"Virgin and Child"

There are two main types of mosaic surviving from the Byzantine period: wall mosaics in churches, and sometimes palaces, made using glass tesserae, sometimes backed by gold leaf for a gold ground effect, and floor mosaics that have mostly been found by archaeology. These often use stone pieces, and are generally less refined in creating their images.

It was not acceptable for images of sacred figures to be walked upon. Religious mosaics show similar subject matter to that found in other surviving religious Byzantine art in painted icons and manuscript miniatures.

Floor mosaics often have images of geometrical patterns, often interspersed with animals. Scenes of hunting were popular.