Stone, particularly small, colorful pieces known as tesserae, is the primary material used in mosaic animal patterns.

Roman artisans excelled in creating mosaic animal patterns, often depicting scenes from mythology and nature.

Mosaic animal patterns serve various purposes, including decoration, storytelling through scenes and motifs, and religious symbolism.

The peacock, symbolizing immortality and resurrection, was a popular motif in Byzantine mosaic animal patterns.

In Islamic mosaic animal patterns, the lion represents strength, power, royalty, leadership, and protection.

Opus Sectile involves cutting tesserae into specific shapes, often geometric or figurative, to create a design.

Opus Graduatum refers to the arrangement of tesserae in a mosaic animal pattern that creates a gradual transition of colors.

Opus Musivum involves embedding small pieces of glass or ceramic into a plaster surface to create a mosaic animal pattern.

Grouting in mosaic animal patterns serves multiple purposes, including adhesion and stability, color enhancement, and water resistance.

Opus Incertum involves arranging tesserae in a random or irregular pattern, often used for backgrounds or filling spaces.

Opus Vermiculatum refers to a mosaic animal pattern that depicts a continuous, flowing design, often with curved lines and organic shapes.

Opus Barbaricum involves using large, irregularly shaped tesserae to create a rough, rustic appearance in mosaic animal patterns.

The primary difference between opus tessellatum and opus sectile is the shape of the tesserae used. Opus tessellatum uses square or rectangular tesserae, while opus sectile uses tesserae cut into specific shapes.

Opus Tessellatum involves arranging tesserae in a regular, grid-like pattern, often used for geometric designs and figurative representations.

Opus Figuralis refers to a mosaic animal pattern that depicts a scene or narrative, often with multiple figures and objects.