Day 4,
Part 2 - Byzantine Mosaics Collection, Beiteddine Palace
This
collection of mosaic art is preserved & on display along the walls of the
Palace's lower gardens & under the vaulted ceilings of the former palace
stables. It is considered the "most spectacular collection of Byzantine
mosaics in the eastern Mediterranean, if not the world." The ones shown
here were mostly excavated from an ancient church at Jiyyeh. Our guide book
points out that this "magnificent collection includes some 30 room-sized
mosaics and many smaller ones. The designs are often geometric and stylized,
reflecting the austere nature of early Christianity in the area, but there are
also depictions of animals, including leopards, bulls, gazelles and birds, as
well as religious figures."(Lonely Planet p. 172) Some mosaics were
presented on the floor while others were mounted vertically on walls.
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| Keith stands on steps
between 2 small mosaics. |
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| This mosaic is in the
center of a lawn on one of the lower terraces. |
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| Does this mosaic look
familiar? It was used in a lightened form for the background of most of our
Lebanon web pages. |
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| One of several descriptive
plaques telling of "The Mosaic of Jiyyeh." |
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| A large mosaic on the
floor in the stable area. |
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| This one is set on the
wall under an arch. |
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| A close-up of the
previously presented mosaic. |
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| More horizontal &
vertical mosaics in the stable area. |
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| This one shows depictions
of several different animals. |
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| This is the same mosaic
of animals presented here with a different camera setting. |
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| Interesting birds and
vessels. |
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| More in a dimly lit area
of the old stable. |
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| An interesting vertically
presented mosaic with writing. |
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| Another descriptive
plaque discussing the development of Lebanese mosaic art. |
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| An obviously religious
mosaic. |
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| In addition to the person
depicted, here are many animals & objects. |
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| Another large mosaic
presented vertically. |
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| We leave the area of
mosaics and emerge back in to the outer courtyard. |
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| Just before leaving the
Palace grounds, Keith notices this more modern piece of "art with a
message." |
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| This "bonus"
photo of an ancient mosaic floor was taken the day before next to the Church
of St. John the Baptist in Byblos. |
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