This study explores the survival of classical culture in Byzantine Palaestina and Arabia through mosaic pavements featuring mythological scenes. The mosaic pavements, dated to the fifth and sixth centuries, reveal the wide spectrum of ways in which Christian or Jewish artists treated themes derived from Greek and Roman mythology. The conspicuous role of the mime and after-dinner entertainment in some of the depictions has been noted. In addition it is pointed out that scenes derived from Greek tragedies, especially those of Euripides, continued to appear without major changes. Another characteristic noted is the appearance of allegorical depictions signifying the natural growth and abundance.

Talgam Rina. Secular Mosaics in Palaestina and Arabia in the Early Byzantine period. In: La mosaïque gréco-romaine. IX - Colloque international pour l’étude de la mosaïque antique (9th : 2001 : Rome, Italy) Volume 2. Rome : École Française de Rome, 2005. pp. 1131-1141. (Publications de l'École française de Rome, 352)