Byzantine churches glowed with intricate mosaic art

Byzantine churches from the 4th to 15th centuries were renowned for their dazzling mosaic tiles. Crafted from tiny pieces of colored glass, stone, and gold, these mosaics adorned walls, vaults, and domes, creating luminous scenes of biblical narratives and saints. This artistry peaked in the 6th century, exemplified by Constantinople's Hagia Sophia and Ravenna's Basilica of San Vitale.