Worcester Hunt Mosaic

Most large-scale works of Byzantine art during this period were commissioned by the Eastern Orthodox Church or wealthy patrons of the elite upper classes.

[3] Mosaics were a significant development during the sixth century and were commonly used to adorn the interior floors and walls of church buildings as a display of religious fervor and political authority.

Located in the southwestern corner of Anatolia along the Mediterranean coastline, Daphne was an ancient resort community situated in the hills overlooking the Seleucid city of Antioch, which the Byzantines had inherited from the Roman Empire.

[4] The political and cultural significance of Antioch and its surrounding areas was displayed through grand artistic works such as floor mosaics.

The scale of the Worcester Hunt in comparison to other privately-owned Byzantine works of this period demonstrates the extensive time and funding that would have been required to create such a piece.

At the center of the piece stands a single hunter who observes others as they use bows, spears, and swords to subdue large, dangerous game animals.

The region surrounding Antioch represented a crossroads between the Eastern and Western art forms in the late antiquity and early medieval periods.

[9] The various thematic elements showcased in the mosaic demonstrate how the artist incorporated styles from multiple cultures when constructing this piece.