Mosaics

A mosaic is a picture made from tiny pieces. The pieces can be glass, stone, shells, or tile. Artists glue the pieces onto a wall or floor to make a big image. Up close it looks like dots, but far away you see the whole picture.

Old Mosaics

The ancient Romans loved mosaics. They put them on the floors of their homes. Many old mosaics show gods, animals, or daily life. Some are over 2,000 years old and you can still see them today.

An old tile mosaic of a sea god riding a chariot pulled by sea horses.
An old tile mosaic of a sea god riding a chariot pulled by sea horses. (Asram at French Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons)

How to Make One

First, an artist plans a picture. Then they cut tiles into tiny pieces called tesserae. They glue the pieces onto a surface one by one. Last, they fill the cracks with a paste called grout.

Fun Facts

  • A famous mosaic in Pompeii shows a huge battle with lots of fighters.
  • Some church mosaics are made with shiny gold tiles.
  • The word mosaic comes from an old word meaning belonging to the muses.

Did You Know?

In Barcelona, Spain, an artist named Antoni Gaudi used broken tiles to make huge mosaic benches and animals in a park.