Friday, November 10, 2006
5/11 Medaba Mosaics
Ok, it is officially COLD again. Sorry, make that freezing. Full moon tonight poking through green clouds - yes, green snow laden clouds...If it made 8 degrees today, I think I would be being generous. Wet, with a sneaky breeze. Two layers no longer enough. Beanie and gloves out and on. Extra thermals on standby. There is snow in Istanbul we have been told, and we're not there yet. If it is going to snow, I hope it does a good job so at least the countryside is pretty.
Spent the morning today exploring the 7th century mosaics in the museum and churches. Fascinating. Unforunately they are not well maintained and much of the beautiful colour is hidden under layers of dirt. The rain was good - washing them and wetting the stones to reveal and enhance the colours. These mosaics are made of small pieces of natural coloured stone - not glass or earthenware, so they do not fade. Amazinf variations of white, cream, pink, red, brown, grey, black combined tyo enhance lines, shadows, give depth and dimension. True artisans. We watched a modern mosaic maker but nowhere near as good as the original.
The mosaic map in the Greek Othadox Church of St George is the most fascinating. The church was built over the 7th century remains to protect and manage it. The original mosaic was huge and not a lot remains - maybe 30%. But it was considered one of the most valuable finds of it's time. It is a geographical map f Egypt, Sinai, and the whole middle east in incredible detail. Extremely accurate with rivers, towns, wadis, seas - all marked. It located previously lost cities for it's modern day discoverers.
Ok, it is officially COLD again. Sorry, make that freezing. Full moon tonight poking through green clouds - yes, green snow laden clouds...If it made 8 degrees today, I think I would be being generous. Wet, with a sneaky breeze. Two layers no longer enough. Beanie and gloves out and on. Extra thermals on standby. There is snow in Istanbul we have been told, and we're not there yet. If it is going to snow, I hope it does a good job so at least the countryside is pretty.
Spent the morning today exploring the 7th century mosaics in the museum and churches. Fascinating. Unforunately they are not well maintained and much of the beautiful colour is hidden under layers of dirt. The rain was good - washing them and wetting the stones to reveal and enhance the colours. These mosaics are made of small pieces of natural coloured stone - not glass or earthenware, so they do not fade. Amazinf variations of white, cream, pink, red, brown, grey, black combined tyo enhance lines, shadows, give depth and dimension. True artisans. We watched a modern mosaic maker but nowhere near as good as the original.
The mosaic map in the Greek Othadox Church of St George is the most fascinating. The church was built over the 7th century remains to protect and manage it. The original mosaic was huge and not a lot remains - maybe 30%. But it was considered one of the most valuable finds of it's time. It is a geographical map f Egypt, Sinai, and the whole middle east in incredible detail. Extremely accurate with rivers, towns, wadis, seas - all marked. It located previously lost cities for it's modern day discoverers.
# posted by The Essence of Good Taste @ 1:12 PM 
