The Roman mosaic discovered in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district came out of the ground during the restoration of the old municipality building. Today it stays where it was found, in the Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum at Kazlıçeşme, which opened to visitors in 2023.
| Where | Kazlıçeşme, Zeytinburnu district, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Found under | The old Zeytinburnu municipality building |
| Now shown in | Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum, opened 2023 |
| Pattern | An eight-cornered main motif with knot borders |
A giant mosaic from the 2nd century AD Roman period was found under the historical building which was used as a military hospital in the Ottoman period, served as a dormitory and organizing tent in the Republican period, and later used as the Zeytinburnu Mayor’s building for 25 years. Excavations were expanded to find the entire mosaic in an area of approximately 50 square meters.
There is a main eight-cornered motif with a central wave and lattice motif placed in a border on the mosaic. It was seen that the mosaic was enriched with interlocking knot motifs surrounding the main form and geometric motifs placed inside the circles which is still a common motif in Turkish handmade carpets.
Zeytinburnu Mayor said that the mosaic found during the restoration of the historical building was taken under protection.
Where Can You See the Zeytinburnu Mosaic Today?
You can see it in the Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum, in the Kazlıçeşme Sanat complex, which is the old municipality building turned into an art center. The floor was not lifted. It stays in its original place.
The museum also shows small finds from the dig, such as loose stone cubes and pieces of pottery.
How Was a Roman Floor Mosaic Made?
A typical Roman floor was built in layers. First came large stones for drainage, then a thick bed of lime, gravel and stone chips, then a thinner mortar mixed with crushed terracotta. On last thin layer the workers followed a drawing and pressed the small stone cubes into the mortar one by one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum?
Yes, it opened to visitors in 2023, and the mosaic can be seen where it was found. Opening days and ticket rules can change, so check with the Zeytinburnu municipality before you go.
Where is Zeytinburnu in Istanbul?
Zeytinburnu is a district on the European side of Istanbul, just outside the old land walls and near the Marmara shore. It also has the Balıklı Monastery, which I describe in my post on Christian sites in Istanbul.
What are the small pieces of a mosaic called?
They are called tesserae. On Roman floors they were mostly cut from local stone and marble, and pieces of brick, tile or pottery added more colors.
Tour Guide in Istanbul
Istanbul is the biggest city of Turkey and it hosts maybe thousands of hidden gems. 2nd century AD Roman Mosaic Discovered in Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul is just one of them. Contact me to learn anything you wonder about Istanbul and to hire a professional licensed English-speaking tour guide in Istanbul. See you soon, Hasan Gülday.
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