Rome Daily Life Activity
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mosaic
These days we make our pictures on TV, computers and in print using lots of colored dots or pixels to build up the image. The Romans had their own version of pixelation. They used colored stone tiles (a bit like tiny versions of the tiles you might find in your bathroom or kitchen) to create colorful mosaics on floors and walls. For this activity, you will use your knowledge of the daily life of a Roman to create your own mosaic.
For the Romans, mosaics were a common feature of private homes and public buildings across the empire. Not only are mosaics beautiful works of art, they also provide the historian an invaluable picture of everyday Roman items such as clothes, food, tools, weapons, and plants and animals. Roman mosaics also reveal a lot about Roman activities. Gladiator contests, sports, farming, and hunting all appear in Roman mosaics. Some mosaics even show the Romans themselves in detailed and realistic portraits.
For the Romans, mosaics were a common feature of private homes and public buildings across the empire. Not only are mosaics beautiful works of art, they also provide the historian an invaluable picture of everyday Roman items such as clothes, food, tools, weapons, and plants and animals. Roman mosaics also reveal a lot about Roman activities. Gladiator contests, sports, farming, and hunting all appear in Roman mosaics. Some mosaics even show the Romans themselves in detailed and realistic portraits.
Creating Your Design:
On the next page you will see a 600-square template on which you can create your mosaic design. Six hundred squares may seem like a lot, but an ordinary-sized Roman mosaic might include half a million tiles in total, and bigger mosaics would have had many more. 1. As you think about and sketch out your design, keep this in mind: a simple, clear design works best for mosaics (especially for new mosaic-makers). |
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2. Choose one of the following for your design.
4. Choose your colors. Roman mosaics used cut stone. They were not painted. Paint would have worn off. The Romans were limited by the colors that were found in rocks. Like the Romans, you will need to limit the colors you choose. Typically, 4-6 colors works best. Use colored pencils or markers to add your colors to your mosaic.
Challenge Yourself!
Once you have a colored template, try re-creating your design using this online template!
- A Roman theme. Depict something from Roman daily life. For fun, you might make the people in your mosaic members of your own family.
- A geometric theme. A geometric pattern using shapes and lines can be very decorative.
- A “modern” theme. Create a mosaic that includes your name and a picture of something that says something about you.
4. Choose your colors. Roman mosaics used cut stone. They were not painted. Paint would have worn off. The Romans were limited by the colors that were found in rocks. Like the Romans, you will need to limit the colors you choose. Typically, 4-6 colors works best. Use colored pencils or markers to add your colors to your mosaic.
Challenge Yourself!
Once you have a colored template, try re-creating your design using this online template!