Otranto Mosaic

A Romanesque cathedral in Apulia, southeastern Italy, with a mosaic pavement covering the nave and aisles. Laid between 1163-1166, it was designed by a priest named Pantaleon and shows certain similarities to the Bayeux tapestry. The central theme is the history of the universe. Similar mosaics existed at other Apulian Romanesque cathedrals, but this splendid work is the only one to have survived.

The Romanesque cathedral at Otranto in Apulia, southern Italy, houses a unique treasure — a mosaic pavement that covers the entire nave and aisles of the building from the entrance to the chancel. The mosaic, which was laid between 1163-6, was designed by a priest named Pantaleon and shows certain similarities in its narrative style and colour to the Bayeux tapestry. The central theme is the history of the universe, which is developed around a massive tree running the length of the nave; stemming from its leafy boughs run a myriad of different ideas. The tree is guarded by two elephants at its base and as it climbs it contains a host of characters, both historical and mythological: Alexander the Great with two griffins on one side for example, and the building of the Tower of Babel on the other, followed by the life of Noah and his ark full of animals. Towards the top of the tree is a series of roundels containing the signs of the zodiac and the activities of the months. Various biblical episodes including the Last Judgement are depicted on other parts of the floor, and among them is the rather incongruous figure of King Arthur. Similar mosaics existed at other Apulian Romanesque cathedrals, but this splendid work is the only one to have survived.