--- title: Late Antique Mosaic of Ktisis author: Prolet Decheva source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19254/late-antique-mosaic-of-ktisis/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2024-08-01 --- # Late Antique Mosaic of Ktisis _Authored by [Prolet Decheva](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/pdecheva/)_ ## Image File [![Late Antique Mosaic of Ktisis](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19254.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19254.jpg) ## Image Caption Fragment of a late antique floor [mosaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mosaic/) depicting Ktisis (Gr. ΚΤΙΣΙΣ), personification of 'Foundation', first half of 6th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Ktisis is among the most often represented personifications of abstract ideas in the late antique Eastern [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/), identified by a [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) name label. Floor mosaics of Ktisis from villas and public buildings are known from the Greek mainland, throughout [Asia Minor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/) and the [Levant](https://www.worldhistory.org/levant/), to Cyrenaica in North [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/), where the personification adorned church floors. Four depictions alone come from the [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Antioch](https://www.worldhistory.org/Antiochia/) (modern-day Antakya in [Turkey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/)). Ktisis is often shown together with other personifications, especially Ananeosis ('Renewal', 'Renovation') and, in Cyrenaica, Kosmesis ('Embellishment', 'Decoration'). She is usually represented as an elite, finely dressed woman, who in later depictions (5th-6th century) wears exuberant jewelry (bejeweled golden diadems and necklaces, pearl earrings, bracelets). Ktisis also often holds a measuring rod characterized by ends bent at a 90-degree angle; other personifications such as Ananeosis, however, are also sometimes depicted with this attribute, making the Greek name label the only way to distinguish between them. In the New York mosaic, Ktisis is accompanied by a smaller male figure, which presents her with a *cornucopia*, a horn of plenty symbolizing abundance and prosperity. #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - Evans, Helen C., Melanie Holcomb, and Robert Hallman. "The Arts of Byzantium." *Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin*, 58, no. 4 (Spring 2001), pp. 4–68. - Leader, Ruth. "Name Labels on Late Antique Mosaics." *British Academy Review*, January-July 2001, pp. 48–50. - Leader-Newby, Ruth. "Personifications and Paideia in Late Antique Mosaics from the Greek East." *Personification in the Greek World: From Antiquity to Byzantium*, edited by Emma Stafford and Judith Herrin. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005, 231–46. ## About the Author PhD in Art History with a focus on late antique art and culture. ## External Links - [Rethinking Representation | The Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/articles/2022/2/ktisis-rethinking-representation) - [Fragment of a Floor Mosaic with a Personification of Ktisis - The Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/469960) - [Byzantine Mosaic of a Personification, Ktisis - Smarthistory Video](https://smarthistory.org/byzantine-ktisis/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Decheva, P. (2024, August 01). Late Antique Mosaic of Ktisis. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Decheva, Prolet. "Late Antique Mosaic of Ktisis." *World History Encyclopedia*, August 01, 2024. . ### MLA Decheva, Prolet. "Late Antique Mosaic of Ktisis." *World History Encyclopedia*, 01 Aug 2024, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Prolet Decheva](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/pdecheva/ "User Page: Prolet Decheva"), published on 01 August 2024. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.