“Mosaicist and painters in Byzantium” is the theme of a new summer educational program for preschool and elementary school children organized by the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki.
Every Tuesday morning, on August 6, 20 and 27, 5-8 year old children will be introduced to mosaic art. Participants will be introduced to the Museum’s early Christian frescoes and mosaics, learn the basics of their construction techniques, and then imprint their own themes and be invited to improvise.
The program is offered free of charge the next three Tuesdays at 11:00 am and will last approximately 1 hour and thirty minutes.
The Museum’s collection includes 70 sets of detached mosaics that adorned the walls and floors of public buildings, temples, and residences, most of which were found in salvage excavations in Thessaloniki dating from the 4th to the 7th centuries.
The oldest set (early 4th century) was found in Galerian palatial complex of Thessaloniki. These floors are black and white, geometric decorations, which prove that the Roman, western tradition of black and white mosaic continues at this time in the city.
The collection of wall paintings comprises about 200 sets, dating from the 3rd to the 20th centuries, coming from the decoration of early Christian tombs in Thessaloniki, whose frescoes have been removed in recent years.
Source: ANA-MPA
