Mosaics of the Fourth Century

Mausoleum of Santa Costanza

These are the oldest mosaics of christian Rome. The mosaics on the vault date back to the building of the mausoleum (340 d.C.) and demonstrate the heavy thematic ties that early christinity had with pagan religions with which it had close contact. There are constant references to nature within the paintings of the ambulatory, with depictions of the grape harvest, various species of birds and tiny figures in flowing classical-style dress.