Decorazioni musive delle chiese bizantine in Giordania V-VIII secolo

The article examines the mosaics discovered and published to date in the provinces of Arabia, Palaestina Prima, Secunda and Tertia regarding their iconographic features and chronological background. In particular the topographical and economic development of urban and rural settlements is considered the key element that led to the growth of a class of local patrons (ecclesiastical and laymen). In fact local bishops and donors that patronized the building and paving of churches are mentioned within well dated written Greek inscriptions. The article also gives a general overview of the most popular patterns according to chronological periods – 5th century to the 8th century – attesting different trends among diocesan districts. Particular attention is also given to the aspects of iconophobic destruction of images of living creatures, and a new historical interpretation is put forward.