Mosaics

Mosaic floors were made by setting small pieces of stone or glass into a layer of cement-like mortar. The Roman mosaic artists used varying colors of stone and the pattern in which they laid the pieces to model three-dimensional looking figures. This example from Rochester depicts Tethys, wife of Oceanus and mother of the river-gods. What has the artist included in her image that tells us she isn't a mortal?

Roman floor mosaics illustrated scenes and figures from mythology as well as decorative geometric patterns.