B. Kiilerich & H. Torp, The Rotunda in Thessaloniki and its Mosaics (original) (raw)
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Semi-precious stones are frequently depicted in Roman and early Christian works of art, such as wall mosaics, paintings and textiles. These depictions present them as either parts of jewelled frames, or as decora- tions in buildings, architectural elements like columns, or other objects like thrones, wreaths, shields, tables, crosses, book bindings, etc. They appear usually as green, blue and red in colour, mostly of oblong and oval shapes. The prototypes of these gems, or rather the glass rendering of them, is the focus of this chapter. Only recently discovered and other- wise unknown, these large-size (7 × 4 × 0.5 cm) emerald green glass gems deriving from six early Christian excavations in northern Greece and a harbour site in Constantinople, will be presented. Their use will be discussed in relation to their symbolic meaning connected to theological texts and to their representations in contemporaneous mural paintings and mosaics and textiles. Furthermore, Thessaloniki is identified as the production site of at least one type of these gems according to relevant finds from a late sixth-century glass workshop, while the distribution pat- tern of these products in the wider region of Thessaloniki’s hinterland will shed light on a facet of the circulation of glass objects on a regional trade level.