Mosaics from Jiyeh/Porphyreon in Lebanon: the universality of mosaic art in late antiquity

In the Byzantine period mosaic floors became an essential element of interior decoration, in domestic as well as sacral spaces. Mosaic patterns spread all over the Mediterranean basin, even to the less significant settlements. Ancient Porphyreon (modern Jiyeh in Lebanon), a Levantine coastal village on the ancient ViaMaris was no exception. Recent excavations by a Polish–Lebanese archaeological project confirmed the presence of mosaic floors, mainly in the Domestic Quarter. Technological analyses coupled with a study of the decoration and iconographical motifs have shed light on mosaic craftsmanship in Jiyeh. The mosaics from the Domestic Quarter in Jiyeh are discussed in comparison with well-known examples from nearby sites.