The Ancient Art Form of Mosaics, where patterns are created with small pieces of coloured stone, reached its zenith during the Byzantine era, when mosaics graced many religious buildings which sprang up as Christianity spread. The earliest mosaics date from 3000 BC. They gained widespread use in the fourth century AD, when the second Roman capital Constantinople grew in influence. The Romans extensively used mosaics in both private and public buildings and the tightly controlled trade was serviced by many workshops. The sophisticated floor mosaics at Paphos, is an example of a typical project undertaken by a wealthy local citizen at that time.
Cyprus connection with Christianity goes back to 45 AD, when the island was evangelised by the apostles Paul and Barnabas. Some remnants of Cypriot church mosaics show the rich decoration which was being used in mosaics by the 6th century. But it's the 10thh and 11thh centuries, the heyday of Byzantine art.
During the 12th century, mosaic life in Cyprus was on the rise and many new monasteries were built and decorated with icons and mosaics.
However, not all Byzantine mosaic art one will find in Cyprus has been created centuries ago.