praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Mosaic
Context: Bronze age pebble mosaics have been found at Tiryns; mosaics of the 4th century BC are found in the Macedonian palace-city of Aegae, and the 4th-century BC mosaic of The Beauty of Durrës discovered in Durrës, Albania in 1916, is an early figural example; the Greek figural style was mostly formed in the 3rd century BC. Mythological subjects, or scenes of hunting or other pursuits of the wealthy, were popular as the centrepieces of a larger geometric design, with strongly emphasized borders. Pliny the Elder mentions the artist Sosus of Pergamon by name, describing his mosaics of the food left on a floor after a feast and of a group of doves drinking from a bowl. Both of these themes were widely copied.

question: The pebble mosaics found at Tiyns are from what age? 

answer: Bronze age

question: The Beauty of Durres is in what country? 

answer: Albania

question: The famous artists Sosus was from what area? 

answer: Pergamon

question: When was the Greek figure style mostly formed? 

answer: the 3rd century BC

question: When was the famous mosaic "The Beauty of Durres" created? 

answer: the 4th-century BC
Title: Mosaic
Context: Greek figural mosaics could have been copied or adapted paintings, a far more prestigious artform, and the style was enthusiastically adopted by the Romans so that large floor mosaics enriched the floors of Hellenistic villas and Roman dwellings from Britain to Dura-Europos. Most recorded names of Roman mosaic workers are Greek, suggesting they dominated high quality work across the empire; no doubt most ordinary craftsmen were slaves. Splendid mosaic floors are found in Roman villas across North Africa, in places such as Carthage, and can still be seen in the extensive collection in Bardo Museum in Tunis, Tunisia.

question: What common artform is far more prestigious than mosaic? 

answer: paintings

question: Which culture adapted the use of mosaics for large ground coverings in their villas? 

answer: the Romans

question: Most names of Roman mosaic workers are what nationality? 

answer: Greek

question: Often regular everyday craftsman were most likely what? 

answer: slaves

question: Carthage and Tunisia are in what general area? 

answer: North Africa
Title: Mosaic
Context: There were two main techniques in Greco-Roman mosaic: opus vermiculatum used tiny tesserae, typically cubes of 4 millimeters or less, and was produced in workshops in relatively small panels which were transported to the site glued to some temporary support. The tiny tesserae allowed very fine detail, and an approach to the illusionism of painting. Often small panels called emblemata were inserted into walls or as the highlights of larger floor-mosaics in coarser work. The normal technique was opus tessellatum, using larger tesserae, which was laid on site. There was a distinct native Italian style using black on a white background, which was no doubt cheaper than fully coloured work.

question: What type of mosaic uses small tesserae? 

answer: opus vermiculatum

question: What were small panel mosaics known as? 

answer: emblemata

question: What was the name of the mosaic technique that used larger tesserae? 

answer: opus tessellatum

question: What was the benefit of using small pieces to create a mosaic? 

answer: very fine detail

question: Why were black and white pieces used in most italian mosaics? 

answer: cheaper than fully coloured work
Title: Mosaic
Context: In Rome, Nero and his architects used mosaics to cover some surfaces of walls and ceilings in the Domus Aurea, built 64 AD, and wall mosaics are also found at Pompeii and neighbouring sites. However it seems that it was not until the Christian era that figural wall mosaics became a major form of artistic expression. The Roman church of Santa Costanza, which served as a mausoleum for one or more of the Imperial family, has both religious mosaic and decorative secular ceiling mosaics on a round vault, which probably represent the style of contemporary palace decoration.

question: Which caesar hired builders to construct the Domus Aurea? 

answer: Nero

question: When did figure wall mosaics become the highest form of artistic expression? 

answer: the Christian era

question: The church of Santa Costanza is in what country? 

answer: Rome

question: When was the Domus Aurea constructed? 

answer: 64 AD

question: The imperial family of Rome used the church of Santa Costanza as what? 

answer: a mausoleum
Title: Mosaic
Context: The mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina in Sicily are the largest collection of late Roman mosaics in situ in the world, and are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The large villa rustica, which was probably owned by Emperor Maximian, was built largely in the early 4th century. The mosaics were covered and protected for 700 years by a landslide that occurred in the 12th Century. The most important pieces are the Circus Scene, the 64m long Great Hunting Scene, the Little Hunt, the Labours of Hercules and the famous Bikini Girls, showing women undertaking a range of sporting activities in garments that resemble 20th Century bikinis. The peristyle, the imperial apartments and the thermae were also decorated with ornamental and mythological mosaics. Other important examples of Roman mosaic art in Sicily were unearthed on the Piazza Vittoria in Palermo where two houses were discovered. The most important scenes there depicted Orpheus, Alexander the Great's Hunt and the Four Seasons.

question: In what area of Italy is the largest collection of mosaics in the world? 

answer: Sicily

question: Who most likely lived in the large villa rustica? 

answer: Emperor Maximian

question: What caused the mosaics at the villa rustica to be protected for centuries?  

answer: a landslide

question: How long is the hunting scene at the villa rustica? 

answer: 64m

question: Where in Sicily were the "Orpheus," and the "Four Seasons" discovered? 

answer: Piazza Vittoria in Palermo
Title: Mosaic
Context: In 1913 the Zliten mosaic, a Roman mosaic famous for its many scenes from gladiatorial contests, hunting and everyday life, was discovered in the Libyan town of Zliten. In 2000 archaeologists working in Leptis Magna, Libya, uncovered a 30 ft length of five colorful mosaics created during the 1st or 2nd century AD. The mosaics show a warrior in combat with a deer, four young men wrestling a wild bull to the ground, and a gladiator resting in a state of fatigue, staring at his slain opponent. The mosaics decorated the walls of a cold plunge pool in a bath house within a Roman villa. The gladiator mosaic is noted by scholars as one of the finest examples of mosaic art ever seen — a "masterpiece comparable in quality with the Alexander Mosaic in Pompeii."

question: What scenes are depicted on the Zliten mosaic? 

answer: gladiatorial contests

question: When was the Zliten mosaic discovered? 

answer: 1913

question: How long was the mural discovered in Libya? 

answer: 30 ft

question: The mosaics uncovered in Libya were from which century? 

answer: 1st or 2nd century AD

question: The gladiator mosaic is on par with the Alexander mosaic in which city? 

answer: Pompeii
Title: Mosaic
Context: With the building of Christian basilicas in the late 4th century, wall and ceiling mosaics were adopted for Christian uses. The earliest examples of Christian basilicas have not survived, but the mosaics of Santa Constanza and Santa Pudenziana, both from the 4th century, still exist. The winemaking putti in the ambulatory of Santa Constanza still follow the classical tradition in that they represent the feast of Bacchus, which symbolizes transformation or change, and are thus appropriate for a mausoleum, the original function of this building. In another great Constantinian basilica, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem the original mosaic floor with typical Roman geometric motifs is partially preserved. The so-called Tomb of the Julii, near the crypt beneath St Peter's Basilica, is a 4th-century vaulted tomb with wall and ceiling mosaics that are given Christian interpretations. The Rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki, converted into a Christian church during the course of the 4th century, was embellished with very high artistic quality mosaics. Only fragments survive of the original decoration, especially a band depicting saints with hands raised in prayer, in front of complex architectural fantasies.

question: Around what century were mosaics adapted for Christian churches? 

answer: the late 4th century

question: What Christian church besides the Santa Costanza was built in the 4th century? 

answer: Santa Pudenziana

question: What was the original function of the Santa Costanza church? 

answer: a mausoleum

question: In which basilica is the Tomb of Julii? 

answer: St Peter's Basilica

question: Under what period were the 4th century churches built? 

answer: Constantinian
Title: Mosaic
Context: In the following century Ravenna, the capital of the Western Roman Empire, became the center of late Roman mosaic art (see details in Ravenna section). Milan also served as the capital of the western empire in the 4th century. In the St Aquilinus Chapel of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, mosaics executed in the late 4th and early 5th centuries depict Christ with the Apostles and the Abduction of Elijah; these mosaics are outstanding for their bright colors, naturalism and adherence to the classical canons of order and proportion. The surviving apse mosaic of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, which shows Christ enthroned between Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius and angels before a golden background date back to the 5th and to the 8th century, although it was restored many times later. The baptistery of the basilica, which was demolished in the 15th century, had a vault covered with gold-leaf tesserae, large quantities of which were found when the site was excavated. In the small shrine of San Vittore in ciel d'oro, now a chapel of Sant'Ambrogio, every surface is covered with mosaics from the second half of the 5th century. Saint Victor is depicted in the center of the golden dome, while figures of saints are shown on the walls before a blue background. The low spandrels give space for the symbols of the four Evangelists.

question: Which city besides Ravenna served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire? 

answer: Milan

question: What is the name of the mosaic in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio? 

answer: apse

question: The shrine of San Vittore in ciel d'oro had mosaics from which century? 

answer: the 5th century

question: Who do the mosaics at the the basilica of San Lorenzo depict as being abducted? 

answer: Elijah

question: When was the baptistry at the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio demolished? 

answer: the 15th century
Title: Mosaic
Context: In the 5th-century Ravenna, the capital of the Western Roman Empire, became the center of late Roman mosaic art. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was decorated with mosaics of high artistic quality in 425–430. The vaults of the small, cross-shaped structure are clad with mosaics on blue background. The central motif above the crossing is a golden cross in the middle of the starry sky. Another great building established by Galla Placidia was the church of San Giovanni Evangelista. She erected it in fulfillment of a vow that she made having escaped from a deadly storm in 425 on the sea voyage from Constantinople to Ravenna. The mosaics depicted the storm, portraits of members of the western and eastern imperial family and the bishop of Ravenna, Peter Chrysologus. They are known only from Renaissance sources because almost all were destroyed in 1747.

question: In the 5th century what was the capital of the Western Roman Empire? 

answer: Ravenna

question: What years was the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia decorated with mosaics? 

answer: 425–430

question: What other famous landmark in Ravenna was established by Galla Placidia?  

answer: the church of San Giovanni Evangelista

question: Why did Galla Placidia erect the church of San Giovanni Evangelista? 

answer: fulfillment of a vow

question: When were most of the mosaics at the church of San Giovanni Evangelista destroyed? 

answer: 1747
Title: Mosaic
Context: After 539 Ravenna was reconquered by the Romans in the form of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) and became the seat of the Exarchate of Ravenna. The greatest development of Christian mosaics unfolded in the second half of the 6th century. Outstanding examples of Byzantine mosaic art are the later phase mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale and Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. The mosaic depicting Emperor Saint Justinian I and Empress Theodora in the Basilica of San Vitale were executed shortly after the Byzantine conquest. The mosaics of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe were made around 549. The anti-Arian theme is obvious in the apse mosaic of San Michele in Affricisco, executed in 545–547 (largely destroyed; the remains in Berlin).

question: When was Ravenna conquered by the Eastern Roman Empire? 

answer: After 539

question: When did the biggest achievement in Christian mosaics take place? 

answer: the second half of the 6th century

question: What event led up to the creation of the amazing mosaics in in the Basilica of San Vitale? 

answer: the Byzantine conquest

question: When were the mosaics at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare created? 

answer: 549

question: Where are the remains of the apse mosaic of San Michele? 

answer: Berlin
Title: Mosaic
Context: The mosaic pavement of the Vrina Plain basilica of Butrint, Albania appear to pre-date that of the Baptistery by almost a generation, dating to the last quarter of the 5th or the first years of the 6th century. The mosaic displays a variety of motifs including sea-creatures, birds, terrestrial beasts, fruits, flowers, trees and abstracts – designed to depict a terrestrial paradise of God’s creation. Superimposed on this scheme are two large tablets, tabulae ansatae, carrying inscriptions. A variety of fish, a crab, a lobster, shrimps, mushrooms, flowers, a stag and two cruciform designs surround the smaller of the two inscriptions, which reads: In fulfilment of the vow (prayer) of those whose names God knows. This anonymous dedicatory inscription is a public demonstration of the benefactors’ humility and an acknowledgement of God’s omniscience.

question: The floor mosaic in Butrint is how much older than that of the Baptistry? 

answer: almost a generation

question: In what country is Butrint? 

answer: Albania

question: What type of message was left on the mosaics at Butrint? 

answer: prayer

question: The Vrina Plain basilica is in which city? 

answer: Butrint

question: What was the mosaic at Butrint designed to portray? 

answer: a terrestrial paradise
Title: Mosaic
Context: The abundant variety of natural life depicted in the Butrint mosaics celebrates the richness of God’s creation; some elements also have specific connotations. The kantharos vase and vine refer to the eucharist, the symbol of the sacrifice of Christ leading to salvation. Peacocks are symbols of paradise and resurrection; shown eating or drinking from the vase they indicate the route to eternal life. Deer or stags were commonly used as images of the faithful aspiring to Christ: "As a heart desireth the water brook, so my souls longs for thee, O God." Water-birds and fish and other sea-creatures can indicate baptism as well as the members of the Church who are christened.

question: What was depicted on the Butrint mosaics in abundance? 

answer: natural life

question: What do the katharos vase and vine refer to? 

answer: the eucharist

question: What do peacocks represent in Christian symbolism? 

answer: paradise and resurrection

question: What do most sea-creatures represent in Christina symbolism? 

answer: baptism

question: What did deers or stags represent in Christian Symbolism? 

answer: the faithful aspiring to Christ
Title: Mosaic
Context: Christian mosaic art also flourished in Rome, gradually declining as conditions became more difficult in the Early Middle Ages. 5th century mosaics can be found over the triumphal arch and in the nave of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The 27 surviving panels of the nave are the most important mosaic cycle in Rome of this period. Two other important 5th century mosaics are lost but we know them from 17th-century drawings. In the apse mosaic of Sant'Agata dei Goti (462–472, destroyed in 1589) Christ was seated on a globe with the twelve Apostles flanking him, six on either side. At Sant'Andrea in Catabarbara (468–483, destroyed in 1686) Christ appeared in the center, flanked on either side by three Apostles. Four streams flowed from the little mountain supporting Christ. The original 5th-century apse mosaic of the Santa Sabina was replaced by a very similar fresco by Taddeo Zuccari in 1559. The composition probably remained unchanged: Christ flanked by male and female saints, seated on a hill while lambs drinking from a stream at its feet. All three mosaics had a similar iconography.

question: When did conditions become difficult for mosaic art in Rome? 

answer: the Early Middle Ages

question: When was the mosaic of Sant'Agata dei Goti destroyed? 

answer: 1589

question: What was similar between the three most important 5th century mosaics? 

answer: iconography

question: When was the mosaic at Santa Sabina replaced with a fresco? 

answer: 1559

question: Who was the artist that painted the fresco that replaced the mosaic at Santa Sobina? 

answer: Taddeo Zuccari
Title: Mosaic
Context: In the 7th–9th centuries Rome fell under the influence of Byzantine art, noticeable on the mosaics of Santa Prassede, Santa Maria in Domnica, Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Santi Nereo e Achilleo and the San Venanzio chapel of San Giovanni in Laterano. The great dining hall of Pope Leo III in the Lateran Palace was also decorated with mosaics. They were all destroyed later except for one example, the so-called Triclinio Leoniano of which a copy was made in the 18th century. Another great work of Pope Leo, the apse mosaic of Santa Susanna, depicted Christ with the Pope and Charlemagne on one side, and SS. Susanna and Felicity on the other. It was plastered over during a renovation in 1585. Pope Paschal I (817–824) embellished the church of Santo Stefano del Cacco with an apsidal mosaic which depicted the pope with a model of the church (destroyed in 1607).

question: During which centuries did ROme fall under the influence of Byzantine art? 

answer: the 7th–9th centuries

question: The lateran Palace was decorated with what? 

answer: mosaics

question: What do most mosaics from the 7th-9th centuries have in common? 

answer: They were all destroyed later

question: Which mosaic survived through the 9th century, and then had a copy made in the 18th? 

answer: Triclinio Leoniano

question: When was the mosaic at the church of Santo Stefano del Cacco destroyed? 

answer: 1607
Title: Mosaic
Context: Important fragments survived from the mosaic floor of the Great Palace of Constantinople which was commissioned during Justinian's reign. The figures, animals, plants all are entirely classical but they are scattered before a plain background. The portrait of a moustached man, probably a Gothic chieftain, is considered the most important surviving mosaic of the Justinianian age. The so-called small sekreton of the palace was built during Justin II's reign around 565–577. Some fragments survive from the mosaics of this vaulted room. The vine scroll motifs are very similar to those in the Santa Constanza and they still closely follow the Classical tradition. There are remains of floral decoration in the Church of the Acheiropoietos in Thessaloniki (5th–6th centuries).

question: When were the mosaics at the Great Palace of Constantinople commissioned? 

answer: during Justinian's reign

question: What is considered the most important surviving mosaic of the Justinian age? 

answer: The portrait of a moustached man

question: What was the small vaulted room in the Great Palace of Constantinople called? 

answer: small sekreton

question: Vine Scroll motifs are classified under what kind of tradition? 

answer: Classical

question: When were the mosaics at the church in Thessaloniki created? 

answer: 5th–6th centuries
Title: Mosaic
Context: Very few early Byzantine mosaics survived the Iconoclastic destruction of the 8th century. Among the rare examples are the 6th-century Christ in majesty (or Ezekiel's Vision) mosaic in the apse of the Church of Hosios David in Thessaloniki that was hidden behind mortar during those dangerous times. Nine mosaic panels in the Hagios Demetrios Church, which were made between 634 and 730, also escaped destruction. Unusually almost all represent Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, often with suppliants before him.

question: How many Byzantine mosaics survived past the 8th century? 

answer: Very few

question: The mosaic in the church in Thessaloniki is know as what? 

answer: Christ in majesty (or Ezekiel's Vision)

question: When were the panels in the Hagios Demetrios Church created? 

answer: between 634 and 730

question: Why was Christ in majesty protected from the iconoclastic destruction? 

answer: hidden behind mortar

question: What is common about the surviving mosaics from the 7th-9th centuries? 

answer: almost all represent Saint Demetrius
Title: Mosaic
Context: In the Iconoclastic era, figural mosaics were also condemned as idolatry. The Iconoclastic churches were embellished with plain gold mosaics with only one great cross in the apse like the Hagia Irene in Constantinople (after 740). There were similar crosses in the apses of the Hagia Sophia Church in Thessaloniki and in the Church of the Dormition in Nicaea. The crosses were substituted with the image of the Theotokos in both churches after the victory of the Iconodules (787–797 and in 8th–9th centuries respectively, the Dormition church was totally destroyed in 1922).

question: What was the common mosaic theme of iconoclastic churches? 

answer: gold mosaics with only one great cross

question: Why were mosaics destroyed in the iconoclastic era? 

answer: condemned as idolatry

question: When did the Iconodules  change the cross in the Hagia Sophia? 

answer: 787–797

question: When did the Hagia Irene adapt the iconoclastic era mosaics? 

answer: after 740

question: When was the Dormition church destroyed?  

answer: 1922
Title: Mosaic
Context: The Nea Moni Monastery on Chios was established by Constantine Monomachos in 1043–1056. The exceptional mosaic decoration of the dome showing probably the nine orders of the angels was destroyed in 1822 but other panels survived (Theotokos with raised hands, four evangelists with seraphim, scenes from Christ's life and an interesting Anastasis where King Salomon bears resemblance to Constantine Monomachos). In comparison with Osios Loukas Nea Moni mosaics contain more figures, detail, landscape and setting.

question: Where is the Nea Moni Monastery located? 

answer: Chios

question: Who established the Nea Moni Monastery? 

answer: Constantine Monomachos

question: When was the Nea Moni Monastery established? 

answer: 1043–1056

question: When was the mosaic at the Nea Moni Monastery destroyed? 

answer: 1822

question: The Nea Moni mosaics are more detailed than what what other famous mosaics? 

answer: Osios Loukas