of tones within a single colour can make a big difference to the final result.
One well-known example is The Alexander Mosaic, also called the Battle of Issus, originally from the House of the Faun in Pompeii, Italy.
Another, quite different example is the “Bikini Girls” mosaic from 4th-century Sicily. I must say, the one with the weights looks like she’s just stepped out of a modern-day gym!
Ancient Principles That Still Apply Today
What I find particularly interesting is that, despite how much mosaic has evolved, many of the core principles have stayed the same.
One of the most important is the idea of flow—the way each piece is placed should follow the shape of the design. Tiles aren’t just set down randomly; they move around curves and forms, guiding the eye across the mosaic.
Another is the use of strong outlines. In many classical mosaics, shapes are clearly defined first, which gives the whole piece structure and makes the design easier to read.
There’s also a lot to be said for consistency. Keeping the spacing between tiles even, and placing each piece with care, creates a sense of calm and balance in the finished work.
And finally, tone matters just as much as colour. Even with a limited palette, beautiful mosaics can be created simply by using light and dark thoughtfully.
If you’d like a starting point for this, working from a pre-curated palette can make things much simpler, especially when you’re focusing on flow and placement rather than colour selection.
This is just a small part of the history of mosaic, and there is still much more to explore. I’ll continue sharing more in future posts.