![]() The earliest examples of Roman floor mosaics are dated to the late Republican period (2nd century BC) and are housed in Delos, though tessellated pavements were used in Europe from the late fifth to early fourth centuries BC. The collapse of buildings in antiquity can, paradoxically, both irrevocably destroy mosaics or protect and preserve them. The design might also be pegged out in string, or mounted in a wooden frame. Traces of guidelines have been found beneath some mosaics, either scored into or painted onto the mortar bedding. Mosaic decoration was not just confined to floors but featured on walls and vaults as well. Marble and glass were occasionally used as tesserae, as were small pebbles, and precious metals like gold. Polychrome patterns were most common, but monochrome examples are known. Materials for tesserae were obtained from local sources of natural stone, with the additions of cut brick, tile and pottery creating coloured shades of, predominantly, blue, black, red, white and yellow. Roman mosaics are constructed from geometrical blocks called tesserae, placed together to create the shapes of figures, motifs and patterns.
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