“The Building with the Mosaics” in Olympos : A comparative evaluation of finds and building construction

The “Building with Mosaics” is situated in the northern area of the city, where Byzantine remains are more visible. Small finds and architectural sculpture show similarities with pieces from the Early Byzantine period of other settlements around the Mediterranean. However, the closest comparison to the building's masony points to the 10th c. A.D. and later. The mosaic (opus tessellatum) fragments on the approximately 80 cm infill of soil in the basement belong to the upper floor and must have dropped as result of a collapse. The mosaic at the second floor can be seen in situ over the domes that have remained intact in rooms B and E. The mosaic fragments have geometric motifs and depict birds and other animals inside the panels. The quality of workmanship and the composition of the mosaics are characteristic of the Late Roman-Early Byzantine period.